I think Les and Co. are more desparate to win from a ticket selling point of view more than anything else. If our fans werent front runners, Les would just want to see improvement. Unfortunately, most of our fans are and Les knows they wont come back until we get back to the playoffs. Thats even more important going into the new arena. Les wants that baby full. I never said that they wouldnt care if we didnt make the playoffs. I said I dont think they will automatically consider the season a failure if we dont. If we win 40-45 games, get Yao the valuable playing time that he needs, grasp the concept of the montion offense, get Griffin the playing time he needs and above all us, grow as a team. I think theyd be very happy, even if we didnt make the playoffs. Its very conceivable that we can win 40-45 games, which would much a good improvement over last year, and not make the playoffs, depending on how tough the West turns out to be. We have a 5-8 year window of opportunity based on the age of these players. You have to walk before you can run.
I never thought I'd say this, but IMO Cato at this point is far more valuable than Marc Jackson. For all of Cato's faults, he is saying and doing the right things. Is Jackson? I don't know and I don't really care. I have looked over other rosters and all I can find are third tier centers -- certainly no acquirable upgrades to our current roster. I'd rather have a quality backup for Yao Ming than not, and I think Cato is that backup.
For the people who are asking to trade Cato, I have 2 things for you to think about: 1) Our record last year due to lack of depth. 2) Zydrunas Illgauskas with too many minutes. Trading Cato can VERY negatively affect our future. I'm absolutely SHOCKED out of my MIND that people say things like they want Ming to play 33 MINUTES A GAME. How can you expect that from the poor guy????????????????????????????????????????? Even if he RESTED all summer, he has less than average conditioning. Imagine a whole extra summer of play, and then immediately coming to camp. Don't you have any mercy for the guy? He's 2 months behind on everything! Like it or not, starting or on the bench, Cato will play 30+ minutes a game this year. We need it. Ming is the future, but aren't you considering how much early foul trouble he'll have? How much time to adjust? Fatigue? You can say unfounded things like "Big men abuse Cato every night but I can't see them abusing Griffin". griffin and Ming at C? Why don't we become the Houston toothpicks? You're underrating Cato's experience, commitment, hardwork, and improvement over the summer. Give Ming AND Cato a break.
Well, actually, since the original thread was about Sam Cassell and Adonal Foyle being "beat with ugly sticks," then I'd say, Tyrone Hill could pass for a comic book villain, so everyone beats Tyrone Hill (with an ugly stick). I had to post this because you beat me (but not with an ugly stick; damn, there's that word again!) to mentioning the ugly dude. AS FOR KELVIN CATO, we won't trade him because Yao will only get 24 mpg, Eddie is still too slight, China or the CBT or some entity could pull a fast one on us (you never know), et al. I hate to say it, but (hyik) we (hyik, agh) need Kelvin Cato. Here it comes: BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARF!
Kelvin Cato is important to Mings development. Cato can take some weight off of Ming for his rookie year. Who wants to give up someone the Rockets want for Cato anyways? No one. Mike Miller... just wishful thinking. We keep Cato. Who else... Collier... NO WAY. We have enough offense, maybe Cato's defense will help.
after reading through all this stuff about how bad Cato I still haven't heard about what the Rockets would get in return. Someone said it earlier....we do not need any draft picks....our team is very young. Cato is a very viable backup center and probably a starting center on most teams. Everything I've read about Cato this year in camp is that he's in the best shape of his life and he has no qualms with splitting time with Yao. Sounds like he may be maturing...a little. I say we ease up off Cato and give him a chance. He's still here a few more years and might as well support him!!!
