I never thought I would start a thread that says 'I am on the bandwagon of the Kelvinator'. Kelvin Cato looks like he has morphed from the walking dead to the running, hustling, playing life at the front end of the bench. I respect and appreciate what KC is doing. I am finally a believer!
He's improved greatly. And he does well enough as a backup Center that sometimes comes in and starts. He may be able to improve his jumpshot/hookshot/babyhook, etc...so anything else he can add to his offensive game would be a bonus. Of course, his contract his subject for scrutiny. But it's better that way...if he lets-up, he's in trouble (pay cut next time around).
This sometimes shows you how it takes several years, or more, in some cases, for a big man to utilize potential. This is why I think hanging on to Eddie Griffin is a smart idea. Cato looked absolutely clueless on the Rockets for years, then his role was defined; score on easy putbacks, and rebound like a madman. He has done exactly that this year, and has done one heck of a job! If he were starting, I think he could average 7 pts, 14 rebounds, similar to Ben Wallace.
Kevin did not improve - he just isn't the starter anymore. He is STILL the player we loved to bash and hate last year. He is just harvesting the benefits of playing behind Yao - QED. He is still over paid but I appreciate his input this so far.
What's amazing is how sometimes I'll be watching the game and think "gosh, we need some strong, agressive, ENERGETIC play out there . . . they need to bring Kelvin Cato in". I can't believe I am actually thinking that . . . Kelvin has become one of the very most important players on this team. He brings so much hustle it's almost absurd, especially when compared to his former self. He goes after rebounds with reckless abandon, ripping the boards down and taking loose balls out of other players' hands. Kelvin has become everything we wanted and needed from a backup C. Plus he's good for one or two MONSTER jams every game. He throws the ball down with authority -- if anyone tries to block it, he's getting his arm broken in half!
No way. Cato was playing GREAT for about the last half of the 2001-02 season. Having Yao on the team really did not improve his game a ton. Maybe playing against 2nd string players helped him more than anything, but he was still putting up great numbers last season as a starter.
Cato is a great backup Center. If there were no Yao Ming, Cato starts, and Collier is backup, this board would be roasting him on a nightly basis. But I for one really appreciate the effort he's been putting in coming off the bench.
Cato's game is great this year, kind of reminds me of Ben Wallace, a lot of boards and good defense, not too much offense beyond alley-oops and dunks. Still, I like the idea of playing Cato as power forward with Yao at center as a way to get Cato more minutes. With Yao getting double-teamed, Cato could eat up the offense boards. Plus, with Yao and Cato down low, few would dare to take the ball inside. Plus, Francis seems to play well with Cato and seems to like to feed him, perhaps moreso than Yao, for some reason.
Sure Cato is overpaid, but he has in fact become a pretty decent center this year. He is the best rebounder on the team and he brings some energy off the bench (which is something that we NEVER saw from Kelvin before). If you look around the league, you see that Cato could be a starter on half of the teams, which means that Kelvin is a top 20 center.
Granted he is overpaid. But he is doing more to earn it this year than ever, so I really do not complain anymore about his contract. Given that I believe there is a bias of dollars chasing size notwithstanding talent, I bet a survey of starting and backup centers' salaries and their production versus Cato's and his production, will probably reveal he is in the middle of the pack or at least not one of the most overpaid. What a difference a year, or a Yao, makes.
I think Cato getting benched was the best thing that ever happened to him. He has to work to get noticed, he took his starting role for granted. Competition breeds excellence.
Great season eh? 2001 Season (His 5th NBA season) - He earned at least $6 Million USD. Played in = 75 games 25 minutes pg 58.2 FT percentage 7rpg 1.3bpg 6.6ppg Great seaon indeed. Why do I even border? Cato's 2002/2003 season is all about perspective and distorted view of reality.
And you can't see his improvement very well because his minutes are down (stats). True, he has the benefit of being behind Yao. I understand that. But, all you have to do is look at this effort on the court. That's what I always look at. Not only the stats. The little things he does. Smart decisions, or not. Don't you remember how bad a rebounder he was? Don't you remember how many bad fouls he cause in the 1st quarter? Don't you remember? He's still not worth the contract. But, hey. That's the teams fault (sign and done!). At the start of the year he was on pace for a 12/10 guy. That's a wayyyy better than he had done in the past.
2001? You comparing apples to oranges? First you compare this year, then you compare two years ago. Then, you deduct "improvement" from Cato by using this year, yet you say he hasn't, yet you use Yao's starting as a reason! (?). Without even look at his minutes and his pace at the start of the year? And last but not least you don't even take in account "effort and intangibles." You're all over the place aren't you?
Don't get me wrong. I love what he brings these days and I am fan of big men. I can also say that I was one of Kelvin's ever present supporters even when he struggled before now but I just don't want to get carried away. If anything we just found out that Kelvin is AT BEST a serviceable BACKUP center - this wher he made his name in Portland as well as here playing behind Hakeem. If we did not draft Yao, Kelvin would have either been crusified or traded off by now - period.
Exactly! The sore spot is just his contract. Not worth 42mil. But, if Yao had not joined the team he would have been expected to grow his 12/10 game to about 15/12. Still not worth 42mil, but at least it would have made him worth of trade bait (with the option to keep him).
Huh? Many teams would pay 42 mil over 7 for a consistent 12/10 player(Which Cato was not), and many more would pay 42 over 7 for a 15/12 player.
