Cato is the starter and depending on how well he does he will remain the starter. Alot need to remember Ming is a rookie and for now and maybe this whole season will be a backup to Cato. To me he has improved his work ethics,and his handling skills the problem Ming is gonna have is riding the pine. Anyone wanna guess how long it will be before Ming starts complaining about lack of playing time??
Well Rudy already has stated that he would have no problem starting Yao Ming. You are right that Yao Ming is a rookie but he has played at a professional level for at least 2 years ( if you can call the CBA pro) and has showed he has some game against some very good players in the WBC ( just ask Antonio Davis ). Cato has seemed to have improved but this is his peak time...the preseason. Cato has also stated that he would have no problem coming off the bench and has even hinted that he enjoys it.
I think that with Yao the starter and Cato playing the majority of his minutes against backups is a win-win situation. If Cato has indeed improved (and I think that we'll get to see that at the beginning of the season while he does start), then he will be a great defensive guy coming off the bench. If Cato is dedicated then there is no reason he cant be a 6/8/2 player off the bench in 25 minutes. Combine that with 10/8/2 for Ming and we got a really good platoon at center (16/16/4 is nasty!).
Are you kidding? Are you Cato's mom? Would you care to elaborate on your reasoning? I cannot understand why you think this.
Cato might start for the first few games as Ming gets accomodated to the NBA life, but there is no doubt Ming will be the starter at center. After all, the Rockets are pushing him to be Rookie of the Year.
If i'm not mistaken, Yao knows it takes awhile for him to transition..and isn't even expecting MAJOR playing time at the moment.
You hit the nail right on the ahead. Although I dont think the rockets are pushing Ming at all. Thats the last thing they want is to put more pressure on him that he already has. I think the Rockets just want Ming to come aboard, adjust to life in the NBA and the United States and grow with the rest of the team. Id be happy with that.
ming missed summer leage, camp, and preseason. he will not start the season as a starter when he doesnt know the players or the system. my guess is rudy wont want to shake up the line-up too much. so we wait 5 games for mo to get back. give the team another 5 games to gel with mo as a starter, then rudy may make his choice at center. if thats the case, cato has 10 games to play well and beat out ming for the spot. remember that we must win too, or rudy will make changes in the line-up. if cato starts and we are 6-4 or worse we will definitly see ming as the starter for game #11. but the same goes for ming. if we dont succeed early with ming as a starter, people will blame the lack of practice and he will have to reclaim his spot later. i think we are gonna see these match-ups between ming-cato, moT-griff, and rice-kt. of course if we are winning, like 7-3 or better, even if someone is playing poorly i dont think there will be any changes. so if ming starts off coming off the bench and we get off to a GREAT start i tihnk he may be our 6th man this year.
Ballerman:- Your in for a surprise! You dont pick a #1 to play Center and sit on the bench! Think back to Hakeem and Ralph.The Chinese would go up in the air if we benched Yao Ming at least for the OPENER. All the Oriental People who purchased Rockets tickets are coming to see the greatest ever Asian Player of the Game. Les has gone out of his way to encourage this new interest in his team. I dont think he would do anything to rock their faith and support! There is no way that Cato wins out as this seasons starting Center. Just NO WAY!!
Yetti, People are not oriental, things are. People can be asian though. I'm not trying to rag on you, or call you ignorant, it's just something you might want to know should you encounter some people of asian descent.
1) Ming won't be the starter in the opener. But he definitely will be at the end of the season, maybe even at All Star break. One more thing: "Cato has also stated that he would have no problem coming off the bench and has even hinted that he enjoys it." Please stop spreading bull**** like this. Cato does not enjoy being on the bench. He said that he's comfortable being on the bench, if and ONLY if it means more wins for the team. He didn't say he WANTS to be on the bench because it's easier, like you make it sound. He said that if it means more wins for the HOUSTON ROCKETS, then he'd be fine coming off the bench. BTW, he won't play less minutes than Ming this year so it doesn't matter if he starts or not.
I am not spreading anything. Cato has said , more than once , that he has no problem coming off the bench. He never added any restrictions when he said it. I am restating what Cato stated...nothing more. IF you took it to mean that I am implying that Cato wanted the bench because it was easier, well, thats you problem. I never meant that nor do I think that. Starting or not, Cato will get starter minutes. He knows that, we know that, & Rudy knows that.
I say trade for Hakeem, let him be accounced as part of the starting lineup, do a ceremonial jump ball, and then take him out, replace him with Yao, and let him walk off into the sunset while getting a 15 min. standing ovation. Of course this is ludicrous. But it sounds nice.
Elie#17 Asians are from the Continent of Asia which include Caucasian and Mongoloid People. The Orient on the otherhand have Oriental People(Mongoloid). When I speak of Orientals I am not meaning Asian! I an excluding People that are Caucasian. This correction which you propose is very strange to one who has an oriental family. It must be an American way. Its not that way in Europe they call Asian Mongoloid pepople, Oriental!
maybe in europe they call people oriental, but in america its not "pc". i personally dont like the fact that everything has to be PC in america but since it does you should go along with it so you dont offend anyone.
