Can you believe that I actually typed hieght instead of weight? I will be the one to tell myself right now, no more drunk posts LeGrouper - seriously - you are making an idiot out of yourself... Thanks for the tip though
Why would anyone want to play Cato and Ming together? Ming would obviously be the center and Cato would get demolished at the 4. The dude can barely keep his feet together when guarding centers like Olowakandi. I would hate to see what people like Rasheed, Duncan, Garnett and Webber would do it to his clumsy ass. Besides, his 0.98 blocks per game is pretty damn pathetic for a seven footer like him. I'd much rather see Ming and Griffin on the floor together.
During a game next season, Rudy gets frustrated and puts in the "get the d--- rebound" lineup: Franchise Boki Eddie Yao Ming Cato I don't care whether or not that lineup makes sense, I want to see it anyway just to see what the other team does. Make that into a zone and see if the other team has the guts to take it inside! Seriously though, Yao and Griffin ought to be our twin towers and begin to develop that long-term chemistry now. That leaves Cato as backup center, period.
I don't believe that Cato and Yao will be playing together for one reason: Cato is the least talented player on our team. (Aside from Collier perhaps) All he has going for him is his size. If you have a bigger and more talented man on the floor already, the reason for Cato to be on the floor ceases to exist.
Rocket River, I agree with you that Eddie and Ming together would be more probable and I am interested to see how that works out in some games. On Cato and Ming Playing together, at least in the first year Ming will not be playing a lot of minutes (physical conditioning and fouls will keep him on hijm bench longer thatn most of us would like to believe). That might be a bigger possibility in year two - and that too only if Cato improves his footwork dramatically.
Bull. I've called you out on assumed facts a zillion times. You state your opinion as fact on a regular basis and use those "facts" to "debate" a point. This forum isn't for replying to posts with assumptions and false truths...
Back to the original question. The only time I think we will see them both on the court is against the Lakers. I doubt Rudy will put Ming on Shaq because he will get into foul trouble. He will put Cato and Coller on Shaq and Ming on their power foward.
Bull. Name one assumed fact Ive posted. You are the one assuming facts (i.e. the Rockets are just as good or better than the Spurs (a statement you never could back up). I never state my opinion as fact. I state my opinion and debate it with factual statisticsm just like you said. You need to step back and realize the difference. You need to look arround this BBS for carefully. The majority of whats posted around here is assumptions, including most of your own takes.
Exactly, Cato can block shots, but can he or will he move his feet or stay active enough to play PFs. Obviously we haven't seen Ming enough, but in the limited time I've seen him he could play some time at PF. I know people say he might be to slow, but Duncan isn't exactly the fastest PF out there and he does a nice job defensively. I think we could get away with Yao at the PF if the Rocks really needed him at that position. But I agree Rockets2K, there's no way Cato will play PF. I thought he could when we first got him, but his footspeed defensively is horrible, and he doesn't even begin to be active.
Given we are talking about Rudy T, I expect to see them in the game together. We never saw Cato and Willis but this is a better proposition and one that I spoke about close to a month ago. Just what Codell said, I thought that Ming has the skill to play the 4. At the time of course I did not know that Cato would be playing even better. I am one of those who do not have to wait to see how well Ming adjusts. I fully expect a positive adjustment and have started to consider the possibilities. I do think the chance of seeing them together, even a little bit, is reduced by the presence of EG. Just after the draft I thought that we were now in a position to matchup with the best low post teams, Lakers and Spurs. I really do think that we have the opportunity to dish out more hurt on Shaq than he can dish out on us. By dishing our hurt I mean engage him defensively and offensively for every minute he is on the court. Leading up to a LA game, I would take Collier off IR and go into the game with Ming, Cato and Collier. All are to run continuously and be involved offensively and body up Shaq, using 15 fouls if we have to. That is the kind of mindset we have to have. Run, run, run. Cut, Cut, Cut. Double, double, double. Jumper, Jumper, Jumper. Drive, drive, drive. Not even Codell can recall a moment in Shaq's career where he faced a collection players at his position, on one team, with such talent level, height and weight profile. Not to mention the prospect of weakside help from EG.
IMO, Cato couldn't play 4 on offense, and on defense they would have to play some sort of low post zone to nullify the quickness disadvantage.
Oh, I'm sure Codell will have a fact on that one real soon... By the way, I agree with you on the basic premise in your statement, i.e. about Shaq and the competition he would face against us.
As a combination of talent level (potentially), height and weight, I would indeed agree, Shaq will have something hes never faced before in Yao. I think Yao's strong foundation (base), is what going to help him hold his position the most. Im still concerned about Yao's short arms (very short arms). Because of this, his shot blocking skills potentially will be more similar to a 7'2" guy than someone like Bradley who is the same height and has very long arms. Although, Yao could make up for that in instinct and jumping ability.
Talk about assuming facts. You assume that Cato can engage Shaq offensively, and that Collier can engage him in any way. You also assume the Rockets will run continuously, that Cato can shoot a jumper or drive, and that Collier can drive. I wonder which Shaq would prefer to face: Ming and two scrubs, or Hakeem, David Robinson, or Patrick Ewing in their prime, regardless of their backups?
Did you know that Thomas "Two Sandwiches" Hamilton is in an NBA training camp this year? I found that amusing.
