Rudy always said that he did not want to put Cato at the PF spot because he was a liability on offense. That his man would always double down on Yao and that Cato could not hit the medium range jump shot. In other words, in RUDY's OFFENSIVE SYSTEM we could not have this pairing. However, it appears in JVG's system, Cato (still an offensive liability) on the court seems to work, for whatever reason. Perhaps it is the motion or the spacing. I haven't seen any games so I can't comment on it. Perhaps those that have watched the games can comment how offensively it seems to be working with Cato at the PF spot. Offensively what is the team doing NOW that they weren't doing last year under Rudy's helm? What is it we are doing now that makes Cato at the PF spot work?
Let them double down. Cato has an affinity for being near the basket whether it was an alley-oop from Franchise (which happened quite a bit last season) or grabbing offensive rebounds. I have lways thought that the Cato/Yao thing would work... though its still early. Couple that with Yao's ability to pass and you are going to see quite a few Cato jams or open three's this year from Pike, SF, JJ, and Cat. Stuart
Double down on Yao? Great! Yao could quickly pass the rock to Stevie and Cato could just run toward the basket and dunk the rock from a perfect pass from Stevie ... That would look very very good, would it not?
I would LOVE 2 see both of these guys play in tha starting line up in the regular season, im sure it would creat alota of catch up problems for opposing teams !!
I think starting Cato as PF is better to complement Yao cuz he's got the size and strength to deal with the PFs in the west. Eddie is not big enough plus he can't shoot, and I seen games where he took rediculous shots (rush shots) and hurting the team. Coming off the bench with Amiechi, MTaylor, E. Griffin or A. Griffin, Pikowski and M. Norris. In the 2nd quarter, you can always go back to the lineup of Ming, Griffin, Pikowski, Mobley, Francis. OR Ming, Cato, JJ, Mobley, Francis. OR Ming, Cato, Pikowski, Mobley, Francis.
i can't agree with that reasoning, if for no other reason than because cato reached his nadir with rudy t. so is he responsible for dragging cato down to that depth, as well? to me, rudy had little to nothing to do with cato's ascent or descent... it was all on cato to starting giving a damn. rudy, imo, was absolutely clueless on what to do with cato. as for rudy not being able to play cato at the 4 because of motay & griff, i can't buy that either. cato never really got the opportunity from rudy to prove he could! it's not like motay/griff were tearing it up out there. the need for consistent, tough play from our PF existed then, as well. and for a couple of minutes (total), rudy did try cato at the 4....hardly enough time to prove/disprove anything. fact is, rudy chose not to try it, and JVG has chosen to try it. rest assured that when motay/griff come back, you'll still see cato getting some minutes at the 4...if for no other reason than he proved he can handle, and maybe excel, at it.
I'm so happy to see this line-up. I've been praying for it and it's actually working so far. It does weaken our bench a tad bit but Cato looks like he's in shape and should be getting more than the 20 minutes he was getting last season as only a backup C. Cato definitely is showing he can rebound and with so much attention going to Yao it definitely opens up Cato for offensive putbacks as seen in last night games. Good Job coach!!
i think the two in the lineup at the same time is great. the only problem i see is the quicker PF's abusing Cato. Twin towers are back in Houston... (well sort of)
The only real PF I see Cato having a problem with is Tim Duncan. Most of the PF's in this league don't have TD's shooting touch which would give Cato problems. Cato could always play a bit off most of the quicker PF's but he seems to be doing well so far. He appears to be ready to do battle in the trenches. I'll give it a few more games to really be sold but I like what I'm seeing so far.
slightly off topic, but it seems during rudy's tenure there where many inside guys brought in that though good or not so good beforehand, actually looked better with the rockets. im thinking mainly of guys like bryant, chucky, to some extent willis, and now cato that seemed to develop nice hook shots and decent defensive and rebounding skills. i remember in an interview once the credit going to someone on rudy's coaching staff- anyone remeber who??
Kevin Garnett will give him more trouble than Duncan, but you make adjustments like giving weakside help when Duncan draws cato outside where he can use quickness to get by him. If Duncan or Garnett try to post Cato down low, Cato will hold his own.
bryant, willis, & cato all credited the addition of the jumphook to CD, IIRC. othella harrington & hakeem, too. chucky brown, i don't remember making specific comments about the coaching staff. in fact, i can't recall any big man specifically crediting rudy t for improving his offensive game. jim boylen received credit for the obvious (and successful) adjustment to james posey's outside shot. that was an instant gratification situation...probably the most impressive adjustment i've ever seen in a player (at least for a short time period).
don't forget that JVG's defensive philosophy is based upon team defense. cato (or motay, for that matter) would receive a lot of help dealing with KG. more importantly, imo, is not allowing the rest of the wolves to get off. KG is not capable of beating the rockets singlehandedly.
Hey everyone Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber and Tim Duncan gives everyone fits... including each other. I just don't see Cato being more of a defensive (or offensive) liability than Eddie Griffin, in fact, from what I saw from EG last year I think Kelvin is an improvement on both sides. Stuart
It's not just that simple math there. If you remember corretly, Yao was only effective for ~18 minutes in most of the games last year. The other time he was in the game, he was too tired to be effective. This made him only a half center for the last season. Who would you put there for other ~30 minutes? Someone else mentioned another factor that both Yao & Cato were foul prone last. I don't know if it's true, but that's always a concern for the big guys. I don't know how good/bad Amaechi is/was, but by picking up him, the Rockets is telling us that Cato is expendable at 5. Giving the depth at 4 (EG, MT), I don't think the Rockets had Cato playing 4 in their mind when making the trade.
Grudging as it may be, I'm afraid at least some of the credit for Cato's improved play has to go to Patrick Ewing, who worked with Cato during the summer. Thanks, Pat.
Yes! I love it! Great combination! I love it... There are still some errors and mistakes...but a lot of offensive rebounds...we are owning! Cato gets easy putbacks...and Cato can post up and Yao can stay outside. Cato and Yao on defense is great! I think we should play them together... Very tall lineup! Cato can contain some guys...he has no chance against Nowitzki though. I wonder who on our team can guard Lebron...
I think Van gundy is on to something with Yao and Cato on the court at the same time. Another Duncan and Robinson duo? could happen with the right pieces. Cato so far has proved to me he belongs! I have to say that steal Steve did from Divac was sick, I bet we see that more often.
Just as long as we don't see stretches with both of them on the bench Cato can be foul prone. . . and i worry when he and Yao are sitting We working with Amechi and Motay or Griffin Rocket River
