I think the problem with Cato has been our problem, not his. We expected too much (potential, contract, that big preseason, traded for Pippen (I can't remember if that is when we got him or not) ) and he wasn't ready for it. And now that our expectations are lower, he is meeting or exceeding them with a relatively small growth in his game. Reading this stuff reminds me more and more of Ken Johnson, last year's center for Ohio State. He was sensitive rather than manic depressive (don't know which Cato is), but he went through the same things and was the same type of player (tall shotblocker with limited offensive game) A coach really has to know how to handle these types of players. Once they get over it and the coach understands them, these guys can take off. With KJ, it was the fact that the coach saw his potential and would drive him extra hard in practice and he took that personally. Didn't understand that the coach was extra hard on him because he cared more about him and what he could do. Once he understood that, he blossomed into the best shotblocker in college basketball. I see the same possibility here with Cato. Don't expect too much from Cato on the offensive end because he will never provide that. But he may blossom into one of the best defensive players in the league. And I may be biased, but I would still love to see us trade for Ken Johnson at some point before he gets comfortable in the NBA. I think he will struggle under Pat Riley (I think that is where he is at) based on my understanding of Riley's style, but if Rudy understands the similarities between him and Cato, KJ could prosper here.
Originally posted by Will Actually, I heard the interview, and Cato's exact words were: The players they added, plus Glen Rice's wife. When things weren't going well in the preseason, she picked me up. You could be right, my wife and kids accuse me of *mishearing* all the time . On the other hand, I am pretty sure he said Rice. Rice's statement in the Chron after the Hawks game was interesting: Rice admitted he was a little nervous entering his first game as a Rocket. His wife and four children had arrived earlier in the day. "It was my first time to see my kids in about a month!" Rice yelled across the locker room to a teammate. I suppose his wife could have been here without the kids, but I kind of doubt it.
