He has been playing huge along side Yao Ming during the last couple of games. If Ming and him play like 30 minutes together on the court, we will see a true twin towers.
If MoT and Eddie improve their game, we'll see Yao-Cato twin tower at court. I think Rudy doesn't play this oftenly because he's worrying about Yao's too many mpg and the backup problem.
I like Rudy's experimenting with the twin towers. Cato has become a true enforcer and rebounding demon (BOY, I CAN"T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THAT Problem is that Cato has no offensive range beyond point blank and too often has flippers. However, he is a pretty good passer, sets (mostly legal) lethal picks, and really knows his role. Depending on matchups, the two of them on the court together could cause some real problems. BTW, have just perused the total points, blocks and rebounds/game coming from our tandem of centers and it's pretty impressive. I do plenty of Rudy bashing but gotta give him credit here. D R
As one of the Cato haters, I must say that Cato has been playing unbelievable basketball this year. Go Cato!!
I've never hated Cato! I used to laugh about him! I still do...but he is great! He is just the best at rebounding! Mo Taylor will hopefully get better and Eddie Griffin is still learning. I think YAO and CATO and GRIFFIN would be a GREAT WALL at the same time. Put Mo Taylor in for Griffin, and it would be pretty strong. I like it so far. Rudy has been using it, so I guess he likes it. Yao will need to rest, though. Really, although Cato has been great, his scoring ability is weird. I don't understand why we barely pass to Yao...but actually pass it down low to Cato. Cato does this at least once per game and always misses...sometimes...completely. Anyways...Cato is doing great!
Once again it a case of Rudy adjusting late, very late. I've written in some threads about Cato and Yao playing together for stretches. The game against Minny would be a good game to play them togther in stretches when Minny has Rasho,Garnett,and Trent together. Ming on Rasho,Griffin on Garnett,and Cato on trent. The reason being Trent is too strong for griffin and garnett is too long and quick for taylor. Another game when I thought Rudy could have played Ming and Cato together was against Jazz. When they had Tag,kirilenko and Malone together, malone was too strong for griffin and too quick for taylor.Cato could have played malone,Griffin on Kirilenko and Ming on Ostretag. We know Cato offense is very limited, but during close games you need stops also. Offense does no good if the other team is scoring at will down the stretch. It just seems like he takes too long to adjust. If Rudy is worried about the foul situation, Collier has proved to be at least adequate in stretches and not a complete stiff.
Well, I know I'm in the minority here, but Cato should concentrate on being the backup center. He is doing a marvelous job, and his presence, attitude, rebounding and aggression are crucial to the Rockets if they are to win. Now, if Rudy needs muscle and touch when Griffin and Taylor are not at the top of their games, he should turn to Jason Collier. Collier is a true PF, not a center. He can shoot, block, rebound, set a mean pick and has a babe for a wife.
I'm not sure I want Cato playing the 4 cuz we need a backup to Yao when he's tired (especially lately). However, despite not having an offensive game, I have to say Cato is one of the Rox that I like the most. Why? No attitude problem. He accepts the fact that he's a role player and still plays the hardest for the team. That's pretty good especially considering he lost the starting job to Yao. We need more people like Cato on our team.
theres a guy by the name of ben wallace who might even have less offensive game than cato. things seem to be working out just fine for detroit.
Maybe the enforcer that we have been looking for has been Cato all along. Cato is pretty similar to Ben Wallace type player. He doesn't need the ball to be happy. A near perfect compliment for Yao Ming.
I can't say I have been a big fan of Catos, but I certainly didn't hate him the way may here did. He is playing very well this year, certainly above all reasonable expectations. Am I correct that they have even run a few plays for him?
hmm....about time to say... IT"S CATO TIME BABY!! I have never hated cato...i have laughed a few times in frustration at him....ok ok...maybe more than a few times. I didnt like the way he doesnt bother to jump alot to contest shots. well. Glad Cato is back...fighting for his postition. Twin towers in houston...wow.
id like to see more ming/cato. thats a tough inside presence. however, i agree w/ whoever said that he should concentrate on being the back-up center. we have the best center tandem in the league right now. isnt it funny how the center position is now the strongest link on the team? and dont forget j.c. jason collier, not jesus christ (but dont forget him either)
Way to go Kelvin!! I don't know for sure, but I think the guy was just depressed in years past. I actually saw him look happy and smile in the last game. Of course he is in much better phsysical shape and I think we should take him at his word that he was severely injured much of one of tose horrible years with us. He has finally found his role. As a rebounder with ok shotblocking and interior defense. While he can be better than ok as a shotblocker, when he focuses on that he gets into too many fouls and it hurts his specialty of rebounding. He seems genuinely happy to be second fiddle to Yao and we are lucky to have him. I think that with Cato we have to move slow before giving him too many more responsibilities with his fragile psyche (at least in the past). Now that KT is gone he is the only big guy we have who really looks like he means it when he rebounds.
Since the off season I called Ming, Cato and Collier the best center rotation in the league. It is now clear that they are. To me the days of Collier being on the injured list for no reason should be over. We are among the best shot blocking and rebounding team in the league but we need our fg% to go up with more low post scoring. Folks like HP would like to go another way and play only eight guys but in this stretch coming up I would involve all of our big men substituting based on matchups. We need to have muscles against Minny but not as much against Dallas. Bottomline is all these guys make us better defensively and on the boards, ourtickets this year.
Thank you, DearRock. As I have been preaching, Collier is an asset to be used. Collier has size, range, ability to set a pick, shooting touch and a babe wife to pan onto when he makes a good play. Collier is often criticized, but when he comes in to play, the board always marvels about his surprisingly solid play. Afterward, we tend to forget and go back to calling him dead wood. Let's use Collier more!
