Kelvin Cato has had so many chances in the last three seasons to do what he's done in these last few games. Yes, I'm glad he's doing well, but I've seen him do well in stretches before. The problem I have with him, as well as some others on this board, is that he has not done it consistently, for weeks and months at a time. He's always had some stretches like the one he's in right now. I'll be as thrilled as anyone to admit I was wrong on him, but I'm not going to get on the "Cato is the center of the future" bandwagon just yet. I've seen him do this for a series of games in the past, and then revert back to old form. I want to give him a chance, but at the same time if an opportunity to get a quality five arose with his name in the package I'd give it some serious thought.
I'll give Cato some credit for his last few games, but I'm still not buying it. Like The Cat said, he's too inconsistent & in all likely hood, will revert back to the Cato of old, right after the trade deadline passes. If he can continue to put these kinds of numbers up throughout the rest of the season, then I'll give him his earned praise. Five games isn't going to change my opinion. Watching him last night, I saw a player that walks up the floor on almost every possesion. Of the 15 rebounds that he got, many of them literally fell into his hands. I will give him credit for hanging on to them though, in the past he would've fumbled them out of bounds. His footwork is non existent. They don't move. His defensive positioning is questionable as well. I don't know how many times that he was directly under the basket for rebounds & allowed his man to get behind him for lobs. He rarely, if ever, puts his hands up to offer some interference to the shooter & rarely leaves his feet to block shots. It's as if he took the encouragement of the coaching staff to not jump at every fake, to mean don't jump at all. There was one play that really pissed me off at Cato. I believe it was Davis that was driving the baseline to the basket. His defender had been beaten & another defender comes over to help, but Cato was moving away from the basket, as if conceding the shot & going back on offense. He should've challenged the shot, because he had the height & as it turned out, Davis put the shot up high enough on the glass that the shorter defender couldn't get to it. If the Rockets could find another team that wanted Cato, I'd trade him in a heartbeat. He's too weak mentally, for the NBA. He constantly has to have his ego stroked or he gets depressed & quits on the team. That, imo, makes him a high maintenance player. If he had the upside of a T-Ratliff or Jermaine O'Neal type player, then I might consider it worth the effort. However, so far, he's done nothing but show more inconsistency than Walt. Crispee, If you have the time, could you do an analysis of Cato in the Charlotte game? Rebounding & defensive positioning, number of times he actually ran up the floor, how many times he left his feet, how mant times he actually moved his feet? Who knows, maybe my opinion is distorted because I don't believe in him.
Man Hotoddie which game did you watch last night. Because the one I saw Cato was getting back on defense, hustling, altering and blocking shots. He outplayed campbell. And how can you say the rebounds fell into his hands. He got 8 offensive rebounds. Offensive rebounds don't fall in your hands maybe one but not eight. Just face it you don't like Cato and you'll never give his props. The guy is playing good ball right now and as far as I'm concerned he is the difference in the W last night. Frances and Mobes have been playing good as of late and we've still been losing and we need Cato to play the way he has been playing to win. You can argue that he really are only interior defense right now. Yes Griffin blocks shots and there is no question he will eventually be a star both offensively and defensively but for now he is still 19 and the big boys like Kenyon, Duncan Garnett still push him around. Anyway You don't have to give Cato credit... but I am very happy with the way he has come around this season and I only see him getting better.
Hottoddie: I think that play you are talking about with Baron Davis happened near the end of the game. Cato had 5 fouls & I would guess probably didn't want to risk picking up his 6th foul and fouling out. It's a good thing because the game went into overtime. With the way he was playing last night, I think the Rockets might have lost if he had fouled out before the overtime period. Cat: I agree with you what you are saying. This is probably just a tease that Cato is giving us; however, it pisses me off that the guy does everything we can ask him for and we still have people who feel he isn't worth a damn. No, the Cato that didn't care isn't worth a damn....this Cato does care (or at least it seems he does) and is worth a damn.
I think Cato just might've turned a corner. It's very possible that he's figured out how he needs to work, and is getting positive reinforcement. The biggest difference are his hands-he hasn't been fumbling, and he's been controlling the ball much better. How much of this may be due to reps with Steve? Who knows? How much of this is him trying to protect his playing time with KT, EG, and MoT? He's clearly stepped ahead of Willis. Cato's role in the future is most likely that of a platoon center-he'll get somewhere between 20-30 MPG, and we'll probably acquire another center along the way to pick up the rest, with EG getting some of those minutes when we go small. hottoddie-You and I must have been watching different games. The Cato I saw was playing extremely tough, battling inside, and really exerting some muscle (I think Willis has helped him tremendously as far as that). Remember, the play Campbell got hurt on was an offensive foul on Cato, where he went full force into Campbell. Cato was not shy at all. Cato has stopped leaving his feet this year because he was getting burned to often when he left them last year. Lately, he's started to get a better grasp and timing, and I'm seeing him go up more often. His footwork is nonexistent, but he's learned timing with Steve to get those alley-oops, and his hands have been good enough to keep him in the game. I find his positioning to be fine. He and Griffin are definitely learning how to work together well, as they combined for 24 boards, and 4 blocked shots. I'll take that from my PF/C combo every game.
People overreacting to a couple good games from Cato is exactly what got him that bloated, untradeable contract in the first place.
I think that you are reading more into it than that. I, at least, have never said that Cato is now one of the top centers in the league. I'm just giving the man his props for playing well. If that means I'm overreacting, than I guess I'm "guilty as charged"! Look at it this way: before we weren't getting squat, now we have a glimmer of hope that we can get more than squat. However, like Cat said, I don't blame anyone for being skeptical that Cato can do this on a consistent basis. However, for the time being, let's just be thankful that he came to play last night and we were able to win a game. NIKEstrad said it best....so, there's really no point in trying to say anything else other than this: BTM: Is there anyone on the Rockets team that you do like ? Or better yet, any player in the entire freaking league that you like? Maybe you only like Tony Parker.....
There are two things that contribute to Cato's better play. 1.) Griffen's emergence as a legitimate inside player takes pressure off Cato on both ends of the court. 2.) Cato has NEVER played for an extended period of time. Portland he wasn't used. Then he played behind Dream. Last season he was hurt. This is the first time in his career he's been able to get comfortable with his role. Considering Cato didn't play high school ball, he should become more consistent. I've always been a cautious Cato supporter (or wishful thinker). Cato is our KEY! If Cato can earn and then demand a little respect, then our guard play will open up. I doubt we'll get an upgrade in any trade for a center. So why don't you just wish for better play rather than a trade?
Its more than a couple of games. Cato has been playing consistently great for 6 straight games. averaging 10.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. Why couldnt he continue to keep playing like this if he can do it for 6 straight games? Maybe he's decided to pick up up game and hussle harder.
I'll give Cato some credit. These past few games he's done very well and has really helped this team. If Cato can keep putting good numbers I'll be incredibly happy. He'd give this team what they need the most: a good center. I think Cato can become even better than he is and become a lead rebounder and blocker in the league if he would really buckle down and try. If Cato starts getting lazy again I, and I believe everyone else, would like to see Cato off the team. Where ever he's gotten his motivation from whether it be Francis, Griffin, or others: THANK YOU! With Cato and hopefully no more serious injuries, this Rockets team will rock next season.
Never seen Cato , consistently playing so aggressive before. He can even more accelerate his game if he can put his mind and body into it! I admit that this is the first time, I really said something nice about the guy, He better not to slack off or else! Be good Cato!
i agree in that i think cato has turned a corner. he's had a few good games here and there, but i don't believe it's been this many in a row during the regular season. The most positive thing i've seen is his attitude change, it's a completely different cato then he's ever shown us. if he can keep up a double double i'd have no problem taking him out of trade talks.
