ugh...Collier is not in our plans this year. Arguing about him is just an extension of Draft Day arguments. Let's argue about something more immediate to our success this year...Cato's lousy defense. The guy continues to jump at any headfake and has no idea how to properly position himself. It will take some big-time provocation to overtake this recent obsession with bashing/apologizing for Collier, though. Hence, the prescribed 8 exclamation points. I'll start ------------ I saw Cato fall for a headfake 4 times last night. Many people have lack of patience for Collier lumbering around. Well, I have to say that I have much less patience for an athletic big man who doesn't know how to use it....when not to jump...when to wait for it...how to take the proper angle to the ball...etc Apparently, Cato has not learned anything about the fundamentals of positioning and blocking. If he keeps this up, he will never surpass 2.5 blocks/g because he will continue to get into foul trouble. Falling for a headfake will turn into a foul everytime if the offensive player wants it to. By comparison, LaFrentz is so much better at defense than Cato is. The guy knows how to corral an offensive player for a block just like he is taught, every bit as fundamentally sound as Duncan. If LaFrentz had Cato's leaping ability, he'd lead the league in blocks, rather than just 8th in the league on 30 mpg. Forget athletic potential. At some point we must admit that Cato wastes his athleticism by letting the offensive player headfake him at will. At what point do you start bashing, and sell that "potential" while it still has value?
That's why it would benefit Cato (and Houston) to have another weak-side shot-blocker -- he wouldn't feel the need to block -every- shot. As an opponent, you'd think twice about head-fakes if you know there are more than one shot-blocker coming at you. ------------------ Not only have the Drew bashers crossed the line, but they've sprinted a couple of miles beyond it.
provocation here we come.... Blue...How can you say Cato will get better (or whatever you're saying) by adding a 2nd shot blocker. That's the weakest argument I've heard for Cato. Besides, a premier shot blocker SHOULD look to block/challenge everything in reach. That is what makes them premier shot blockers. He just doesn't have a clue how to do that without exposing himself and/or a lane to the basket. And as an offensive player, I wouldn't "think twice" about headfakes. Doesn't matter if Michael Jordan is coming from the weakside to block my ****. If Cato jumps early, I don't have to shoot. I can go to the free throw line at will. I'd headfake Cato's ass and jump into him for a foul evvveerrryyytime. <font color="dedfdf"> [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited October 25, 2000).]
HP- I didn't see the game last night but I know Cato tries to swat everything. Good news is most shot blockers start off by doing that and learn to know when to jump. Bad news is Cato has been in the league for a few years and even though he doesn't have alot of quality minutes, he hasn't learned a thing from practice or watching films. I am not a fan of Caato either, but because of his large contract he is nearly impossible to trade, cut and even tough to not play (just because it makes the team look bad to give a guy big $$$ then watch him ride the pine)him. Hopefully he improves, because we are stuck with him. ------------------
HP, Nice post Are you sure they were head fakes I'm sure a couple of those were eyebrow fakes and one was a also a twitchy ear fake. His performance this preseson is just further proof that his performance in last years preseason was a flash in the pan (a fluke) and that is the best we will ever see of Cato. Come on Kelvin, start thinking on the court instead of playing dumb. Smeg ------------------ www.NOPostCount.com
I'll admit that I haven't been terribly impressed with Cato's output this pre-season, given the hype around his great offseason work. But I'll wait 10 to 20 games before I make an opinion about whether he truly is the Rockets center of the future. At the very least he needs to improve on his numbers from last year.
