I realize that I am a Junior Member and will therefore be ridiculed for this particular thread. That said, I will begin my fan forum here: I have heard much talk about getting a center from this team or free agency or sign some NY street baller or whatever. My point is this, would it be so horrible to not have a center. Now, I know that playing without an incredible hall of fame center in Houston is unthinkable, but maybe it's not. We have a strong backcourt and a better than average shooting PF and SF. Our team strengths are quickness and solid shooting. We will also be able to run with the best of them. Now about acquiring someone to play the 5, we could just convert a 4 to a 5. Reason: we need someone who can run well and finish on break aways. Lack of a center can be hidden by zone. The question is whether or not we can find someone to play center who can run well and finish on break aways. Any ideas for that mold of a player? Is that what Rudy has in mind? Personally, I just don't know.
ahahhahhha...oh wait...i'm a newbie too. -_- however, i think you bring up a good point. or is that just a mutual newbie feeling i have? if we really are going for a more up-tempo lineup, then i think having a 4-converted-5 (unless we can get a natural 5?) that can run with our corps will do just fine. i'm not too familiar with zone defense, so i'm asking: would it help us out in the case we don't have a 5?
I wouldn't mind at all having a pf play center. What i want from the center position, however, is defense and rebounding. Rockets have plenty of offensive options. Someone like Ben Wallace would be ideal. This is the type of pf I would like if Rudy decided to put a pf at center. I don't think there are any FAs right now that are like that though, so to get a player like that would probably require a trade.
I expect the rockets to try to acquire a strong 6'9+ PF to back up Cato. Cato can run when healthy. The rockets don't have enough cap space to get a solid free agent. , so just hope someone wants the Wiz. Gary Trent, Otis Thorpe, Jelani McCoy are probably the best out there.
IF Cato can emerge as a solid starter this year, then no, I don't think backup center would be a huge priority, as I'm sure Collier could do an adequate job as a backup. BTW that is a large if.
Crisco; If you want your C (PF) to be providing defense and rebounding then don't you think that we might have him on the roster? I get the feeling that at some stage this season we may see Eddie and Mo manning the 'big man' spots - this probably won't happen on opening night, but I get the distinct impression that it'll start happening at some stage during the season.
Well yeah, I think Griff will probably end up being a good defensive/rebounding player. Let's just say I'm a little uncomfortable playing Mo or Griff against centers for now, but if Griff fills out he may end up being the starting center for the Rockets, despite his pf/sf billing(Just not this season). Also, I do expect to see a LOT more small ball lineups, similar to what Dallas did last year. It'll be exciting to see which of our big men step up this year(one of them better, dammit )
No, not really. Especially if we continue to run the small-ball occasionally Taylor, Thomas, Griffin, and Collier could make up a solid backup center committee.
Cato is foul prone. Cato has had some nagging injuries the past two years. For these reasons, it would be wise for the rockets to have another player that can play the five. I don't think Mo or Griffin can play the five now. If Griffin can add 20 pounds of strength, maybe. They don't have the strength of Cato. KT is too small to play center. If Griff becomes the primary PF backup, what's the reason behind having a third PF that can't play center? I see KT as very expendable.
We don't really need a true 5 to play the center spot. I think the lineup of Francis, Mobley, Rice, Taylor, and Griffin will help us earn a playoff spot, no problem. The 97-98 Suns had no big man down low either, they played well 3 guards and 2 forwards, and finished the season with a 56-26 record. If the Suns can do it, why can't we? Let the history repeat itself..
SHAQ!!!! There's no winning the west (i.e. anything) if Shaq-Diesel scores 60 a night against us. I guess we can just hope someone else beats them but I think to realistically have a shot of getting back to the finals we have to have some kind of shaq-protection. A 4 at the 5 just isn't going to cut it in the west.
Don, I'd go so far to say that the key to our offense is not making Maurice defend centers.....at.all.cost. Get any strong body who can hit an open J. We can't afford to bank on Cato going uninjured. I'm willing to bet that we can find such a player in the CBA.
Defending Shaq is an overrated commodity. Mutumbo, the best defensive center in the league, was schooled by Shaq last season. It is a lot like Robinson vs. Olajuwon. Robinson was, arguably, the best player in the league the year Olajuwon ripped him in the playoffs. There are only a handful of good to great centers in the NBA. The rest are average and below. There is simply a dirth of quality big men and that won't change anytime soon. Teams with a good or great big man are the exception, not the rule.
Exactly jeff, you can't beat shaq, but you can cause him lotta trouble by swarming him with defenders whenever he touches the ball. I think Griffon can be a center in this league with a bit more strength and some tutoring by Rudy and CD. With the quick little guys on our team, there will be enough help for him to defend most centers in the league. Offensively, he can OWN with his shot and quickness.
Maybe because the forwards included Cliff Robinson, Antonio McDyess, George McCloud, Danny Manning, and bangers like John Williams and Mark Bryant? I like the '02 Rox but don't trust Cato and won't count on Mo for boards or D. We definitely need someone who can throw his weight around for 82 games, even if he doesn't garner a lot of minutes. Without someone like that, Cato will get injured, then Mo will get injured trying to play center. Mo and KT make a great pair of 4s, but we're too thin at 5 and it will hurt us. That's why I said last week we needed another guard. Great as they are, Cat and Hawk (my new nickname for "Chise") can't last the season without adequate backup. It's the same with Cato and Collier, except with them, we have no reason so far to think they can play 48 minutes a game between them!
