I would tell him that he is the key. No player on this current Rockets team is more crucial to this franchise's long term success. Save Theo Ratliff, <i>no player in the NBA</i> is a better fit for this Rocket team than a motivated Kelvin Cato. With the trade for Glen Rice, the Rockets have become one of the toughest teams in the NBA to defend. They have also assembled a core [originally "corpse", LOL. thanks for catching that one, Will!]of multi-dimensional, flexible, hybrid talent. No team in the league can boast a backcourt featuring two quick playmakers who each require a double team. Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley can now find the likes of Glen Rice or multi-dimensional Mo Taylor open on the perimeter. The Rockets have never had a shooter comparable to Rice. In <i>one</i> day, the Rockets have just become a very dangerous offensive juggernaut. However, I worry about the defensive side of the court. This high powered offense is only possible with Cato playing goalkeeper, allowing Francis and Mobley to play the passing lanes and Eddie Griffin to lay back and operate as a weak-side beast. An inspired Cato (along with the emergence of Francis with the 3rd year rule) makes this club Top 3, IMHO. Two-Three years from now, I envision a lineup of Francis and Mobley in the backcourt, with Taylor, Cato, and a matured Eddie Griffin up front. The guards wreak the same havok, but the duo of Griffin and Cato serves as the league's top shotblocking unit. Let's face it. We will not receive anything worthwhile in a trade for Cato. Keep him. Although he's been given more than enough chances, I prefer the hope of him realizing his potential over the worthless talent he would garner in a trade. Keep him. Don't trade him, rather hire the man professional help. Concentrate on Cato. He is more important than anything we could accomplish in future trade.
If someone could just motivate Cato, he could play some sort of vital role on this team - whether a esviceable starter or a dangerous back-up. The key is to somehow get his head in the game. How to do that is a mystery I hope someone solves soon...
That is one of the great Freudian slips ever posted on this board. Cabbage, welcome back. We've missed you, buddy. And you're right on the money about Cato, IMO. I'm more afraid of a hasty decision to trade him disadvantageously right now than I am of keeping him.
Cato's importance to this team's short term - and long term - success undoubtedly cannot be underestimated. The guy has the talent, the body and the ability to be exactly who we want him to be. A consistent, defensive, shot-blocking presence who can rebound and score garbage points. In an ideal world, he would do all that, and do it with fire. So the question remains, what can the Rockets do to motivate a multi-million dollar professional athlete? Perhaps Hakeem's departure on its own will give him a slap in the face and ignite some fire under his soft arse. For his entire stay in Houston, he has hidden under Hakeem's giant fixture on the team. Even when Dream was injured, Cato knew it was only temporary and was often on the IR with some mysterious injury. Now that Olajuwon's shadow has disappeared to Toronto and Cato is the starting center - at least until he loses it - he has a level of pressure on him that he hasn't experienced in his entire NBA career. At this point, he is still young enough and inexperienced enough to salvage his career and be somebody, and not go down with the long list of busts. Mr. Cato, the ball's in your court. Azim da Dream
And it really is. We have made Cato "The Man". The man in the middle. Let's hope that he can live up to the challenge somewhat, and that he can be inspired/motivated by this responsibility. Let's hope that his problems in the seasons gone by has been that his injuries have been worse than we thought, and that when he is now (for the moment) the only option, that he can give something for what he is being paid. I'm with the: "Let's play Cato and see what he can do contigent" I said this earlier in the off-season. I'm willing to give him one more chance. It is not like his tradevalue can go down.
Cato is the difference between a 45-50 win season to potentially at 60 win season and a shot at the Western Conference Playoffs. The Rockets are done rebuilding if Cato comes to play.
I had a dream last nite that we traded Cato for either Jon or Brent Barry. I woke up and checked the BBS to see if it was true. I guess I'll try to go back to sleep now and see if I can get back into my dream.
No no no no no no no no. I would not say anything close to that. I would say this. "Oh, hello Kelvin, nice to meet you. How are you doing. Have you seen any good movies lately? Ghost World was good, but other than that, pretty bad summer movies. I know, its mainly geared for kids, maybe I am expecting too much. Nice talking to you! Bye!" I mean, cabbage, you are exactly right, but for Christmas' sake do not tell Cato -- if he thinks he is pivotal, he will crumble under the pressure, argue with ref, pout, sulk, and flat out suck. Cato has to think no one is watching. He's like Snuffalupagus or that freaking frog in the bugs bunny sketch that only sings for that one dude: "Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gal .." So seriously, no one tell him that Cabbage is exactly right here. CBFC ps. Cabbage -- when I say "where the hell have you been" I do not mean it as an inert "hey man, welcome back." I mean it was "Like, I actually want to know where the hell you have been." Stop going Cedric Ceballos on us, this board needs you bad.
Finally a sane and rational collection of posts. Cato has everything we need(minus rebounding, dude is uncoordinated) if he comes to play. But if Mo can grab 7.5 boards a game and Eddie is respectable on the boards we can compete w/ anyone. CATO hatters: HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYONE ELSE GO HEAD UP WITH SHAQ AS EFFICVTIVELY AS CATO (DID HE NOT SEND THE BALL BACK IN HIS FACE AND THEN DID IT AGAIN TO SHOW IT WASN"T AN ACCIDENT)? give the man a season as the man.
I have 2 ideas that will prob. motivate Cato: 1) have him and Griffin bet who gets the most blocks before a game for like a thousand per game. Cato could afford that easily. 2)Have the towel boy put cocaine(or lots of sugar) in his gatorade during games. Just some thoughts incase Dream leaving him as starting center isn't enough motivation.
I think, barring a trade for Jahidi White, Cato's gonna emerge this year. By not signing Marc Jackson, they basically said: "So you say you can play? You see this part of the court that's painted in one colour? Prove what you can do....." I'm sure there was some talking goin on between the Rockets and Cato, where Cato would complain about being second fiddle when Hakeem was producing less than he could. Remember before the season, he said, he's always been a contender, and seeing the Rockets losing so much wasn't goin well with him. Now, if he can produce, the Rockets don't have to deal with it. I say we sign Jelani Mccoy for two years, 4 million (total), second year NOT guaranteed. Then you have, the Rockets. Contenders. i think we can be compared to Milwaukee now, but with another scorer at PF.
This board also needs more fantasy conversations from CBFC. To this day, I am still laughing at the phone call "The Rockets Talking to DRob" with the pleasantly content Mr. Robinson. {ring ring} Rockets: "Hello, this is the Houston Rockets calling. We are interested in talking to David Robinson. Is he there please Robinson: "This is David Robinson." Rockets: "Hello David. We have some question marks at the five position this year." Robinson: "Yes." Rockets: "And it reminded us of the time Hakeem Olajuwon schooled you the year you won the MVP." Robinson: "<b>I thought I defensed him pretty well</b>." Rockets: "Why did you lay down for the Lakers this year?" Robinson: <b>"I have no idea."</b> Rockets: "Just wondering. Bye." Robinson: "Bye." {click} {ring ring} Reporter: "Hi David. Any teams calling?" Robinson: "Just the Rockets with their usual phone call." Reporter: "Thanks for the scoop."
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And as long as everyone is confabulating......let's send him to the Medical Center in Houston. There's probably just enough time for a heart transplant before the season starts.
I like the gambling bit myself...but I'm a competitor and love playing for money. Anyone else notice that you play better when money is on the line?
While I am still holding out hope, this is exactly what happened last offseason. We heard thee "He's working out, shooting 500 shots a day" quotes, and began thinking it was the season. It wasn't, and this one probably won't be. But, if so, we definitely will make the playoffs and challenge for the 2nd round.
