I just hope Kevin still does the heart stab/pounding/dagger thing he did when he was here in 97-98. You know, after he slams the ball or makes a big shot or sticks the dagger in..he starts pounding his chest! Dude has the biggest guns and it looks cool when he does this.
Willis has played against Cato. Kevin did say that he thought Cato had the talent to become a dominant center in the league. I hope he helps Griffin as well. Cato did seem to be fired up a lot more against Detroit. Willis' 8 - 12 boards would have looked good in that line score. That will let Cat, Steve, and Moochie stay a little farther out on D, and then break downcourt for more running. As it is now, it seems they have to sag in more to protect the rebounding of Cato, Thomas, and Williams.
This article says it all. It looks like Willis is making it one of his goals to work with Cato. He also states that he'll work with the other youngsters. If he can instill in the players hearts the part that I've highlighted in blue, then I'd have no problem resigning him for the last 3 years that he wants to play. Willis could actually turn out to be a better fit than Dream would've been, just because of his desire to take the young players under his wing & teach them. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1102661 Oct. 24, 2001, 12:49AM Willis brings will, heart to teach young Rockets Willis eager to develop Cato into an elite player By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle The Rockets acquired Kevin Willis on Monday and by Tuesday were told they would soon have one of the elite centers in the NBA. Willis said he would see to it. But he did not have himself in mind. Willis announced this upon returning to the Rockets, where he has a history of playing behind one of the elite centers in the NBA. But this time, the great big man in front of him would not be Hakeem Olajuwon. This time, he said, along with contributing consistent scoring, rebounding, muscle and veteran wisdom, he would help Kelvin Cato grow into greatness. All this for a second-round draft pick. "Could I play 30 minutes? I think I can," Willis said at halftime of the Rockets' 103-85 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday at Compaq Center. "Would I like to bring along the young kid, Cato? I want to let him know you're a very important part of this team. Take some time out. Think about what you want to do in the game of basketball, refocus, recommit yourself. You can be one of the really good players in this league, one of the elite players in this league. "I think he has the tools. He has the talent. He has the potential of doing that. It comes from the inside. If he takes that approach, I think he can do it." The Rockets picked up Willis late Monday for many of the same reasons they signed him in 1996. He would bring his dependable jump hook, well-timed cuts to the basket and defensive muscle. But this time, having happily plugged Willis into whatever need arose for two seasons, Tomjanovich remembered the agreeable attitude of Willis' first tenure with the team and considered it a valuable asset for a second term. "Whatever he needs me to do, I can do that," Willis said of the role he would fill. "I can do that. I can adjust to any situation. My big thing is to just get in a groove with the guys as far as me understanding the way they like to play, their style of play, what they like, dislike, what I like and dislike. Just try to build a bond without stepping on toes." That pretty much described Willis' first tenure with the Rockets, when he played behind Olajuwon and Charles Barkley. Though he arrived in Houston with a reputation as a high-maintenance talent, Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said he easily accepted his role without complaint. "I like him personally," Tomjanovich said. "He's a good guy to have around. He was outstanding. "He's still a pretty doggone good player. He really had a good stay with us the last time. He was a major contributor. Later in his career, I don't know what the extent of his minutes will be. But he's a hard worker. He takes care of his body. And I know he'll give us all he's got. I know he can give us help at the center position." Willis, 39, will largely be counted on to provide depth at center, particularly with Cato and Jason Collier coming off injury-filled seasons and Collier out with shinsplints in his left leg. Cato said he was thrilled to have another banger in the frontcourt. But though he was not ready to second Willis' suggestion that he was on his way to elite status, Cato said he was anxious to work with Willis and to continue in that direction. "I think I'm a long way from what Kevin sees right now," Cato said. "But I'm going to keep working to do what I can do to get better. I'm working with the coaching staff on a regular basis. And he can help me tremendously." But the offer does not end with Cato. More than merely offer help off the bench or mentoring for the younger centers in practice, Willis said he would offer the benefits of his experience in 17 previous NBA seasons spent with six teams. "Not only for him, but all the young guys," Willis said. "I've been around this game for a long time. I've accomplished some great things in this game. I've seen a lot. I've experienced a lot. I've met a lot of players. I've played with the greatest players that have ever played this game. "I'm not trying to go out and be the hero or the superstar. I know what I can do on the court. I can go out get nine, 10 rebounds, 10, 12 points, help establish a solid foundation down low. I'm happy with that. And we'll win ballgames." As he spoke of his experiences, he used terms like "still" and "at this stage of my career." Rather than shrink from his 39 years, he said he was proud to be playing at his age. But Willis also said he has sacrificed little to the years and could play 30 minutes a night, a testament to conditioning Tomjanovich saw up close previously. "It was good to see his smiling face," Tomjanovich said. "I patted him on the arm and he is still the hardest person I've ever known." Willis is in the final season of his contract and will be the second-oldest player in Rockets history, behind Charles Jones (then 41), and the third-oldest in the NBA, after fellow 39-year-olds John Stockton and Patrick Ewing. But as much as he said he is ready to take on the role of a wise, old veteran, he also said he has no intentions of slowing down. "I feel like I'm in my late 20s," Willis said. "I'll take an extra day of rest sometime, but when the jump ball goes up and you're on the court, you do what you got to do. Every night can't be a great night. But the effort and the energy should be there always. "I keep myself in tremendous shape and I still love the game of basketball. Two or three more years, and I'm done." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes Defense prevails The Rockets struggled to remain within six points by halftime of Tuesday's game with Detroit. But then they turned that number around. They allowed six third-quarter points on 6 percent shooting to rout the Pistons 103-85. The Rockets were led by Moochie Norris' 15 points. But Eddie Griffin came back well from a misfiring debut on Sunday to make three of five 3-pointers and score 13 points to go with five rebounds. "I felt good," Griffin said. "I was making some shots. I think I could have done a better job rebounding, but otherwise I did all right. I felt a lot better tonight. I've been working with the coaches, and I am in better shape now." But the game turned around on defense, particularly after halftime. Pistons guard Jerry Stackhouse missed all nine of his attempts in the game, did not score and had four turnovers. The Pistons did not get their first field goal of the second half until the last minute of the third quarter. "We played the best defensive quarter we have ever seen," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "Six percent in the quarter. (Kelvin) Cato was phenomenal helping out guys." Crowd control The Rockets drew 8,851 against the Pistons on Tuesday for their last preseason appearance at Compaq Center before opening the season with three consecutive home games. The Rockets drew 9,790 for the Mavericks on Sunday and 8,892 for the Mavericks Oct. 11. Starting the regular season at home normally would be considered a way to get off to a fast start. But the Rockets struggled at home early last season and never recaptured much support, finishing last in home attendance with an average of 12,648. The hope, guard Steve Francis said, is that the Rockets can win at home early, draw improved attendance and then generate a greater home-court advantage. "Winning at home is important," Francis said. "Being over .500 last year (24-17) at home is pretty decent. But we have to get more fans in to our games. You could see those green seats so easily in the area. You go on the road and play in front of a lot of people. That makes you play better. Hopefully, we can get more fans in to come see us play, because I think we have a good chance of winning." Highs for Jones With Steve Francis out Tuesday to rest tendinitis in his knees, guard Damon Jones received his most extensive playing time of the Rockets' preseason, scoring 12 points and contributing eight assists in 22 minutes. "I enjoyed myself out there," Jones said. "It felt good to be out there again. I was a little rusty from not being in games for a while. I missed shots I usually make, but I was happy." Jones said he knows he could be competing for a job and understood when he signed Oct. 1 that he would have to make the team if the Rockets re-signed Moochie Norris. But he said he would not approach the playing time he does receive as his chance to earn a job. "I just go out and play my regular old game," Jones said. "Last year, I had a stretch of seven games without playing. When I finally got an opportunity, I made sure not to force anything and to just go do my job. "It would bother me, except I knew my situation coming in. We're trying to get the rotation down and get players ready. We do have guys like myself, Tierre Brown and Darren Kelly trying to play. When we all played, we have produced." Jones said he is not worrying about whether he will make the team. "With me, making the team is more of a spiritual thing," Jones said. "I interpret the situation as totally out of my hands. God has blessed me with the opportunity to be here at home. If He permits it, I will be here. If He doesn't, I will say thank you to Carroll Dawson and Rudy Tomjanovich for the opportunity." -- JONATHAN FEIGEN
Thats all fine and well---but Cato has to want to be a professional. Thats not a given. If he wants it--if he's floundering and lost and looking---it will work. If he's content (and you guys make it sound like he is) then the greatest motivational speaker in the world couldn't get him going.
