Is it just me, or does Cuttino not look as explosive with his first step as last year??????? I know he has some ankle issues, but he looks considerably slower. I haven't seen him beat anyone off the dribble in about a month. Byron Russell was all over him last night. He couldn't blow past him for anything. He only managed tough jumpers with Russell in his face like a pimple. I don't know, but last year I remember Steve and Cuttino giving opposing guards migraines and ankle braces. Cuttino wasn't quite as explosive as Franchise, but he was damn close. It seems like last year Cat was to me, 1 of the fastest, quickest guards in the league, and everyone knew it. That's half the reason Cat got all that Free agent attention, and money last year. It just seems like last year he either blew past someone,or exploded of the dribble so quik that it created enough room for his medium range shot.
If Cat is so hurt, i think we should rest him. I mean, it's gonna be tough getting back into the race with a hobbled Cat, and the whole frikkin league is seemingly counting us out already (see Francis ejection). I'm just worried about Cat doing permanent damage of some sort.
So why isn't Cat resting? Steve is back and is perfectly capable of carrying the team, and the Rockets aren't really in the playoff chase. Put Cuttino on the IR for five games.
Part ankles, part defense. Its probably more of the latter. The new rules were directed at the coaches who iso and stand still a lot like Riley and Rudy. These are two of the teams that has been affected the most. Mobley still has the explosion, but when guys just chill on the shoeblock and there is no backside movement, it kind of forces you to shoot jumpers. People will look at Steve and say Steve is still getting to the rim, but i think Steve's ft line jumper is whats allowing him to get his points more so than him getting to the rim. I don't think Cats mid range shot is as good as steves, plus the fact that Francis is shooting over a guy his size as opposed to mobley shooting over a guy 3-4 inches taller makes a difference, just see Iverson. In his first 2 yrs he was 23pts 7 asst and shot about 43-44%, once he moved to 2 guard his fg% went down considerably because he was shooting over taller guys. Part ankles,part defense.
I think his ankles are the problem. When you hurt your ankle (both of em in his case) not only does it hurt to move around but you become much more unagressive. He's got to worry about ever step he takes because one false move and the tendon will tear.
