I apologize in advance if a poll asking the same question has been done before, but with MJackson all but officially a Rocket, I'd thought it would be a good time to post it. Besides, I've never done a poll before. Azim da Dream
Actually I think Cato is going to be the starting center because I think Jackson will be the PF to start the season.
I agree that Cato will likely remain the starting center, but I also feel that Jackson will NOT start at power forward, either. I think that Rudy will utilize Jackson as a big man off the bench. With Kenny starting at the 4, the Rockets can open the game with their perimeter players--Francis, Mobley, and Rice--handling the scoring load. Kenny and Cato will be in there for defense and rebounding. However, the second unit would feature scoring big men in Griffin and Jackson. Of course, the team will mix and match as the game goes on, but I believe that Jackson has a future as a valuable sixth man on this team.
I'm with you RocketsMillenium. Despite Cato's past, I think he's the man at the 5 when the Rockets season tips off with MJ at the 4. With this combo we have a defensive player in Cato who can occasionally score and a scorer/rebounder(something we've been desperately lacking at the 4) in MJ. If these guys can avoid the injury bug and they gel with Francis, Mobley and co, we could be seeing some Rockets playoff basketball come May.
I would be shocked and disappointed if Jackson was used as a big man off the bench. In fact I would have to say that Rudy is smoking something and is flat out drunk if he starts Kenny Thomas over Marc Jackson! Jackson's numbers went up signficantly as a starter. This is a guy that, as a starter, averaged 16 ppg and 10 rpg, and 13 ppg and 7 rpg as a 6th man. Jackson will be a starter. I doubt his defense is all that bad. And he definitely is an improvement over Kenny Thomas. Kenny Thomas and Griffin gives us plenty off the bench. It's possible Houston might go with Jackson and KT starting, but Jackson is far more valuable, and is more productive as a starter then a 6th man.
I really didn't expect this much debate over this question. Sure, Cato has sucked so far in his career with the Rockets. But he is making a lot of money, and he does have the potential to be just the kind of center we need. I think the Rockets org. gives him this year as his last chance to prove his worth. And as for Jackson, the guy plays like a PF anyway, so I see no real reason for Rudy to start Kenny, a lifelong backup, in front of Jackson who would likely produce more. Starting Cato at the 5 and MJ at the 4 just makes more sense.
I think if Cato has a good camp/preseason, he'll start at center. I'm getting vision of waves of big men. Start with a tough grinding game with Cato and Jackson, then bust out the lightning fast Eddie Griffin.
