Ah yes, I remember so well back in that fateful month in October of 1999. Cato had that killer game and I was like saying OK we got us a steal and a good young center for the days when Hakeem retires. I also said to myself that Portland was going to regret letting him go. That was also the year that I discovered Clutchcity.net. (Pure Heaven). I needed a moniker and all the steve francis and cuttino mobley monikers were taken so of course with Cato recent preseason game in mind I figured he was the future star so why not use CATO13? Anyway for the last two years for Cato it has always been about potential. He has the potential to be a decent center and we have seen limited brilliances but far and few between. I think Stevie Wonderful and Cat just need to get in his grill and let him know whats up. All Cato needs to do is shot block and rebound and he will have done his part with this young team. If he can stay healthy I think he will be alright. And with Hakeem now gone he has the mindset that he is the starting center and doesnt have to look over his shoulders and wonder about playing time. I agree with Jeff in saying that Cato will average around 8, 9 and 2.5 and that would be enough for me as long as he also stayed out of foul trouble during the season. And even though I am somewhat bashing him I am also supporting him and only hope for the best for him as this will also benefit the Rockets. One person Cato might visit before the season starts is The Wizard of Oz for the need of a heart.
AMEN BROTHER! cato has to be the man in the middle!!!!! The man who frusrated SHaq and DUncan not the lazy a** wimp that got injured and barely troubled the statistician.
All summer long everybody, including me, has been beating up on Cato, not because his lack of ability but because his lack of desire. If he opens camp as a member of the Rockets, we cannot preclude support just because he is perceived as a contagious leper. Howerver, as I have said before, we still need to get a big pure center backup, a la Dalibor Bagarac of Chicago or Dallembert of Philadelphia. However, I think Dallembert can't be touched for 60 days because he just signed. Bagarac, on the other hand, is stuck behind Brad Miller, Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler and can be acquired for a relative pittance. And Bagarac backed up Brad Miller pretty well last season (at least in the games I watched).
I agree. If nothing else, let him play to see what we have. cato might be like Jermaine O'Neal. He might just need the game time and know he's going to be the man. If the Rockets can get 12pts,8 rebs and 2blks, they'll make the playoffs. There is only 2 centers in the west so i don't see a problem. I just think our biggest weakness is at the strongest position in the west, 4. Everyone has problems and holes, the team that hides theirs the best wins. I hope Rudy will work on some 1-2-2 zone this year, they'll need it.
This thread demonstrates the four stages of cancer. We have reached the acceptance stage of our cancer.
I give him a mulligan last year with the injury but I want to see him on the floor as much as possible this year. - Jeff Here's hoping Cato is at least par for the course this year!
Jeff, you are starting to sound like the Rocketguy......OK, maybe not. Although he did have the "Start Cato" column on BskBall. Anyway, I agree with you, get him out on the floor and make him accountable. HOWEVER, the guy is so damn injury prone, I just cannot see him playing heavy minutes for an entire season. I know one thing, he better not make another prediction like he did last year, about leading the league in rebounds. UGH. He is only setting us all up for a big disappointment if he does that again. He already has enough resistance as it is. Personally, I don't think the guy can play. One preseason and two blocked Shaq shots should not garner a 42 mil. contract. But I digress........
If Cato starts next year and the Rockets play zone defense, shouldn't that help Cato? I mean, since he is so lazy, he shouldn't have to move around so much. Stand under the goal and get rebounds and swat anything that comes his way. This may be Cato's breakout season!
Unfortunately, he still has to stay within arms length of an opposing player in the lane, or it's defensive three seconds.
Playing Cato 30 minutes sounds nice, but what about his foul trouble? If he's going to play 30 minutes, then he's going to play timid to avoid foul trouble. I say let him go at it for 20, and let Taylor and Collier eat up the other minutes. Taylor is going to play the 5 for stretches, the way he did last year when we went small and to allow Thomas/Griffin to play some time at the 4. Collier is not currently injured. According to CD, he wanted to, and could have, played in the summer league games. Either Collier, or someone received in a trade, should eat up 10 to 12 minutes on average a night. Let Cato be aggressive and recognize that he's going to get into foul trouble.
i think that maybe you were being sarcastic but I think you're right. I was going to make a sarcastic reply myself: Oh, right -- like Cato could play 30 minutes without fouling out! But he should get the start, I guess, and a chance to prove he's worth more than the vet's minimum. EG is also going to have major trouble this year. He's too small to bang at the 4 and will be in foul trouble a lot, as most rooks are. But team him with Zero* and Mo and station two of them near the baseline, just outside the paint, and play some 2-3 or box and 1, and that would cover up a lot of deficiencies. <pre> * Kelvin is the scientist's temperature scale, and zero degrees Kelvin is as low as you can get, so I think our<br> "low as you can get" starting center should be nicknamed "Zero."</pre>
ZRB believes in Cato! Almost the first time I've seen him believe in a Rocket, or a Rocket coach ,except for Hakeem, once he was leaving the team. Does ZRB have any real beliefs or does he just play the dvils advocate?
You chalk up almost every loss for the Rockets or other teams to having a lack of heart, yet you believe in Kelvin Cato?
If Cato would stop going for these monster dunks (as if he was in the flow of the game) with 50% accuracy (cause they clank into the 5th row) then maybe he wouldn't injure is darn thumb. Does anybody remember that dunk that clanked of the rim and elevated over the backboard only to drop back in. Amazing (or that is one word for it)! Anyway, I think Cato has the skills and he is potentially a very good fit for this team. If he has a good season, the Rocket's can go deep into the playoffs. Not win...but make some noise. -krosfyah
Cato has his moments but I really think he has some off court problems causing his lack of focus on court. If his problems are drug related like it has been suggested in these forums then I do not think he can overcome his inconsistent play because basketball is not the most important thing in his life. Hopefully "The Dream" leaving may allow him to make BBall the most important thing in his life and correct his focus. We will find out in the beginning of the season since an uninterested Cato will either be hurt or fouling out.
Zee- I am not a fan of Cato but I am starting to understand you.(I think) I respect the fact that you defend the Rockets UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. Props to you.
I respect the fact that you defend the Rockets UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. What circumstances would those be? In the last week ZRB has said both Cato and Collier should be CBA players, and has taken shots at Mo, Shandon, and the Rockets organization for not paying Dream whatever he wanted. He also claimed the Rockets had no heart whatsoever in the middle of games last year. I don't think you're anywhere close to understanding him. Then again, neither is anyone.
Cato would intentionally put himself in foul trouble the first 5 minutes of the game and then he'll get his lazy ass on the bench again ...... never count on him!!! Lazy B!tch Cato, prove me wrong!!!
The "Catomic Blast" I saw at the Bulls game was about 30 ft, vertical, nice rotation on the ball, a good five seconds of hang time, nothing but net. It was on his third or fourth dunk attempt. It was already a cold day in Chicago. I am not sure if any of the local fans really cared to notice.
