Padgett as a starter over Cato !

I think Cato is a big reason why we are #1 in D. Yao and Cato own the paint against anyone in the league. That is luxury that I wouldn't want to give up. Fine give Motay and Padgett more PT, but lets not fix something that is not broken.

 

NBAsticker: "When Celtics coach heard CATO will not play in the Boston, he is unhappy. What do you guys think about?"

First, he knew that teams often play inspired ball when they have a starter out. Everyone picks their game up to compensate. Coaches hate to coach against a team with a player out, because they have a game plan based on that player being in, which is out the window, and they know the team will be playing inspired ball.

Second, O'Brien knew that his small ball lineup gave Cato problems, so he hoped for another mismatch. The Celtics didn't have a PF (I think Baker had returned from suspension, but no way he was going to play) so they were playing Walter McCarty at 4 and 5. This is atypical. I can't believe anyone here wants to bench Cato because he doesn'r match up well with an Eastern Conference small forward.

 

All those donkeys had to do was leave EG in place. Outside of EG Tmo would be better, too.

 

Let's sum it up.

Playing Cato as PF is trading offense for defense. (It's no accident that Cato is having his career low fg% season.)

Playing Taylor or Padgett is trading defense for offense.

So, which way do you want? I say defense is not our problem. Offense is.

 

All EG had to do was not throw his life away on drugs and try and shoot someone. It's not the Rockets organization fault for EG's reckless decisions outside the game.

 

Keep in mind that his is Van Gundy who seems to enjoy having a strong defense over offense even though his defensive strategy has no effect against the Mavs and the Kings. The Rockets must increase the offensive proficiency to even not get blown out against those teams.

 

You guys are nuts. Padgett shouldn't even be in the rotation.

 

Start Mo, and have Cato and Padgett as reserves.

 

How 'bout start Cato in certain situations. And start Padgett or Taylor in certain situations. Its all about matchups.

 

Partially agreed!

Padgett is okay to fill in for a few minutes here and there, but if he gets to start for the Rockets regularly, then we can kiss the playof goodby.


--daoshi

 

I do think Padgett should play a greater role especially in games against teams that rely more on jumpshooting. Take the Mavs and Kings for example. I've seen blowout loss after blowout loss, and it is obvious that Houston's porous perimeter defense is at fault. There's absolutely no closeout against a shooter especially if the shooter is the power forward. I'd use Padgett when a strong paint defense is not required. Like when Yao was sufficient to ward off most of the shots in the paint against Boston, he'll be sole patrolman in the paint against the Mavs too.

 

think this from the Chron sums it up

Rockets forward/center Kelvin Cato returned to practice Friday after missing Wednesday's game with a sprained left foot. The Rockets, however will need him back to the offensive form of his game in Washington, when he made six of seven shots and had a career-high six assists.

In the Rockets' loss in Minnesota last month, Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett ignored Cato to roam defensively.

"We'll be facing the same dilemma that we face a lot with Kelvin at the four," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "They're going to sag and front, and we have to either have answers with him in or make some lineup changes."

 

Houston trades: SF Bostjan Nachbar (3.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.7 apg in 11.6 minutes)
C Kelvin Cato (6.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.0 apg in 28.9 minutes)
Houston receives: SF Rodney White (7.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.8 apg in 12.6 minutes)
C Marcus Camby (7.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.4 apg in 27.1 minutes)
Change in team outlook: +5.1 ppg, +2.1 rpg, and +0.5 apg.

Denver trades: SF Rodney White (7.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.8 apg in 12.6 minutes)
C Marcus Camby (7.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.4 apg in 27.1 minutes)
Denver receives: SF Bostjan Nachbar (3.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.7 apg in 25 games)
C Kelvin Cato (6.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.0 apg in 37 games)
Change in team outlook: -5.1 ppg, -2.1 rpg, and -0.5 apg.

TRADE ACCEPTED

 

It's becoming increasingly evident that Scott Padgett brings a lot more game than many people, including JVG, gave him credit for. He's got great court awareness and basketball IQ (something we desperately need), is a good passer, knocks down the open shot, rebounds, and is pretty slick around the basket. He brings a much more balanced game than Pike in that he contributes in many ways besides scoring.

He's probably not as effective a post or PF defender as Cato, and not the shot blocker, but can close out on perimeter shooters more effectively. Most importantly, he can help preclude the amoeba defenses that engulf Yao when Cato is on the court with his shooting and smart hi-lo entry passes.

My guess is that he'll get more and more PT depending on matchups and how Yao is being defended. I for one am thrilled with what he brings to the Rox. I think he'll even play the 3 spot some. Should he start?? I don't really think it matters.

D R

 

Padgett is "one-dimesional?" Then what is Cato?

Padget can hit the 15 footer, the 3, shoot of the glass, pass, run the floor, hit FTs, and move without the ball. His defense is decent but not great.

Cato? Defense and dunking from alley-oops.

 

Because passing and teamwork are where it's at. It beats the zone.

Thank you LeBron, Yao, AK47, Gasol, Dirk, Parker, Duncan and Melo!

 

Dallas Rocket: "Scott Padgett brings a lot more game than many people, including JVG, gave him credit for. He's got great court awareness and basketball IQ (something we desperately need), is a good passer, knocks down the open shot, rebounds, and is pretty slick around the basket."

Yes. He's fundamentally sound, having played under Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith -- you can't be useless on D and play for those guys! As I recall, he was a walk on at Ky., and got to the NCAA championship and into the NBA by working his butt off. Every team needs a guy like that.

Also, as I noted in some other thread, he's pretty good at feeding Yao in the post.

 

Before the game, I would of started Padgett against Minny. I have to give JVG credit and admit my own mistake for even suggesting starting Padgett. Having Yao in the High post where he's impossible to stop, it doesn't matter who the Rockets played at PF. Cato is a rebounding and put back monster, MoT can run an effective hi-low post, and Padgett stretch the defense. I think starting Cato is the right decision because he is the best defender at his position and he is just playing out of his mind. Who would of thunk it? The Rockets are definetely breaking out next week as the offense continue to roll with Yao in the high post.

 

I think they should rotate (random order) to mess up the other team's game plan. Both of them are equally good.