Looks like Cat will get some playing time tonight. http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/huddle031021.html Inside The Huddle - October 21, 2003 Never Easy The Rockets practiced Tuesday without any type of contact, so injured forwards Maurice Taylor and Adrian Griffin were able to participate in team drills. Rockets Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy focused the practiced on preparing for the Denver Nuggets, who the Rockets face Wednesday night in Toyota Center. When asked if a no-contact practice was considered easy, guard Cuttino Mobley said, “It’s never easy. It’s a lot of concentrating out there.” No Comparison With the excellent play of Kelvin Cato at the power forward position during the preseason, the Rockets think they are definitely on to something. Cato has pleased his new coach by adapting to his new role and should again be the starter in Wednesday’s game against Denver. With two 7-footers in the lineup, the Rockets have a terrific rebounding tandem. However, while the height of Yao Ming and Cato may draw comparisons to former Rockets twin towers Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, Steve Francis believes those comparisons should stop there. “It’s been going pretty well with Cato playing well at forward, but you can’t compare them to the twin towers,” Francis said. “You just can’t do that because it’s nowhere near, at least not yet." Mobley Returns Cuttino Mobley, who recently returned to practice after suffering from a strained hip, will see action tomorrow. Mobley was unsure after practice if Van Gundy and Rockets trainer Keith Jones would allow him to play, but the Rockets coach said that Mobley would see some action in Wednesday’s contest. “We’re going to ease him in,” said Van Gundy.
My best guess (as of this very moment) Francis - best player (as of right now, he still is) Mobley - best SG Jackson - vet Cato - banger Ming - best big man (likely soon to be best player) Bench MoT - to score Mooch - to give MoT the ball so he can score Pike - to hit the open shots AGriff - to D up EG - to slowly get his game and his life together Boki - to continue to work on and improve his game
I will take a chance and go out on a limb:- Scales Francis Jackson Cato Yao Ming....BENCH... Wilkes Mobley,A Griffin Nachbar,Piatowski Mo T E.Griffin ...I/R........ Norris and Amaechi
What are you smoking?! (Mail me some 1001 CrackRox lane, H-Town, Dirty South 70070) Please clarify your whims from reality.
It is very dangerous to start Cato and surrender post defense when the bench comes in... So I propose the KICK EDDIE IN THE BUTT SQUAD if he gets out of line again until the end of the season. DRUM ROLL PLEASE...................................................... PG- YOU ALREADY KNOW SG- MOBLEY SF- JACKSON PF- TRICKY, BUT GRIFFIN C - YOU ALREADY KNOW AGAIN BENCH ROLE PALYERS PG- MOOCHIE OR WILKS IF MOOCH STINKS IT UP SG- PIAKOWSKI AND ALEX SCALES SHOWED PROMISE SF- NACHBAR PF- TAYLOR C- CATO, BUT YOU ALREADY KNOW
I have enjoyed all of the game day postings. It is clear that currently the most under rated Rocket is Mobley, with the out of sight Mo T running second. The way out in front most over rated Rocket this evening is Boki. Holy Cow, from timid bricklayer to now starting for the Houston Rockets. JVG is playing Boki this preseason to judge if he is a worthwhile project or Fredrick Weis. Once the games count, the grownups will play. It looks to me that Boki is a hardworking, talented, very young, basketball player. I hope the Rockets teach him how to play and that he developes into an important part of the Yao-Stevie championship team.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY JVG CUT MUONEKE AND KEPT BRAGGS? I THOUGHT MUONEKE WAS THE BETTER CHOICE... ANYONE AGREE?
Another off the wall question for you guys... look at NBA.com and they show a pic of LA's Big 4. Kobe sits on the left, with a big ass tatoo on his arm. Anyone know what it is?? I bet it's more damage control... something to honor his so called love for his wife.
cause Braggs played better during games... and you dont have to yell, we can see your post just fine without the caps.
Think its about time i chimed in..... Francis Mobley Boki Cato Yao Amaechi will then win 6th man...... JJ hasn't shown us anything since he's been here and I luv watchin Boki play.....I wanna see JJ and Pike come off the bench for now and have Boki play himself out of the starting 5.......
I agree with the lineup and the comment, but at least partly because Cato will be the backup for both of them this season, barring a trade which changes things or the return of EG to the rotation. From what I've seen of things, if we were to get a backup center whose body is at least warm, Cato could see a lot of time on the court with Yao. One reason I'm thinking that EG may be part of a trade sooner than I'd prefer (given that his value is bottomed out right now) is that both Mo (last year) and Cato (this year) have looked really good in how well they have meshed with Yao. If we get a decent backup C out of it, Amaechi gets plantar fascitis and we play Cato at PF when matchups dictate an inside banger and Mo when we don't. In many ways it's a better combination than Mo & EG who basically have the same weaknesses and similar (but not the same) strengths.
Evidently, it's going to be: Francis (until he gets pissed about Cat being traded, and then demands one himself) Yao Erik Williams Cato Jackson
By the recent Boston rumor, Mobley probably won't be the starter. And Nachbar will be a backup. I'm thinking that Van Gundy want's this line up. Yao Cato Piat Jackson Francis Geez, Van Gundy has no hope for Nachbar or Griffin! That was our potential for the future down the drain.
