I voted that he should do both, but it's only based on seeing the SA game. I was impressed. He won't match up well with several PF's, but so what? Who do we have, right now, who is better? (and yes, it's weird typing that)
Until MoT is healthy Cato is the man. Once MoT gets back I think the starer should be decided on the matchup. Cato doesn't score so we need Yao or MoT in there with him but I think Cato should get 35 min/game, more while MoT is hurt.
Uh...in some states, that would be illegal. I laughed at all the "Cato should start at the 4" threads this offseason, but I'm starting to come around. SF Cat JJ Cato Yao That's a pretty good starting lineup.
I definitely think Cato should start. He earned it just by not being injured and by playing his @ss off during the preseason and producing. He guarded Tim Duncan much better than I had expected but I think some of it is probably due to duncan not playing well either. Cato should start. He earned it. If he begins to have matchup problems early in the game then we can always sub him out for taylor when he gets back, but right now do we even have an option to start anyone else at PF?
Yes. Cato has been playing great. He was really effective playing against the best power forward (many would say the best player) in the game (Tim Duncan). Look at Duncan's production and how tough Cato played him. Your never gonna shut Duncan down, but I'd be hard pressed to find a PF in the league that defended him that well.
Given that the NBA is a game of match-ups, I believe that JVG will use him where he can get the most out of him. I voted for both positions. I am so glad that Cato is back to playing his potential.
I said both. I think Van Gundy has demonstrated that he's not interested in how players play their "positions," but how they play. We've seen Cato start as power forward alongside Yao, slide over to center when Yao comes out and Braggs comes in, and slide back to PF when Amaechi comes in. We've also seen JJ play both shooting guard and small forward, as well as Van Gundy having three guards on the floor. Van Gundy seems to care very little about players "natural positions." I think that he will used a lot of creative substitutions this season to keep hot player in the game while working people in off the bench, and keeping different defenders on their toes. I think Cato will get minutes at both center and power forward this year.
ima_drummer2k, You are just too funny. This got me, but I still have sore ribs on the Frank Stalone photo.
Cato should be your starting PF... If for no other reason than Yao wants him there as an enforcer. I remember reading in a newspaper article a while back where Yao said that he liked having Cato at the PF, made him feel really comfortable knowing Cato had his back. That is enough for me, but if you need another reason here is one.....Who is going to be our low post scorer when the bench is in......Amechi? Mo has to be the PF coming off of the bench to give a scoring threat down low.
Well since today is MoT's first live contact practice since the injury, I think it is all based on his defensive performance and thirst for the ball(rebounding). If he is as motivated as Cato(I can't believe that has ever been typed) I think he should be the starter based on his obvious better talent. Yao and Mo in the high low posts with Mobley coming off screens...........devastating.
I said both. I think Van Gundy has demonstrated that he's not interested in how players play their "positions," but how they play. We've seen Cato start as power forward alongside Yao, slide over to center when Yao comes out and Braggs comes in, and slide back to PF when Amaechi comes in. We've also seen JJ play both shooting guard and small forward, as well as Van Gundy having three guards on the floor. Van Gundy seems to care very little about players "natural positions." I think that he will used a lot of creative substitutions this season to keep hot player in the game while working people in off the bench, and keeping different defenders on their toes. I think Cato will get minutes at both center and power forward this year.
I agree, it all depends on how MoT plays this year. Cato's rebounding and defense is nice to have in the starting lineup, where there is enough scoring. MoT, Pike, Mooch, Nachbar could easily provide bench scoring. Only problem is Amechi would have to backup Yao, I don't like that one bit.
after watching them dismantle the Spurs --- there is no doubt the Cato should start at PF. He is a perfect compliment to Yao. He takes some of the rebounding and defensive burden of of Yao that Mo T can't do. Regardless of who starts Yao - Cato - Taylor provide a great 4-5 rotation
Cato has played great and deserves starter's minutes. I voted for him to start. But he should also back up Yao. We need to go back to the old Hakeem and Sampson rotation. Yao should start at C and Cato should back him up. Cato should start at PF and MoT should back him up. It could look something like this: 1) Yao start at C and Cato start at PF 2) Yao gets a break and Cato slides over to play C, MoT would come into play PF 3) Cato gets a break and Yao would come back in to play C, MoT would stay in as PF. If enough time remained, you could bring back Cato to play PF before the end of the half and give MoT a rest.
I definately think Cato should start. As far as him scoring, we already have Cat,Steve,Yao and JJ to do the scoring. Cato knows his job, and thats grabbing the boards and defending the basket.
Nice post. I think we'll see a lot of this during the season. BTW, I think it killed Ralph to get pushed out of his natural position by Akeem. He was much better as a 5. Anyway, that was a great analogy, CoinToss.
I was hoping Rudy would have tried it last year....funny how JVG is doing things that seemed obvious to a lot of us, but for some reason, the Rocks would not try em. DD
77% for Cato to start at PF. 365 days ago 77% of this board would have traded him for a six pack and some pretzels.
