Unfreakin believable. I never thought I would miss this guy. And last nights game proved how valuable he was to this team. I realized it early in the season, but I didn't believe it. This guy is one of the most valuable pieces to this team. My friends and I used to have a saying about the early Cato days, "Cato, just don't be garbage." Whenever we watched a game, that's what we said about his play, just do something, show some effort. But last night, I saw what they were missing during game. HELP SIDE DEFENSE, and rebounding. He shores up the inside. Let's face, Yao is a good shot blocker, but he doesn't have the quickness to challenge most shots. Cato when on his game, and allowed to roam, challenges everything in the lane. This is Cato, challenging, WTF. And this missing piece was really evident during the Golden State game, and during the Minnesota game. We got no offensive rebounds against Minnesota, and the Rockets can't beat the best fg% team in the league without a few extra chances. Cato cleans up the boards. WTF. Against Golden State we got burned by Troy Murphy's jump shot time after time when MoTaylor couldn't rotate fast enough. I found myself asking, "Why doesn't JVG put Cato back in the Game". JVG let that game get out hand because he didn't have Cato's intensity out there challenging shots. Am I living in the bizarro world? What's going on? This is Cato folks. The Cato you love to hate. So lets show him some love because he is what this team needed during the losing streak, and if the Rockets are going to play Rocket ball in the playoffs, they need everything this guy brings.
Well yeah, every good team hasta have solid role players. Contrary to what Mark Cuban thinks, they can't all be superstars.
Cato has definitely proven his worth on this team. I'd love to see him stay but we need a true power forward at the four, though it'd be tough to find a PF with good 'O' and Cato's D...decisions, decisions. I thought if anyone needed an appreciation thread its Jim Jackson...the dude is so solid game in and game out. He and Yao have been the most consistent players on the team.
Actually, the Rockets got 14 offensive rebounds against the Wolves on 03/29, above their season average of around 11. Taylor even had 5 of them.
I agree Cato's absence has been a big reason for the Rockets losing skid lately. I partly think it's at the fault of JVG who made it worse. Our bench front court is way too small, which is a rotation JVG would use often having MoT at center, and Weatherspoon at PF. A 6'9 center, and a 6'5 PF just doesn't give ya those blocks and boards as easily as two 7+ footers clogging the paint. I dream of the day that Cato consistently learns how to hit the midrange jumper. I think JVG will have him leaner and in even better condition along with a consistent midrange jumper in the offseason to compliment Yao. Cato with a midrange jumper= exactly what the Rockets are looking for at the PF position.
Exaclty why he will either be exposed to the expansion draft or be brought back as a back-up center. He simply doesn't have the touch to hit those jumpers. I like Cato and what he brings to the Rockets. He just isn't the answer at PF.
I take back all the crap I said about Cato. He has definitely improved his game and his value on this team.
dont get all excited about cato now; it was the clips. let him improve his trade value so we can get something good for him in the offseason; his contract is ridicolous. He does help our D alot though.
I don't get too excited about Cato. He played good with energy the first half of the season, then suddenly disappered. Cato can be a defensive monster but he rarelly shows up. Last night against Clippers maybe his first strong showing since All Star break. I won't put my money on him. Cato is valuable to Rox just because Rox has no bench. No team with Spoon as their #3 big guy can win a lot games in West. Even lakers struggled without Malone in their line up.
Even if we can somehow get a good PF this offseason, I still want to hang on to Cato. He's about the best backup for Yao Ming we're gonna get, and Yao's stamina and foul problems are of concern, IMO. Plus we can rotate him in as PF for certain defensive matchups. He's a valuable guy, fat contract or not. If he works hard this summer, I don't see why he can't become good enough to hit the 15 footer at least half of the time. He only has to be decent enough at it to keep defenders from cheating over on to Ming.
Cato with a midrange jumper= exactly what the Rockets are looking for at the PF position=Marcus Camby-Injuries
after seeing him vs LA i realize how much we really missed him !!!....on defense of course..but can we stop creating plays for HIM on the offense...please...god no....cato shouldn't be allow to post up...
Cato has improved drastically. I think maybe he was just intimidated because Dream left him some BIG shoes to fill. But when Yao came in I think it insulted him a little bit and he didnt want a rookie taking his starting spot. Since Yao has been here it looks like it has really lit a fire under his butt and got him working. Cato is good at what he does and sometimes I wish Yao would play with his aggressiveness.
How could we not be excited about Kelvin?! He has had a great season as our PF! He is our presense in the paint (on D). Yao ofcourse is too, but it was apparent with out Cato our D sucked. Glad to have the big guy back, I would have never thought he would be so important to the team!
IMHO Cato playing PF and backing up Yao with MoT coming off the bench for offense is an acceptable PF. ie. Cato's "D" with MoT's "O". That way we can concentrate on trading Stevie for a top quality PG that can be our floor leader. I predict that is the JVG will go.
