Here's my take on how to get Mobes to become more effective. I believe Cat is very emotional and gets very into the games. He knows that he personally has a lot of weapons as far as talent and what he can do with the ball against defenders. I think that Cat (wrongly IMO) believes that if he doesn't use all of these weapons and talents that he isn't doing as much as he can for the team. I'm sure they've asked him to pass more, not force the action etc. Cat probably buys into that when he hears it but in the heat and excitement of the game this emotional player goes back to using every weapon in his arsenal, and doesn't understand that he does so, many times at the expense of the team. So Cat is emotional and not capable of doing less, because he'll feel he isn't trying his hardest. I think the answer is to ask Cat to do more... not on offense but on Defense. Cat CAN play defense, but doesn't always. During the Rockets OT victory against the Lakers Cat did a great job on shutting down Kobe. The Rockets could point that out to Cat, and tell him that the team needs him, the defense is suffering etc. Tell Cat the Rockets are counting on him to be the main defensive stopper. This could make Cat feel he is a number one option. It will also allow Cat to use all of his emotional energy, and focus i on something productive, and not the chaotic energy that often happens when Cat gets the ball on offense. All of his emotion will be focussed into the defense that we need, and the manic energy that gets him or the team in trouble on offense will be diffused. Then, hopefully, he will be so focussed on defense that he'll only take what shots come naturally in the flow of the game, and be eager to pass the ball so he can focus on the man he'll have to cover on defense. I believe that Cat wants to do so much for the team, gets very excited by the games, and his manic energy turns into chaos and often mistakes on the offensive end, which then makes Cat think, about it, and want to do more on offense to correct it. Thus his mind isn't on defense as much as it could be. By making Cat feel he will be the number one defensive stopper on the team, and tell him that is his only responsibility, he may take it seriously, have his ego stroked at the same time, and really help the team.
That sounds lovely. I think he is thinking the wrong way too. I just wish that could happen. Mobley is a good guy... And he can play defense.
I think you are onto something here. That is the same approach I use with my 7 yr old daughter to make her do something she doesn't want to do: tell her she is good in it.
Heh, that's actually a pretty intriguing way of looking at it.. you may be on to something. Give this suggestion to the Rox!! I'd love having Mobley as a defensive stopper!
If you can trade Cat in the offseason for someone who can pass and score at least 12-14 ppg, that would make Cat most effective for the Rockets.
