Where was it last night? Cato would do his job (for once), and force a missed jumper or layup, while the rest of the Rockets would sit and watch Nowitzki get putbacks. We have to have 4 guys looking to rebound when Cato is not next to the goal.
Obviously, one shouldn't make much of a couple preseason games.... But (assuming GS eventually gives in on Jax), do you guys think the Rocks will be better, worse or the same at rebounding this year? I'm going to take the optimistic view and say 'yes,' conditioned on our frontcourt staying more or less healthy. I expect improvement from Collier, the same or more from Cato, and Jackson should contribute more than Mo T in that respect.
MJ will definitely help our rebounding. I will shudder to think of how bad our rebounding will be if KT is our starting PF. Unfortunately, Cato can't change/block shots AND rebound at the same time. The SF's need to sack up and hit the boards.
If (and its a BIG if) Cato-tonic can keep up (or improve on) his reported enthusiasm of the last couple of days, and we do indeed get MJax, I would hope that we get better at weak-side (or strong-side for that matter) rebounding this year. But the pessimist in me predicts that Cato will get tired of trying after the first week of the season and will revert back to off season form.
You guys should keep in mind that Marc Jackson's rebounding numbers are based on a team that had the worst FG% in the NBA last season. Theri backsourt included Mookie, Larry Hughes, and Bobby Sura. I don't think he'll get so many rebounds playing with Francis, Cat, and Rice.
Rebounds are rebounds. If a guard can come in and out rebound your 4, then that means there are rebounds to be had. The Rockets didn't exactly light it up last yr from the field either. Cuttino misses a lot of shots, williams misses, so there are going to be rebounds. Had Rudy not had everyone so far away from the basket all the time, the offensive rebounding would have been better.
IVFL-Kenny can only rebound. Part of rebounding is not allowing your guy to get the board, if you can't. I guarantee you that Kenny gets outrebounded by his counterpart.
Why wouldn't he Sane? A rebound is a rebound, and good rebounders find a way to get those boards, even on great shooting team. Charles Barkley averaged something like 13 or 14 rpg on a Phoenix team that was light years better offensively then this Rockets team. Webber does the same on Sacramento. Granted we have guards who can get to the glass, but Chicago had Jordan and Pippen sucking up rebounds and Rodman still collected rebounding titles. If anything Jackson's rebounds could go up since he wouldn't have to expend energy scoring all the time, especially when teams can't collapse on him like they did last year in Golden State. Man PLEASE let us get him! And PLEASE keep up the intensity Cato!
Jackson wasn't reliant on offensive boards to pad his stats. That's what being on a crappy shooting team does. But, Jackson pulled down 5 of his 7.5 average on defense. Ya, it might go down a bit offensively, but defensively, he's on a much better team so his defensive boards might go up a bit.
