What to do with Cato

MoT should come off the bench because he is far less effective against starting PFs than back-ups. Also he takes away shots from other starters because he is a blackhole. Let him come off the bench like he did before the suspension and be the goto guy then.

 

I love Cato as a starter. He has FAR exceeded my wildest expectations. However, does anyone else cringe when he shoots anything other than a dunk? I mean, it seems like he's putting up an inordinate amount of jumpers. Yes, I understand it's probably only 3-4 times per game, but his form is awful and he will not make many of those attempts over the long haul. He also has a knack for fouling at the worst possible time, which worries me a little, but so far it hasn't cost us a game - yet! I believe he has greatly improved his FT%, although I haven't looked up the stats to confirm such. If he can stay away from the 15ft Js I think he will work out well.

 

I also think MoT should come off the bench for at least a few games, especially against the Brand's Webbers and Wallaces we are about to face. It would allow a starting defensive and rebounding presence (Cato), take some of hat pressure off Yao, then MoT would provide a solid offensive threat againt their second team PF's.

 

I want to keep Cato as the starting 4, he is doing what he is supposed to do. He is getting rebounds and getting a few dunks whenever he has to.

 

THIS IS AN EASY ONE......

YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH CATO, LEAVE HIM ALONE. HE IS PLAYING AWESOME. THERE IS NO POWER FORWARD CONTROVERSY HERE. CATO IS OUR STARTING PF FOR THE SEASON PERIOD. UNLESS HE JUST STARTS SUCKING, BUT RIGHT NOW HE IS THE TALK OF THE LEAGUE. MOTA SUCKS ON DEFENSE, HE SUCKS ON REBOUNDING, HE SUCKS ON BLOCKED SHOTS....HOWEVERY, HE IS A GOOD SCORER WHICH OUR BENCH SORELY NEEDS. SO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT RUDY AND CD OVER PAID HIM, THERE IS NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. HE SHOULD BE GUNNING FOR THE SIXTH MAN AWARD THIS YEAR.

 

Myself and others were crying for this all last season.

3 man rotation. Start Yao & Cato. Spell one or the other with Mo T. Then when the other 7 footer gets tired (or in foul trouble) replace him with the one who got the first rest.

3 man rotation plain and simple. Sorry Padgett.

 

Oddson watch the CAPS bro. People think your yelling, and on this thread i say its all match ups! When were playing a team like Dallas start Mo becuase Cato cant play D outside at the 3 point line and when we play teams like the Lakers start Cato becuase we will needs the height, IMO

 

It's a one and two punch with Cato as a starting PF and MoT coming off the bench

 

why doesn't everyone shut up and read the above quote.

do some of you actually think that mo deserves a promotion after coming back from being suspended? NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

 

Well since he was wrongly suspended then why do you think it should have any baring on what happens to MoT?

 

Cato has been the perfect compliment to Yao. If it wasn't for their interior defense combined, the Rockets would probably be .500. Its a no brainer in my opinion.

MoTaylor just doesn't give the Rockets what they need when Yao is in the lineup. Cato protects Yao on the defensive end so he doesn't have to rotate on every blown assignment.

 

wow, can you read? my point IS that it has no BEARING whatsoever. he wasn't starting before so he won't be starting now.

 

besides, the above quote sums up the situation well. in addition, mo should give us some much needed scoring punch off the bench.

 

Tango,

I like the 3-man rotation. I believe there are enough minutes at the PF/C spots for us to give all of them lots of minutes, and that's what we want to do. These 3 guys are NOT lazy, they SHOW emotion on the court, and they are focused on the Houston Rockets' well being. Best of luck to Eddie Griffin, but it's betetr for him and the Rockets if he gets his life together before trying for a comeback.

As for who starts, I don't really care. As long as MoT and Cato both get around 30 minutes per game, I'm fine with that.

Looking at Cato's FG% this year (around 43%) and his rebounds per minute, blocks per minute, and fouls per minute (all around tops in the league), I think Cato is best suited coming off the bench and really destroying backup PF's and C's. Going back to the bench would make his fouls less worrying, his rebounds and blocks would be just as effective, and his FG% would go up against other backups. He is undoubtedly the best backup C in the league.

Right now, Ming seems to be coming around his rebounding. It appears some more tutoring from Pat Ewing, along with getting used to his bigger upper body, has contributed to much improved rebounding. The other day, he had 14 rebounds in 38 minutes. That's enough for me to be comfortable giving MoT the starter's spot, as long as he stays at or above 6 rebounds per 30 minutes.

I'm sure JVG will know what's best, but honestly, there are a few things to consider that would make you think he would've been starting by now if not for the FALSE suspension:

- Has shown tremendous work ethic since joining the Rockets.

- Has come to camp in excellent shape 2 years now.

- Is down to an ideal playing weight, and it seems to be helping his jump/lift, and in turn his rebounding.

- Has always been a superb scorer, which can take pressure off Ming.

- Does play defense, I saw it with my own eyes.

- Has generally shown a willingness to buy into whatever JVG says to win.

- In the latest Chron summary, Mo indicated that he's STILL working with Falsone on his conditioning and weightlifting, meaning he's hungry to continue improving.

In my eyes, if he can bring 12pts and 6 rebounds on 50% shooting, he's perfect for this team. He's able to bang around in the post, as well as hit that sweeeeeeeeeeeet hook shot.

I'd vote Mo for starter, but what I'm trying to say is I'm ecstatic that we have both of 'em.

 

Screw Mo Taylor and his minutes. I reward Cato for his new aggressive play. Cato has many qualities at the 4 that the Rockets have been sorely lacking the past four seasons and while he's not the scoring talent that Taylor is, I'll get scoring from somewhere else on the team (Yao would be a good start). I want Cato's rebounding and shot blocking ability at the 4 than I want Taylor's scoring.

 

Unfortunately, those two combos mean Jim Jackson goes to the bench and Jim Jackson's early play makes me want him to remain in the starting rotation. The only way I like the those two combos is if Mobley becomes a 6th man.

 

Did Cato just grab six rebounds in the last three minutes of the Golden State game?

I say Cato is doing a fine job and should start.

The question really is what to do with Taylor? Although he was playing well before he got suspended, Scott Padgett filled in nicely and the Rockets have a respectable record today.

I say Taylor, Padgett and Torraye Braggs should be the ones competing for the minutes.

Oh by the way, is Eddie Griffin still unstable to leave the hospital and start competing for minutes on the frontline of the Rockets' roster? Missing eleven games is a lot. He might be out of a job when finally does get ready to come back.