According to Timing in the NBA Dish forum, zone defense has already been voted in by the owners! Well does this in any way help us in trading Cato? I think it does. Now the value of shot blocking center (yes even a lazy one) goes up tremendously. Teams will be looking for that seven footer who can just clog up the lane. So now do we trade Cato (if we can) or do we still want to keep him? Here is the story reported by Timing:Associated Press NEW YORK – NBA owners approved a package of four rules changes Thursday, one of which eliminates the league's long-standing ban on zone defenses. Designed to improve the flow and pace of the game, the new rules will go into effect next season. The changes are: All existing illegal defense guidelines will be eliminated. A defensive 3-second rule will be established, limiting the amount of time a defensive player may stand in the lane when he is not closely guarding anyone. Reducing from 10 seconds to 8 seconds the amount of time a team will have to advance the ball past midcourt. Redefining what constitutes a foul to allow for brief contact initiated by a defensive player if it does not impede the progress of a player with the ball. The NBA did not release the result of the vote. A two-thirds majority was required for passage, meaning at least 20 of the 29 teams were in favor. ------------------
Cato was already valued by some teams. I don't think this increases it all that much. However, I am willing to put in a good word for him if it helps to get rid of him ------------------ "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."- (Aldous Huxley)
Sure he might be valued by some teams (may GOD pity those teams), but now I think his value does go up. As lazy as Cato might be, even he can stand right by the paint to swat some shots. He does not have to really move his feet because he might not have to play man on man defense. Now I think teams might be willing to give up a little bit more to obtain this idiot. On the other hand I say the Rockets try whatever imaginable to get Allan Houstons butt to come over here. Sign and trade Shandon to where ever. Now I think he is even more useless then he already was. With Houstons shooting ability the lanes would be wide open for Francis and Mobes. Of course our lineup of Allan, Mobes, and Francis would be rather small. But big dominant players are going to suffre anyways due to the zone. ------------------
This really pisses me off! imo, the balance of power between defense and offense takes a major shift...can any of us really predict the outcome?
you know, what also chaps my hide is this This is like the 4th time in 20 years they have "redefined" what constitutes a touching foul. This one is totally bogus, and never works. So, I guess the Riley/Starks hand checks on Jordan that they "redefined" a couple years ago are legal again.
Rockets 03, good point. If Cato is allowed to park himself under the basket without any illegal prohobition he will definitely excell. But I don't have a thorough enough understanding of the new rules, yet, to know if he would be allowed to do this. ------------------ [This message has been edited by ROCKETBOOSTER (edited April 12, 2001).]
Hopefully other teams will think Cato will excel if he parked his lame ass under THEIR basket in THEIR uniform. ------------------
I think this does increase Cato's value a little bit. Heypee, I hate that rule too. WTF do they want to bring handchecking back for? I heard they had another rule on the table allowing defensive players to take the ball off the rim but thank god that didn't pass. ------------------ snap crackle pop
Time for the master of the Hand Check Derek Harper to make a comeback ------------------ "Repression never did me any harm (I finally ceased to include "stop masturbating" as one of my guilt ridden New Year's resolutions, but that's a different topic)." Achebe - programmer by day, Mrs Palmers Husband by night
Are these idiots trying to raise the scoring or completely destroy any offense?!?!?! David Stern is getting a little too old for this stuff. His lame ass needs to be fired for what he has done to the NBA in the last few years. I say the players just boycott all of these freakin rule changes. ------------------
There is only one thing that could help our man Cato, and it involves taking our TINMAN to see the wizard in the land of oz. DaDakota ------------------ If you like RTS games, check out this one. www.frontierwars.com coming soon to a PC near you.
Lets have a lockout. This is nothing a labor-stoppage wouldn't solve. ------------------ Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
Yeah! and Bill Murray is holding an instruction summer camp on: how to play in the new NBA. Look out! ------------------
I'm gonna ask again. If Cato's value is gonna go up, and he can block more shots and clog the lane. Then why don't WE keep him? ALSO, if Shandon's game is also more suited for this system, then that makes two players who will improve next season. Why would we give any away? ------------------
As far as CATO: Because we can use him to get something even more valuable. Because he is and will always be the Tin Man. Because it sickens me to watch him steal $$$ the Rox invested in him. Why keep waiting for him to act interested in earning his paycheck. Cato obviously is not suited for basketball. Clutch's article on him and his behavior bespeak a man with a chip on his shoulder who thinks the world owes him a favor. Maybe he just wants to hole up and write his children's books. That's fine, that's great---just don't take 7 million a year for 6 years of Rox money in the meantime. I'm glad now, 'cause as people are pointing out, his market value went up. Now we need t find an Eastern Conference sucker...er, taker. (I don't want Cato to suddenly discover his talent here in the West.) As far as SHAN-DERSON: Because he wants to start, I think, as a two. Because he hesitates to shoot, and still might in the zone. Because he's a little too short for the 3. BUT: It wouldn't hurt my feelings to keep Shanderson now. ------------------ [This message has been edited by ROXTXIA (edited April 13, 2001).]
The legalization of zone defenses will help the Rocks more than Cato, being that his value has gone up several "points." Makes it easier to trade him, now. By the way, I think we're all over-reacting a little. I don't think that there will be a rash of zones being played in the NBA, most teams will play it in certain situations much like most college teams. ------------------
shandon will still be useless. even more so now. the best way to beat a zone is with a) penetration b) midrange jumpers with those comes: c) 3 pointers. none of these does shandon do well. as for his overrated defense? it will be the same as any other guard on our team, given the ability to handcheck and play zone. AS FOR CATO, this increases his value 2 fold. keep him.
A zone & you can Hand Check interesting I don't gree that it makes Cato even more important because IMO It makes Collier *as* good as Cato in blocking shots. Collier *in theory* has less quickness and athletic ability than Cato BUT He has better offense and seem to have better decision making [or the potential too] so his lack of lateral movement would not be *AS* big a liability in a zone than in Man to Man. So . . . in Closing STILL TRADE CATO!! Rocket River ------------------
