Kelvin Cato: Big Man in a Small Town
Kelvin Cato may not have been in Orlando for very long, but it’s already apparent things are at a little different pace in ‘the city beautiful’ than what the big-city guy is accustomed to.
“So far, it’s a little slower than Houston or Atlanta, where I am from,” Cato said. “But I can get used to it.”
Or here is another suggestion. If it’s a faster pace Cato wants, all he has to do is turn his attention to the basketball court - he’ll definitely find it there. In case you haven’t heard, there are two things Magic Head Coach Johnny Davis wants to implement to this year’s squad that were missing from last season’s team - a total team effort and a fast, up-tempo style of play.
Being part of a team effort may be the easy part, but for Cato, just as it is for all big men, the run-and-gun basketball style is a bit more difficult than for, say, a shorter, quicker guard. The fast pace is even more integral to big men, because that style of play is essentially the result of the rebounding and passing skills of the team’s bigger players. As it is, big men are usually the ones to start the break.
Cato, however, doesn’t seem to mind the added pressure.
“It’s basketball,” the center said. “So regardless of what it is, I have to get my body in the right shape so I can go out there and do it. I have to get in shape - that’s the main thing.”
This may be the first year in a long time that the Magic not only have a front court that is in shape and healthy, but is also even capable of changing the complexion of a game. To most fans, it’s actually probably the first time since the days of Shaquille O’Neal that Orlando will rely this much on its guys in the paint.
Yet Cato isn’t here any kind of void for the Magic; he’s here to make his own name known around town.
“I don’t think I can fill the Shaq role, because he was a 20-point scorer, but I can go out there and be aggressive and play as hard as I can,” Cato said. “I’m going to try to (help in the middle), but I have a lot of help out there, with the young guys that are coming in.”
Most notably among the young guys is Dwight Howard, who lived up to his potential in the Magic’s first pre-season game with an 18-point, nine-rebound performance, showcasing the athleticism and raw talent that led Orlando to take him with their No. 1 draft pick this summer.
“He’s getting better everyday - he works hard, he is stronger than people think, and he goes out and plays hard. That will help him become of the other greats like he wants to be. We have confidence in him.”
Also helping the Magic is the fact that Cato was brought to the team with two of his previous teammates from the Houston Rockets (Cuttino Mobley and Steve Francis), even more solidifying the new face of the squad for the up-coming season.
“It benefits the team because we already know each other and our capabilities,” Cato said. “But it’s still a team and that’s big. We have to play five at a time. I don’t think anybody is above anybody else. Everyone is coming in with the same respect.”
And that attitude, the Magic hope, will pace the team to a lot more wins before the season is through.
Or, if Cato has his way, it will come a lot faster.
Melanie Curtsinger is an intern in the Magic's Communications department. Deidre A. Frith, also an intern in the Magic Communications department, contributed to this story.
“So far, it’s a little slower than Houston or Atlanta, where I am from,” Cato said. “But I can get used to it.”
Or here is another suggestion. If it’s a faster pace Cato wants, all he has to do is turn his attention to the basketball court - he’ll definitely find it there. In case you haven’t heard, there are two things Magic Head Coach Johnny Davis wants to implement to this year’s squad that were missing from last season’s team - a total team effort and a fast, up-tempo style of play.
Being part of a team effort may be the easy part, but for Cato, just as it is for all big men, the run-and-gun basketball style is a bit more difficult than for, say, a shorter, quicker guard. The fast pace is even more integral to big men, because that style of play is essentially the result of the rebounding and passing skills of the team’s bigger players. As it is, big men are usually the ones to start the break.
Cato, however, doesn’t seem to mind the added pressure.
“It’s basketball,” the center said. “So regardless of what it is, I have to get my body in the right shape so I can go out there and do it. I have to get in shape - that’s the main thing.”
This may be the first year in a long time that the Magic not only have a front court that is in shape and healthy, but is also even capable of changing the complexion of a game. To most fans, it’s actually probably the first time since the days of Shaquille O’Neal that Orlando will rely this much on its guys in the paint.
Yet Cato isn’t here any kind of void for the Magic; he’s here to make his own name known around town.
“I don’t think I can fill the Shaq role, because he was a 20-point scorer, but I can go out there and be aggressive and play as hard as I can,” Cato said. “I’m going to try to (help in the middle), but I have a lot of help out there, with the young guys that are coming in.”
Most notably among the young guys is Dwight Howard, who lived up to his potential in the Magic’s first pre-season game with an 18-point, nine-rebound performance, showcasing the athleticism and raw talent that led Orlando to take him with their No. 1 draft pick this summer.
“He’s getting better everyday - he works hard, he is stronger than people think, and he goes out and plays hard. That will help him become of the other greats like he wants to be. We have confidence in him.”
Also helping the Magic is the fact that Cato was brought to the team with two of his previous teammates from the Houston Rockets (Cuttino Mobley and Steve Francis), even more solidifying the new face of the squad for the up-coming season.
“It benefits the team because we already know each other and our capabilities,” Cato said. “But it’s still a team and that’s big. We have to play five at a time. I don’t think anybody is above anybody else. Everyone is coming in with the same respect.”
And that attitude, the Magic hope, will pace the team to a lot more wins before the season is through.
Or, if Cato has his way, it will come a lot faster.
Melanie Curtsinger is an intern in the Magic's Communications department. Deidre A. Frith, also an intern in the Magic Communications department, contributed to this story.
