Houston Rockets: 2017-18 player grades for Clint Capela
Strengths
Although he is not known to score heavily on the block or command a bevy of touches inside, Clint Capela found a way to show that his greatest strength is doing whatever it takes to help the Rockets win ball games.
The 6’9″, 240-pound force is arguably one of the game’s best centers when it comes to running the floor and setting screens. He’s also more than capable of finishing tremendous alley-oop lobs courtesy of Chris Paul and James Harden, who each sought to find Capela throughout the season within the pick-and-roll.
A set in Houston used consistently to create early offense involved the big man, with Capela slipping through a screen and heading down the lane to either draw defenders out of position or force one to switch and help out on Harden or Paul. The Rockets would often place several shooters on one side of the court, running the following play to perfection time and time again:
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Throughout the season, Capela displayed the ability to consistently catch passes and throw down dunks that most non-mobile centers fail to handle. He also proved to be an effective rim protector at the other end of the floor, using his nimble feet to alter shots inside and hold his own against guards in pick-and-roll switches on defense.
During the 2018 NBA Playoffs, Capela finished second among all players in blocks with 2.1 per game, and played a pivotal role in helping the Rockets advance to the Western Conference Finals by outplaying the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert at both ends through the first two rounds.
The rising star showed why he should be regarded as one of the top young centers in the league, as Capela’s ability to defend and serve as a vertical threat against opponents in the paint is why many basketball experts believe that he is guaranteed to earn a nice pay raise soon.