Houston Rockets: 3 reasons to re-sign Clint Capela

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 28: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the national anthem prior to the game against the Golden State Warriors in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images /

2. The team was 43-3 with the trio of Clint Capela, James Harden and Chris Paul in the lineup

Yes, you read that right. The Houston Rockets had a .935 winning percentage when their three best players were healthy enough to be in the lineup together during the regular season and were one win away from a trip to the NBA Finals. This is a classic example of the old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

The Rockets won a franchise-record 65 games during the regular season and finished with the first seed in the Western Conference. Once the understudy to Dwight Howard, Capela was clearly a huge contributor to the team’s success this season on both ends of the floor with his ability to score easy baskets and protect the rim.

Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni offered some excellent perspective about Capela’s value to the team after their first round, Game 1 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"“He was sitting at the kid’s table at the wedding for a long time,” D’Antoni said. “Now he’s giving toasts and stuff like that. He’s up with the guys now and they have confidence in him and he’s matured a lot…He won’t be this summer when he gets paid. But right now he is. People kind of sleep on him a bit, but he’s one of the better centers in the league.”"

Houston’s coaching staff clearly does not underestimate Capela’s importance to the team and the stats don’t lie, which is a big reason why they should bring him back to the roster next season.

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