Houston Rockets: The growth and emergence of Clint Capela

Despite being regarded by most analysts as a pick-and-roll lob threat throughout the majority of his career, Houston Rockets center Clint Capela has managed to fully cement himself as one of the top young players in all of basketball.

Prior to signing a five-year, $90 million contract to return to the Houston Rockets last summer, Clint Capela promptly became one of the most heavily scrutinized players on the free agency market, as several former and current NBA players did not seek to mince their words when asked about the rising star abilities on the floor.

"“Usually he’s catching the ball and laying it up from [Chris Paul] or James Harden,” Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant said to reporters when taking out the time to describe Capela’s game last season.“His job is not that hard … Capela, catch and dunk every night. It’s pretty easy for him.”"

Now, the 24-year-old big man is working relentlessly to put Durant’s remarks to full rest, as the player who posted career-high marks in nearly every statistical category last year has managed to develop into one of the game’s most productive centers.

All the while showing a more diversified game in the process.

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1078666883237261313

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1077942111813562368

Capela, who led the league in field goal percentage a season ago, is currently averaging a career-high 17.3 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game through 33.7 minutes per game in his fifth year with the Rockets.

"“He’s [gotten] better,” Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle when asked about Capela’s year thus far. “He’s come into a man’s body and he can handle the minutes. When you handle the minutes, obviously your stats are all going to go up…he [once] played three or four minutes [and] got tired, he doesn’t have that now. Even if he does, it’s at 33, 34 minutes.”"

Although names such as Paul and Harden might spring quicker to the average mind than most players currently on Houston’s roster, Capela’s emergence and growth as a player should not be disregarded.

The man who is known for his ability to serve as a pick-and-roll lob threat has found a way to make his presence felt in other areas as of late.

Over the last three games, the Swiss Roll has managed to protect the paint quite successfully, hauling down 21.6 rebounds per game.

In addition to making life more harder for opponents on defense, as the Rockets decision to drop Capela while defending pick-and-rolls, has granted him with the opportunity to garner more blocks and help spark Clutch City’s defensive turnaround.

Houston, which ranked near the bottom of the league’s leaderboard in defensive rating through the first quarter of the season, has managed to rise up over their last 10 games — producing a serviceable rating of 109.8 points per 100 possessions.

The Rockets have also moved up from 25th in rebounding percentage to 11th during that time span, as the 6’10”, 240-pound force has played an integral role in helping the Rockets climb back within the Western Conference playoff picture.

"“He’s young and athletic,” Rockets guard Eric Gordon said to reporters earlier this week. “He’s one of the best rebounders in the league.”“We need him to continue to do that…we need him to be big like that all the time.”"

Capela and the Rockets will seek to vie for their ninth win in the last ten outings, as they get ready to take on Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday.