Houston Rockets: 5 keys for rest of series vs. Warriors
4. The Clint Capela era must start now
The Rockets are obviously committed to Clint Capela after inking a five-year deal with the young center. He proved his worth all season and has a strong case as one of the best centers in the NBA when healthy.
In Game 1, Capela was shut down by the Warriors. He finished with one shot made on two attempts for a total of four points. His six rebounds were also uncharacteristic of him. This is not the same player who averaged 16.6 points and 12.7 rebounds per game during the regular season. That is the player the Rockets desperately need to show up. He has all the makings of a great pure center in the modern NBA, but succeeding in the playoffs is imperative for his development.
Capela is still young at 24 years old. However, his postseason performances thus far have not been promising by any means. Game 1 against the Warriors was clear proof of that. Draymond Green did what he does best, protecting the rim. Capela started at center against the Warriors’ small-ball lineup and was guarded beautifully by the always postseason-ready Green. Capela made just one alley-oop all game.
If the Warriors continue to eliminate the easy baskets, it will be interesting to see how the Rockets adjust. Capela is a great pick-and-roll center, but he can’t seem to find the right lanes to get open, especially with a world-class defender like Green all over him. Capela has the opportunity to take his career to the next level in this series, but it will take a lot of work to create offensive chances. On top of that, getting those oh-so-important rebounds will keep the ball in the Rockets’ hands, which is also an important factor against a scoring team like the Warriors.
If he can be a major part of the Rockets’ success this season, his stock and legacy as an NBA player will skyrocket. He is already on an amazing trajectory heading into next year, but it is the postseason that matters. After taking in some of the defensive tendencies and plans in Game 1, Capela needs to be a lot better as the Rockets try to steal a road victory in Game 2.