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[nba.com] Rockets' rookie Capela embraces unexpected role

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by ipa, Apr 20, 2015.

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ipa Member

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Good to see Capela getting some recognition and love!

http://www.nba.com/2015/news/featur...ston-rockets-takes-advantage-of-playing-time/

It was a little less than three weeks ago when Kevin McHale wrapped up a pre-game media chat with the kind of rejection and dismissive eye-roll that was familiar on the old parquet floor of Boston Garden 30 years ago.
"Listen, if Clint Capela is getting significant minutes in the playoffs, then we're in trouble," McHale said.
So, of course, there was the skinny rookie big man checking in as the first man off the Rockets bench with just 6:20 gone in the first quarter Saturday night when Dwight Howard picked up a second quick foul.
Less than a minute later, Capela took a backdoor feed from Terrence Jones and dropped in a reverse layup for the first post-season bucket of his career.
"I say a lot of (expletive) to you guys I don't mean," McHale said on Sunday. "For the record, and you guys know this, I'm just trying to get out of here without saying anything. I usually do a fairly good job of that. I slipped up. My bad."
Not so bad was Capela's playoff bow. With Howard limited by foul trouble to just 17 minutes, Capela played 16 minutes, shot 3-for-5 and finished with eight points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.
"(Saturday) night was exciting game for me," said the 6-foot-10 center, the first-round draft pick (25th) by the Rockets last June. "My first playoff game, so I really enjoyed it. I did a good job helping my team, so I'm really glad for that."
Born in Geneva, Switzerland, raised in France, the 20-year-old is all angles and energy and in most ways couldn't be more raw if he were a choice at a salad bar.
Capela spent most of the season playing for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA D-League, where he averaged 16 points, 9.7 rebounds, three blocks and shot 60.1 percent from the field in 38 games.
But there were also times in Houston staying on the Rockets' practice court for some extra work with the veterans and with Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. When Capela was given a chance to get on the court in the NBA over the final weeks, he showed, more than anything, that he comes to work at his play.
"I've just liked him," McHale said. "He's a good kid. He plays hard all the time. Nothing bothers him. Whether he had a really good last play or a really bad last play, he plays hard on the next play. That's key. You do that, and you don't drag all your baggage with you down the floor because you missed a shot, or if you don't defend? You don't do that. Miss or make the shot, run down and defend. Get a rebound. Get a blocked shot. He comes back on offense and rolls hard.
"He just does his job well. He's really a nice, easy guy to like, nice young man. I think we're fortunate. I think he's going to be a very good NBA player. He's got a lot to learn, but the kid's just so willing to learn."
While Capela did get a baptism of physical play down in the low post by the Mavericks' Tyson Chandler, Amar'e Stoudemire and even Dirk Nowitzki and did not defend the rim in a manner even close to Howard, he was game to keep coming back for more.
"That was a good challenge for me," Capela said. "I'm really excited about this because this is players I was watching when I was a kid. It's always exciting to play against a guy like this.
"The refs were more strict with me. They make me feel in my head like I got to do better. I got to be in better position on defense. It feel like it motivates me, like a challenge. So it's good.
"Against the Jazz [in the regular season finale], I wasn't expecting to be the first man off the bench. But for the playoffs [McHale] told me to be ready because I was part of the rotation."
He missed a dunk. He was often confused on defensive assignments. But Capela has made enough of an impression on the man he backs up.
"I thought he did good," Howard said. "He's still young. This is his first big, playoff experience. He has a lot of good teachers. He has a lot of good vets in the locker room. Hakeem is a guy who comes in and spends some quality time with us. He's just learning. I like the fact that he's learning. He does everything the right way, which is what you want to see."
Even if the coach didn't want to admit that he'd been seeing glimpses of it coming on for weeks.
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#1 ipa, Apr 20, 2015

1 person likes this.

oogie boogie Member

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Another great draft pick by Morey. Hopefully this one stays, and dominates the league by becoming an all-defensive team NBA player.

#2 oogie boogie, Apr 20, 2015
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First! Great article. I like his humility and lack of ego... Like Hakeem. And he played soccer. I hope he gets real comfortable soon... We will need him. Rox for life!

#3 banzai, Apr 20, 2015
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I hope he spends more time with Hakeem this summer.Just like Dmo did.

#4 dragonwill, Apr 20, 2015
ipa Member

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Also I love this interview!

Code:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_hi3WEziB7g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Love how he said something like:

„I know what I can do, and I know what I can't"

Love this in a player! When you know your weaknesses, you are already better... Because you don't try to do that, and hurt your team...

If only Josh Smith would learn....

Great passes are great, but when he tries to be Stockton, it drives me crazy...
#5 ipa, Apr 20, 2015
ipa Member

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^ somebody please remove the code from the earlier post... did not post many youtube videos here, did not know how...

#6 ipa, Apr 20, 2015
nemac Member

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Yea that comment struck me as well. Like it came from a much more experienced player. He's got a good head on his shoulders. Him describing the rush of first game in the other interview should remind us how fresh he is and any further positive impact he can have this series is that much more impressive.

#7 nemac, Apr 20, 2015

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Nice read, ipa! Don't be a stranger here. I really liked the line about McHale telling Capela that he was part of the rotation for the playoffs.

#8 MONON, Apr 20, 2015
ipa Member

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MONON said: ↑

Nice read, ipa! Don't be a stranger here. I really liked the line about McHale telling Capela that he was part of the rotation for the playoffs.
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I am not a stranger, just a lurker...

When I posted some people made fun of my writing capabilities, as I am not a native english speaker...

Also, I post only from time to time, as I watch the games the next day, as I do not wake up to watch them live... and so, most people already said what I wanted to say by that time! :grin:

#9 ipa, Apr 20, 2015
Mr. Dominant Contributing Member

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D-Mo and Capela are the rockets future big men!

Let's just hope Capela doesn't leave us like Parsons sorry ass did.

#10 Mr. Dominant, Apr 20, 2015
Xerobull You son of a b!tch! I'm in!

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Great article.

#11 Xerobull, Apr 20, 2015
TheRealAllpro Morey only fan

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I like McHale giving away the game " I say a lot of sheet to you guys I don't mean" lol

#12 TheRealAllpro, Apr 20, 2015
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Interesting read....and seems like a really great kid. For someone who wasn't even supposed to be here until next year, he really has come a long way...to rotation player for an NBA #2 seed. That's not bad, not bad at all.

#13 meadowlark, Apr 20, 2015

rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

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I was very high on Capela when we drafted him. I even thought he had higher upside than Dmo. But I thought it was going to take him a few years to contribute. Wow, I was wrong. He's going to be a max player in 4 years if he stays healthy and hungry.

#14 rockbox, Apr 20, 2015
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and Chad Ford grade rockets with a C- for pickin Capella, saying he was lasy.

HOUSTON ROCKETS | GRADE: C-
Round 1: Clint Capela (25)
Round 2: Nick Johnson (42)
Analysis: The Rockets are busy trying to clear cap space for a run at LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Again, I'm not sure how likely it is they land either guy, but both players are worth the effort. So the Rockets took a player in Capela, whom they can leave in Europe to develop -- and he needs the time. Capela is long and athletic, but very raw. His analytics numbers were off the charts for Kevin Pelton, but watching him in games was pretty painful. He has a ways to go. Johnson, who is tough and super-athletic, could help now if the Rockets have a roster spot. He defends and can shoot it a bit. If he were a few inches taller, he would've gone much, much higher.

#15 Ming The King, Apr 20, 2015
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Ming The King said: ↑

and Chad Ford grade rockets with a C- for pickin Capella, saying he was lasy.

HOUSTON ROCKETS | GRADE: C-
Round 1: Clint Capela (25)
Round 2: Nick Johnson (42)
Analysis: The Rockets are busy trying to clear cap space for a run at LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Again, I'm not sure how likely it is they land either guy, but both players are worth the effort. So the Rockets took a player in Capela, whom they can leave in Europe to develop -- and he needs the time. Capela is long and athletic, but very raw. His analytics numbers were off the charts for Kevin Pelton, but watching him in games was pretty painful. He has a ways to go. Johnson, who is tough and super-athletic, could help now if the Rockets have a roster spot. He defends and can shoot it a bit. If he were a few inches taller, he would've gone much, much higher.
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How do you get lazy out of that?

#16 WinkFan, Apr 20, 2015
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Capela is going to be a really good player. Tyson Chandler type.

#17 rocketpower2, Apr 20, 2015
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rockbox said: ↑

I was very high on Capela when we drafted him. I even thought he had higher upside than Dmo. But I thought it was going to take him a few years to contribute. Wow, I was wrong. He's going to be a max player in 4 years if he stays healthy and hungry.
Click to expand...

rocketpower2 said: ↑

Capela is going to be a really good player. Tyson Chandler type.
Click to expand...

Meh.....

No.

#18 Nook, Apr 20, 2015

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In before Mark Cuban makes an offer to Clint.

#19 dragician, Apr 20, 2015
Ming The King Member

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WinkFan said: ↑

How do you get lazy out of that?
Click to expand...

He said that in others interviews.

#20 Ming The King, Apr 20, 2015

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