How much longer are we going to pretend Clint Capela is a Center?

Some comparative rim protection numbers after some of the names we've seen thrown around on here:

% change in FG% when defended < 6ft from the basket:
____________
Embiid: -17.6%
Gobert: -13.8%
Kyle O'Quinn: -12.9%
Boban: -12.3%
Zubac: -12%
Hibbert: -11.6%
Len: - 11.6%
Seraphin: -11.6%
Noel: -11.5%
Whiteside: -11.3%

...
Howard: -7%
Jordan: -7%

Capela: -5.9%

...
Cauley-Stein: -2%
Okafor: -1.7%

...

Koufas: -0.2%
Chandler: -0.2&

...

Ajinca: +1%

...

Jokic: +1.3%
Vucevic: +1.4%

 

say what you want about Capela the kid but one thing is true, he made Dwight

 

Clint Capela could potentially make one hell of a trade piece for the right player.

This system and James Harden makes Houston an easy place to put up big numbers for a center..... roll to the basket for endless easy baskets, set proper screens, tons of rebounds, easy block shot opportunities.

There are a number of guys that could put up big numbers...... If Noel would stop letting his dog piss all over the floor, get rid of the losers that he hangs out with, and actually try to stay in shape; he would be an all star on the Rockets.

 

Forgive me for telling you straight. 11.9 and 7.6 tell you nothing about the defensive differences between CC and DJ at age 22. CC is way behind defensively. He's never going to catch up.

 

Clint is going to get there. Dude is a hard worker. It might take 3-4 more years, but he will get there. And as good as Deandre is on defense, Clint can be that MUCH better on offense. The Swiss Roll has been among the best finishers in the game at every level he has ever played. He isn't perfect, but he is our best trade chip going forward and we need to be VERY careful in how we use him going forward.

Nerlens Noel on the other hand shows all the signs of being an immature flame out. Hopefully he turns his personal life around and shows a little bit of maturity, because he has the talent. (Are we really going to let Okafor/Noel slip by? We have the perfect opportunity for these guys to play about 24 minutes a night until they prove themselves. Clint/Noel or Clint/Okafor would look VERY nice moving forward)

 

Kylo Ren O'Quinn would be an interesting, low-key pickup on the cheap.

 

And I still chuckle because in December the recurring theme around here was "don't trade anyone or else you risk messing up chemistry!!!!!!!!1111"

The pendulum swings...

 

RPM certainly isn't everything, it can often depend on external factors like every stat, but it is one of the best stats we have IMO. The stark change in this number since he has been back is hard to ignore, and very much matches what we are seeing with our eyes. He has been an outright defensive liability, and we often have to go to Nene because Capela simply can't handle an opposing big down low. I don't think Nene has been as good as this number, it's more a factor of how bad Capela/Harrell has been when he's not in there.

http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM/position/9

I'm not a fan of trading him unless we are getting a really big piece back, I still like his upside, but we may need to go after a guy like Koufus in case Capela can't be counted on to anchor the middle this year. Getting pushed around in the middle is becoming a huge issue, on the boards more than anything. We can't count on Nene to play big minutes at this point in his career.

 

Because we all remember the 2011 Clippers being a defensive stalwart? The defense when using advanced stats don't tell your story as Jordan took that step up 2 years later.

Here we are in 2017 and TJones has outplayed DMo. Scouting is hard, best leave it to the pros (who even miss a lot).

 

We simply don't have 3-4 more years and I like Capela.

 

If Clint Capela is our backup C we are looking GOOD. He is literally the perfect stopgap until we find something significantly better, which is not a long list.

Also, Clint is not a huge concern, imo.

Ariza, Dekker, Brewer as our wings is a HUGE concern, imo. We look AMAZING whenever Ariza plays decently. Bring Wilson Chandler in here and watch us blow up.

 

It all depends on the price. Starter C + whatever Clint commands after next season.

Don't mind Ariza and Dekker sharing the wing, but we need someone else besides Brewer and KJ.

 

That you disagree with me makes me feel even more secure in my position. If you were GM of the Rockets we'd have probably traded Harden for Rubio.

 

Wrong on both counts.

 

Time will tell.

 

Hear ye! Hear ye!

"Yule-C" is now officially changed to "Time will tell"!

 

No... We are still in 3rd place in the West with Capela...

And TJones is better than DMo in 2016 season..... please present evidence supporting DMo for 2016...

 

Tymewil Telle

Sounds like a character from a Mark Twain novel, but as Clyde would say....I like it!

 

Wrong again. Third place in the West does not equate to as good as DJ defensively. And TJ hasn't even outplayed his own shadow, much less DMo. Keep staking out your position though.