In two losses last weekend at Brooklyn and Miami, Houston Rockets starting center Clint Capela averaged just 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game.
During the two wins since, however, Capela has posted a pair of double-doubles with averages of 14.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and three blocks in 32.5 minutes per game. That includes 19 points, 16 rebounds and a career-high-tying six blocks in Wednesday’s blowout victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Whatever the reason for improvement, the Rockets (5-3) will gladly take accept their first double-digit victory of the new NBA season.
After the game, Capela told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that a sore right shoulder from an offseason injury with the Switzerland basketball men’s national team played a role in his slow start.
That revelation could be critical in understanding the Rockets’ sluggish season to date. It provides a rational explanation for Capela’s decline in performance.
In the 2018-19 season, Capela averaged career highs in points (16.6), rebounds (12.7) and minutes (33.6) per game. Thus far, his performance in the 2019-20 season through eight games has slipped to 13.5 points and 9.6 rebounds in 27.8 minutes.
At 25 years old, Capela’s regression can’t be blamed on age. But if an injury was involved, that could explain the statistical decline while also providing hope for a turnaround as he gets healthier, as suggested by MacMahon.
When Capela isn’t on the floor, the Rockets are generally undersized and older at the frontcourt positions. That’s especially the case with 37-year-old Tyson Chandler, now in his 19th NBA season, as Capela’s primary backup at center who, understandably, plays limited minutes. In turn, that lack of size has played a role in Houston’s bottom-three net defensive rating this season.
But Capela returning to his form of the last two seasons could go a long way in helping Houston get back to its expected status as an NBA championship contender.
Capela’s recovery from the shoulder injury could be aided by two consecutive off days after Wednesday’s victory, with the Rockets not scheduled to resume play until Saturday night in Chicago.
