Houston Rockets: Clint Capela is more valuable than Lebron James
By T.A. Mock
Why Clint Capela is invaluable
As I mentioned on the previous slide, it is possible for the Houston Rockets to retain Paul and Capela while acquiring LeBron. However, in doing so the team will decimate their bench and fly way beyond the luxury tax.
Therefore, I don’t think it is possible to keep those two, add LeBron, while already having Harden. The pursuit of LeBron James and the possible acquisition would just cost the team too much.
However, there is one player that makes the possibility getting LeBron not worth it. That man is Clint Capela. I am fully convinced this team could not function at the level it does without the Swiss big man.
As I have stated previously, the Houston Rockets championship hopes ride or die with Capela. The offensive would still be successful without Capela but, it wouldn’t be as elite. The defensive definitely would be as good as it is.
Capela’s ability to run the pick and roll with Harden and Paul is unparalleled. The athleticism he has allows him to do this at an extremely high level. He’s more than just a pick and roll body, though.
Capela is also a threat around the basket. His years under the tutelage of the best big man the game has seen, Hakeem Olajuwon, has paid off in dividends. He can overpower you. Throw a spin move on, making you look silly. Pump fake and make you jump. His arsenal is deadly and rapidly growing.
Capela’s defensive chops are equally as tantalizing. His athleticism plays key here as well. He can switch on to smaller guys and keep up. He can elevate with anyone in the game. Rudy Gobert, who many regard as the best defensive center in the league, cannot even stand in his shadow this series.
A prime example came in game four when Capela had five blocks in the final three minutes for the Houston Rockets.