Rockets starting center Clint Capela has recently been traded to the Atlanta Hawks. This trade left some fans scratching their heads as to why the Rockets would trade their young starting center who they recently just resigned. Today I am going to be exploring the reasons as to why the Rockets felt comfortable with trading away Clint Capela as well as how this trade effects the Rockets postseason chances.
Capela was having a great season with the Rockets before he was dealt. He was averaging 13.9 points and 13.8 rebounds per game along with averaging 63% from the field and averaging a career high 1.8 blocks a game. Although these stats are impressive, the Houston Rockets have been 10-1 this season without Clint Capela. With them being so successful without Capela starting at center, the Rockets felt comfortable to trade Capela so they could upgrade their perimeter defence and spacing. Last playoffs the Rockets were a second round exit and a large part of their early exit was Clint Caplea’s struggles against the Warriors. He wasn’t a threat offensively and wasn’t anchoring the Rocket’s defence against Golden State. The Rockets might have taken all this into account and this made them more comfortbale with moving on from Capela.
The Rockets are buying into the small ball lineup of having PJ Tucker at the center position. I think that this decision for Houston to go small is a intriguing decision with lots of pros and cons. This new playstyle will space out their offence even more then it already is. Houston was one of the most lethal teams from the perimeter even with a non 3 point shooter in Clint Capela. Now that everyone in that starting lineup can space the floor and are comfortable with attempting 3 pointers, this spreads out the opposing teams defences and pulls the best rim protectors in the NBA out of the paint. In the West there are so many dangerous centers that Houston may have to face in the playoffs such as Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis. With this 5 out offence these centers defensive value will be diminished as they well be spread out to the perimeter. This small ball spaced out offence also helps Harden and Westbrook’s offence. With the absurd amount of spacing, this will create a lot more driving lanes for Westbrook and Harden. These are two players that are elite in driving to the basket and with the departure of Capela, this creates more opportunities to draw fouls or score in close range. Houston already is first in the league in 3 points attempted and this 5 out offence will generate even more threes for the Rockets.
Most people’s biggest problem with the Capela trade is the Rocket’s getting destroyed in rebounding and inside defence. Most people are saying that if they potentially played the Lakers in the playoffs that they would absolutely get killed down low. I agree with these people to an extent. Yes the Rockets lose a lot of shot blocking and rebounding but the Rocket’s defence wasn’t great to begin with. They were towards the bottom of the league defensively even with Capela and in the trade they still get a great defender back in Robert Covington. Yes they will still struggle defensively but I think the Rockets main goal with this trade was to go all in with a small ball lineup and put up big offensive numbers to hopefully win games. I also think that PJ Tucker and Robert Covington are capable of getting stops. They are both amazing defenders and I believe they can get consistent stops even with the size disadvantage. Previously before this trade, the Rockets didn’t have any perimeter players that could come close to guarding Kawhi and Lebron James. Now they have a great perimeter defender in Robert Covington. With the way the league is built, I’d rather have a player who can consistently guard the elite wing players of the league rather then a player who can consistently guard the elite bigs of the NBA.
It’s no secret that the Rockets are trying to do all they can to win right now. I really like this move for the Rockets as a hit or miss situation. It’s championship or bust. This trade and system will either work amazingly and make the Rockets management look like geniuses or it will not work at all and make the Rocket’s management look stupid. The Rockets weren’t winning a championship this season with Capela, Westbrook and Harden anyways. This trade lowers their floor but raises their ceiling. Houston’s new offence is unique and unlike something we’ve seen before. The coaches are going to have to adapt to this crazy spacing driven Houston offence. If the Rocket’s three pointers are hitting, then I think this could be move that finally puts Houston over the hump.
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