When the Atlanta Hawks traded for Clint Capela he was injured. However, now that he is playing his production is as advertised.
Clint Capela played six seasons with the Houston Rockets before getting injured. He was then traded to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a massive four-team deal as the Rockets famously went to small ball in an effort to be different from the rest of the league.
The Rockets failed to get past the second round last season and. the team promptly fell apart during the offseason. Conversely, the Hawks were able to wait the season out and get Capela healthy for this season.
Prior to coming to the Hawks, Capela averaged 12.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.0 assists, and 0.7 steals in 26.0 minutes per game. He was able to shoot the ball at 63.4 percent from the floor. Capela was assisted on over 80 percent of his shots showing that he is not able to create his own shot.
The Atlanta Hawks are not just interested in Clint Capela’s numbers.
More from Soaring Down South
- Start, Bench, Cut: Sorting through the Hawks’ power forward options
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic reacts to earning FIBA World Cup championship bid
- When does training camp start for the Atlanta Hawks?
- Grade the trade: Hawks deal Trae Young to Clippers in shocking proposal
- Dejounte Murray rips NBA 2K after Atlanta Hawks ratings reveal
While Capela has been able to average 10.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.5 steals in 26.2 minutes per game shooting the ball at 57.2 percent it is not just this production the Hawks are interested in. They also love his ability to organize the defense.
Capela is the type of player who can call out the defensive plays for his guards and wings. As a result, the Hawks defense looks a lot better. He is also the type of player his teammates can funnel their opponent into the paint and Capela can handle the situation defensively.
The other aspect of his game that Capela is able to benefit the Hawks is his hustle. The best statistical measure of this is his offensive rebounding. Capela is averaging 4.0 offensive rebounds per game, this is up on his career number of 3.3 per game.
He works so hard on the offensive glass that he is stopping other teams from leaking out in transition on the missed shot. If you cannot guarantee the defensive board, the coach is not very happy with you if you miss the defensive assignment on the second-chance opportunity.
The Hawks will also be looking forward to Capela getting better as he spends more time with the team. This should send a shiver of fear into most of the Eastern conference playoff teams as the season progresses.