The Atlanta Hawks need to get more out of Clint Capela before it’s too late

The Atlanta Hawks (25-27) would have a 10-game winning streak were it not for the Toronto Raptors. That’s oversimplifying the situation. But sandwiching their win over the Phoenix Suns with losses to the team from the North is pretty frustrating. It also goes to show just how important matchups are in the NBA.

One thing the Hawks didn’t do against the Raptors (and have not done enough this season) is punish opponents when they have those advantages.

In Toronto that showed in the form of not getting Clint Capela as involved as they need to. Even for a player whose offensive contributions are typified by catching lobs and putbacks, Capela’s lack of involvement on the offensive end is a disturbing trend.

What’s most disturbing about it is that it isn’t just a one-game sample.

Clint Capela’s lack of involvement on offense is holding the Atlanta Hawks back

It’s fair to wonder if Capela is fully healthy, a question we’ve had to ask often this season. But his minutes are down from 29.7 minutes per game to 23.2 minutes per contest over the last eight games since he’s returned from a sprained ankle. The injury sidelined the 2021 rebounding champ for six games.

He’s also seen his attempts fall by nearly half with seven single-digit scoring performances in those eight games bringing his season total to 20 such outings.

Capela had just 13 games with fewer than 10 points in all of last season.

He has four games with at least 20 points and 10 games with at least 15 points this year compared to 18 games with 20 points and 29 games with 15 or more points during the Hawks run to the postseason.

Of course, he’s also had to deal with the emergence of second-year big man Onyeka Okongwu whose breakout occurred while filling in for Capela. But Okongwu is seeing fewer minutes since Capela returned than he was in the six games both were healthy prior to. They have used John Collins at center more this season too.

The Hawks have given Capela about 10 fewer touches post-ankle.

He’s also struggled to finish far too often when they all come at the rim. That just brings us back to the questions over his health though.

Still, he hasn’t looked like the player he was last year for most of this season.

What is odd is that he has been more efficient, shooting 66.7 percent from the floor compared to 56.9 percent before his ankle injury though his scoring is down from 11.8 points to 7.8 points in his last eight outings.

They have gone 6-2 in that span so perhaps they don’t want to get much more than what they’ve asked of him lately.

But, as one of the two players named as untouchable along with Trae Young, it would seem imperative that the Hawks and Capela figure out a way to get him more involved. Though it is important to note that they can’t trade him until the offseason. After all, they are 6-4 in his 15-point games and 3-1 in his 21-points performances.