Clint Capela vs Rudy Gobert & 2 other X-factors as Hawks host Timberwolves

Clint Capela often receives criticism for not being a threat offensively beyond catching lobs from Trae Young. But the Atlanta Hawks center certainly brings a lot to the table, some of which does not show up in the box score.

On Monday, the Hawks host the Minnesota Timberwolves, and their center, Rudy Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, faces many of the same criticisms.

Battle of the (Limited) Big Men

Capela is not on Gobert’s level, and that is no slight to the Hawks big man.

It is an illustration that the eye test can lie, depending on what it is the beholder is looking for. And in these two centers’ cases, their impacts are often most on display when they are off the floor.

Capela has the third-highest on-off differential overall and the second-highest defensively among Hawks players, per Cleaning The Glass.

Gobert is fifth and second, respectively, and has logged the second-most minutes on his team.

Again, Gobert has been the better player of the two, leading the league in several efficiency metrics in three separate seasons and blocks in another. Capela has led in efficiency in multiple categories once and led in rebounding in another.

Where tonight’s battle will be most interesting is when they guard each other. Gobert has the advantage but can be hesitant to take shots.

Gobert is averaging his fewest attempts per game this season since 2015-16, his third year in the league. On the other end, Capela should be challenged by Gobert’s length. But, as Gobert’s own teammate Anthony Edwards once noted, the fear of Gobert is largely overstated.

It should be quite the duel of impactful but limited big men.

One 1 team can end their skid

Both the Hawks and Timberwolves enter this contest on losing streaks. The Hawks have lost three straight, dropping their most recent outing to the Memphis Grizzlies with both teams short-handed in the contest.

After dropping four of their last five, the vibe is different than it was less than one month ago.

Neither team has the rest advantage coming into tonight, and the Hawks have not been great coming off one day off.

They have not faced the Timberwolves yet this season.

Minnesota dropped its last outing against the Golden State Warriors. They also find themselves three spots lower in the Western Conference standings than the Hawks are in the East despite having the same number of wins and two fewer losses.

Which will blink first? Much of that will be determined by who both sides have available for the 7:30 P.M. ET affair.

Trae Young questionable as Hawks host Grizzlies

The Hawks did not have Trae Young against the Grizzlies, and their need for a backup point guard was as glaring as ever. That could be the case again on Monday night, with Young again listed as questionable for the contest with a heel contusion.

Bogdan Bogdanovic is also questionable as he manages a lower leg contusion while the Hawks will not have Onyeka Okongwu for the third straight outing.

Could-be backup PG Kobe Bufkin os out for the season with a shoulder injury.

The Hawks’ litany of injuries is notable as the trade deadline approaches. Any deals they might pursue could cost them a player they have come to rely on who would otherwise be an easier decision with everyone healthy.