Houston’s Clint Capela certainly isn’t a household name
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But after he outshined those stars the first two rounds of the playoffs, the league is taking notice that Capela is one of the pivotal pieces to Houston’s success as the team prepares for its showdown with Golden State in the Western Conference finals starting Monday.
”What he does is as good or better than anybody in the league without a doubt,” coach Mike D’Antoni said.
Capela leads the NBA this postseason in blocks (2.8 a game) and offensive rebounds (4.1 per contest). He’s fourth with 12.2 rebounds a game overall and his 14.4 point average in the playoffs ranks third on the Rockets behind James Harden and Chris Paul. This came after a regular season where the fourth-year player posted career highs in virtually every statistical category. He averaged 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in helping the Rockets to 65 wins and their first No. 1 seed in franchise history.
”What he does has been unbelievable,” D’Antoni said. ”And he’ll be overlooked. They’ll say he’s a role player and it’s not true.”
The Rockets insist that their high-powered, three-point centered offense wouldn’t work the way it does without the 6-foot-10 Capela. His work as the finisher in Houston’s pick and roll has proven valuable in the playoffs so far. His prowess in that area was on full display in Houston’s Game 5 win that eliminated the Timberwolves in the first round. He shot 12 of 14 and finished with a game-high 26 points to help Houston to the 122-104 victory.
Harden has often said this season that Capela is the player that makes everything else work for the Rockets, and said Friday that he’s undoubtedly developed into one of the league’s best centers.
”For sure,” Harden said. ”He’s done it for the last few years and he’s definitely showing it now in the postseason. You’ve got guys that just are comfortable with being in the NBA and you’ve got guys that actually want to have a legacy and Clint’s one of those guys.”
To that end Capela is constantly trying to learn and add new wrinkles to his game. He was always picking the brain of eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard when he backed him up in his first two NBA seasons and he’s developed a close relationship with former Rockets star and Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. Capela can often be seen working with and talking to Olajuwon at practice and Capela said Olajuwon has been impressed with the 23-year-old’s progress.
”He just said I was great and playing with confidence and energy and to keep it up,” Capela said.
While the Capela sees Olajuwon as one of his top mentors, he also appreciates a particular skill of another former Rocket. There are times after Capela blocks a shot that he wags one of his long fingers in the air as Dikembe Mutombo often did during his more than decade-long career in the NBA.
”Just having fun and also sending a message that it’s still my paint,” Capela said with a laugh.
Capela has had at least one block in each of Houston’s playoff games this season and tied a career-best with six in Game 4 against the Jazz. Most impressive about that performance is that five of those blocks came in the last three minutes to help Houston secure the road victory.
He said that shot-blocking barrage was the product of his getting upset after receiving a rare technical earlier in the fourth quarter when he got tangled up with Donovan Mitchell and the two did a little jawing at each other.
”Whenever I got a little into it with this guy from the other team, it fired me up a little bit and I just decided that they wouldn’t score anymore, not in my paint
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Capela is happy with his improvement this season, but far from satisfied with his play. He knows he’ll have to keep getting better if the Rockets hope to reach the NBA finals.
”I’m just trying to be more consistent every game,” he said. ”I think during the playoffs I’ve gotten better with my intensity and by doing that I thought that our team got better too.”
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Denzel Ward gets things done quickly.
One of the rookie cornerback’s first goals was to earn a starting job. Check. Next was paying off the mortgage on his mom’s house. Check. Then it was signing his NFL contract and reporting to training camp on time. Done.
Now he wants to help the Browns win. OK, that may take a minute.
But to this point, nothing has slowed the speedy Ward, who has impressed his teammates and Cleveland’s coaches. After an eye-popping spring camp, the former Ohio State All-American has joined the first-team defense, and the Browns believe the 21-year-old is ready for the weekly challenge of covering elite wide receivers.
Ward’s up for it.
”I’m very comfortable in who I am as a player,” he said Friday without the slightest trace of arrogance. ”I’m a fast player.”
While Baker Mayfield, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback selected first overall by the Browns, waits his turn behind Tyrod Taylor, Ward’s already on the field.
And there’s no reason to think he won’t stay there.
Ward stood out during the Browns’ first training camp practice on Thursday with several solid plays. He made a leaping interception down the sideline in front of three-time Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry during 11-on-11 drills, and Ward looked comfortable whether in goal-line situations or third-and-longs.
He did get beat on a go route by fellow rookie Antonio Callaway
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The catch drew applause from Browns fans, but Ward said the reception probably wouldn’t have counted in a game.
”I think he stepped out of bounds,” Ward said, smiling. ”They caught it with the camera from over here, so they didn’t really see it, but that was a great catch. He can definitely run.”
So can Ward, whose quickness and ability to play man-to-man ”press” coverage is what made him so appealing to the Browns, who surprised many draft experts by taking him so high after he was projected to be picked later in the first round.
His high profile notwithstanding, Ward has shown a willingness to work and improve since the day he arrived.
”He’s pretty quiet off the field,” said linebacker Christian Kirksey. ”He’s not a person that is going to sit there and just talk all day. He’s going to do his job. He’s going to do it to the best of his ability. He’s very coachable. I believe that once he really gets comfortable with his role of being a lockdown corner, I think that the sky’s the limit for him.”
Ward has immersed himself in Cleveland’s playbook, and beyond watching daily practice film, he’s been taking a peek at tape of some future opponents.
The Browns open the season on Sept. 9 against Pittsburgh
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”The game’s not too big for him,” coach Hue Jackson said. ”Those moments are not too big for him. He’s going to face some of the best receivers in the league. Think of the first game of the year, playing Antonio Brown, the best guy on the planet. So you better have real thick skin, and he has that.”
It’s helped Ward to prepare for Brown that he’s been going head-to-head with Landry and Josh Gordon, who is currently away from the team to address health problems.
Ward said he’s not intimidated by any matchup.
”Those guys are elite players, great guys and players,” Ward said. ”But we all put our shoes and pants on the same way, and just come out here and work.”
Ward was the final member of Cleveland’s rookie class to sign, finalizing his four-year, $29 million contract on Wednesday a day before players reported.
The deal includes a $19 million signing bonus, and the financial security prompted Ward
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”My mom has done a lot for me,” he said. ”So whatever I can do to make things easier for my mom, I’m down to do it.”
He has everything covered.
NOTES: Greg Robinson, competing with Shon Coleman to replace Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas, was carted off with a head injury and will be evaluated. … LB Mychal Kendricks participated in team drills for the first time since undergoing offseason ankle surgery. He was signed as a free agent in June after winning a Super Bowl with Philadelphia. … The team signed DL Zaycoven Henderson and WR Blake Jackson.
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