Golden State Warriors: Neutralizing Clint Capela is the key to beating Houston
The Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets are the best teams in the NBA. Both teams are capable of winning the NBA finals, but only one team can leave this series with a win. The Warriors will be the team to advance if they can neutralize one specific player’s impact.
The Golden State Warriors have moved on to the Western Conference Finals and will now face their most challenging opponent of the last two years, the Houston Rockets. This Rockets team was constructed which one goal in mind, to beat the defending champions.
If any team has a chance to dethrone the champs, it is the Houston Rockets. Led by two future hall of fame guards, James Harden and Chris Paul, this Rockets team offers a style of play that is both very similar and radically different to that of the Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors’ dominance has caused the entire league to shift their play to a three-point oriented style of offense. The Rockets are the most extreme example of this.
Last season, the team set the record for most three pointers attempted in a single season. This season saw the team shatter their own record. This focus on three point shots draws parallels to the Warriors naturally, but other than that the teams are very different.
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The Rockets also led the league in isolation plays. The team’s offense is essentially James Harden, and sometimes Chris Paul, clearing the court and going one on one at whoever is defending them. If they get past their defender, it’s an easy basket, if help comes, they get an open three point shot. This style of play only works when your team has two of the best isolation players in the league.
Likely MVP award winner, James Harden, has mastered the art of the isolation. Harden’s ability to blow by his defender, find the open shooter, or draw a foul on any given play makes the Rocket’s offensive strategy possible.
This style of play is the polar opposite of the Warriors ball-movement heavy offense. Because of this, we will soon be laying witness to two unstoppable forces with very different approaches collide.
On top of their nearly unstoppable offenses, both team’s possess elite defenses. So what will be the deciding factor that causes one team with an unstoppable offense and immovable defense to defeat a team that also possesses those things? And who will be the team to come out on top?
The answer to these questions is clear. The team who will come out on top is the Golden State Warriors, and the reason why is because they will neautralize one of the Rockets’ most important players, Clint Capela. Capela will prove to be an x-factor for whichever team ends up winning the series.
In the second round, Capela was amazing, specifically on the defensive end. The young center averaged 3.6 blocks over the five game series, but effected countless shots around the rim that the stat sheet does not do justice for.
If Capela is allowed to protect the paint as he was in the previous series, the Warriors will struggle to score inside.
This is why the team must use Draymond Green at center as much as possible. The reason why Capela was able to roam the paint against the Jazz is that Utah center, Rudy Gobert, was not a threat to shoot from the outside.
This will not be the case if Capela is made to guard Draymond Green. Green’s ability to knock down open jumpers will force Capela to guard him on the perimeter, taking him away from the painted area he is so proficient at protecting.
What would make the series even more interesting is if the team decides to play Kevin Durant at center some. If Capela were to be matched up with Kevin Durant, there would be no way for him to stay on the court. This is the type of move you can expect to see in the fourth quarter of these games.
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The one problem that may arise is if the Rockets try to hide Capela on Andre Iguodala. Iguodala is not a great shooter, so Capela could likely play off of him some and continue to protect the paint. Because of this, expect Nick Young to play a big role in this series.
Coach Steve Kerr could elect to put young on the court instead of Iguodala when the team runs their death lineup. This would force Capela to guard Draymond Green, effectively removing his rim protection from the equation.
On top of that, the Rockets defense is very switch heavy. So if the Warriors have five players who can all shoot from the outside on the court, Capela will never be able to leave the perimeter.
The Houston Rockets have a daunting defense, but only if Capela is allowed to employ all of his strengths. Without that last line of defense, the Rockets will struggle to stop the Warriors fast paced offense.
The Warriors will probably not be able to shut down the Rockets’ offense, but with the defensive prowess the Warriors possess, the should be able to do a much better job against them than any other team has.
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While the Rockets offense will get their fair share of points no matter what, if they can not defend the Warriors break neck offense, they stand no chance of defeating the defending champs. If the Warriors are successful in their attempt to take Clint Capela out of the game, then that is exactly what will happen.