Among many attributes, D’Antoni says Chandler is critical as a leader and because he can replicate in practice how larger teams play.
As a traditional 7-foot-1 center, Tyson Chandler doesn’t fit in on paper with the smaller emphasis of the Houston Rockets. That’s especially the case with Chandler now 37 years old and in his 19th NBA season.
But even though Chandler fell out of Houston’s rotation and didn’t play a single game minute in nearly two months before the NBA’s COVID-19 hiatus, Chandler still stayed in great shape (as evidenced by video highlights from Houston’s first practice) and reported with the rest of his teammates to the “bubble” site in Florida for the NBA’s restart.
Following’s Sunday’s team practice on Houston’s second day of “training camp,” Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni was asked about Chandler’s fitness and his role with the team moving forward.
While stopping short of promising game minutes, D’Antoni explained why the veteran is critical to the team —whether he plays or not. He said:
He’s the ultimate professional, he’ll be in shape. If we need him, there’s a lot of talent and experience. He’s the only guy, I think, that’s out there who has won a [championship] ring. We rely on him to talk us through things.
MDA says Chandler replicates in practices how other teams play with a traditional center.
"He's a valuable piece, whether he's in the rotation or not, or if it's an emergency. We'll see how it works out."
D’Antoni also pointed out that Chandler has a valuable role for the smaller Rockets by replicating in practices how more conventional opponents might attempt to play against Houston’s unorthodox lineups.
“He’s a valuable piece, whether he’s in the rotation or not, or if it’s an emergency,” D’Antoni said. “We’ll see how it works out.”
Chandler, who won his championship ring as the starting center on the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, is a very respected voice in Houston’s locker room. After a key win in late February at Utah, Chandler delivered a passionate postgame speech to his teammates. Among his comments:
Every game, think about what we’re playing for. It’s a shortened season now. So every time we step on the court, we’ve got to understand what we’re building for.
So we’ve got to keep getting better defensively. Because we can. Yeah, we can keep getting better offensively. We’re worried about us getting better.
While the compilation only includes dunks from Westbrook’s time in Oklahoma City, they hope the 31-year-old can show that form for their Houston Rockets when the 2019-20 NBA season resumes in July.
“All gas, no breaks,” Chandler wrote as a caption regarding the NBA’s 2017 MVP and a nine-time All-Star. “Soon,” added Morey.
Houston’s switch to a smaller lineup this season was made in part to open up more driving lanes for Westbrook, and he’s responded by increasingly attacking the rim. Per Basketball Reference, the 6-foot-3 guard is shooting 41.3% of his shots this season from within three feet of the rim, making for the highest percentage since his 2008-09 rookie year.
In addition to taking a higher volume of shots near the rim, Westbrook has also lifted his efficiency on those shots. His 64.0% shooting clip within three feet is the second-highest figure of his career.
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In 53 games for the Rockets this season, the uber-athletic guard has made 39 dunks for an average of 0.74 per game, per Basketball Reference. That’s well above the 0.45 average that Westbrook had with the Thunder a year ago, when he made 33 dunks in 73 games.
Of Westbrook’s storied 12-year NBA career, only his final season alongside Kevin Durant in 2015-16 — when he had a career-high 69 made dunks in 80 games, for an average of 0.86 per game — has featured more dunks on a per-game basis than his current campaign in Houston.
Overall, Westbrook is averaging 27.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game in a brilliant debut season with the Rockets (40-24). His 47.4% shooting percentage is the best of his entire career.
Even though he’s out of the rotation, the championship experience and leadership of Tyson Chandler remains important to the Rockets.
Veteran big man Tyson Chandler hasn’t been a regular part of the rotation for the Rockets since November. And with a new emphasis on smaller centers who can space the floor on offense and guard on the perimeter defensively, Chandler is unlikely to play much moving forward.
Nonetheless, as a 19-year NBA veteran with championship experience, the 37-year-old remains a key part of the team’s culture and a respected voice and leader in the Houston locker room.
That was on full display after Saturday’s big win in Salt Lake City, when the Rockets (36-20) moved into the top four of the Western Conference standings with a crucial 120-110 win (box score) over the Jazz.
In postgame remarks to the team, Chandler said:
Every game, think about what we’re playing for. It’s a shortened season now. So every time we step on the court, we’ve got to understand what we’re building for.
So we’ve got to keep getting better defensively. Because we can. Yeah, we can keep getting better offensively. We’re worried about us getting better.
For the Rockets, it’s the seventh victory in nine games, and it clinched the season series and potential tiebreaker versus the Jazz (36-20). The win moved Houston past Utah for the No. 4 spot, which would mean home-court advantage in at least the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs.
The Rockets are now within a game of the Los Angeles Clippers (37-19) for the No. 3 spot and within two games of the Denver Nuggets (38-18) for No. 2. Both teams lost their first game after the All-Star break.
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The Rockets will look to keep their momentum rolling when they host the New York Knicks (17-39) on Monday night at Toyota Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central time.
As news spread of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter crash, the NBA was faced with a decision on how to handle Sunday’s slate of games. The Rockets and Nuggets, specifically, were due to tip off about an hour after Bryant’s death was first reported.
In the lead-up to the game, NBATV showed a tearful Austin Rivers take part in pregame shootaround — there was also a moment of silence. Once the game was underway, Tyson Chandler was visibly emotional on the Rockets’ bench over the loss of his former Team USA teammate.
With the recent decade now suddenly in the rearview mirror, we looked at the top player who defined the 2010s for each team in the NBA.
With the recent decade now suddenly in the rearview mirror, we looked at the top player who defined the 2010s for each team in the NBA.
Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Paul Milsap, Jeff Teague
The Atlanta Hawks were defined by their depth under former head coach Mike Budenholzer. It is what helped their entire starting lineup earn Eastern Conference Co-Players of the Month back in January 2015. But the best player during this era was Al Horford. The big man averaged 15.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game from the 2010-11 season until he left the team during the 2016 offseason.
Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Al Horford, Isaiah Thomas
Even though he won the 2008 NBA championship and the Finals MVP in 2008, Paul Pierce went on to make the Eastern Conference All-Star team three more times this decade. Before he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2013, he was averaging 18.9 points and 5.6 rebounds with 4.1 assists this decade. Pierce even had a chance to officially retire with the organization on a one-day contract in July 2017.
Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson
Before they were the franchise that managed to sign both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the same offseason, the Nets were long led by Brook Lopez. He was a member of the team both in New Jersey and in their move to the new home in Brooklyn back in 2012, which was his first and only career All-Star appearance. During his tenure with the team this decade, the big man put up 19.7 points and 6.6 rebounds as well as 1.7 blocks per game.
Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Marvin Williams, Nicolas Batum
During a tough decade for the Hornets, the one thing that kept them alive and interesting was star point guard Kemba Walker. He was a part of the team as a member of the Bobcats and then when they rebranded as the Hornets. Walker was a two-time All-Star as well as a two-time recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award. The guard averaged 19.9 points, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game for the team during the decade before he joined the Celtics.
Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler
(Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah
When former No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose won MVP in 2011 at 22 years old, fans in Chicago fairly assumed they would have a new defining talent for their city. Unfortunately, serious injuries made the point guard become a less impactful player than projected. However, the blow was softened a bit with the sudden emergence of a late first-round pick in Jimmy Butler. The wing won the league’s Most Improved Player in 2015. He was a difference-maker on both sides of the ball, averaging 15.6 points and 1.5 steals per game with the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love
Considering that Cleveland’s hometown hero LeBron James notably left the Cavaliers as a free agent in 2010, few would have expected him to still be the Player of the Decade for this franchise. After such an ugly exit memorialized forever with a public shaming by team owner Dan Gilbert, though, James is a player who more than made up for the first early goodbye when he actually returned in 2014. All that he had to do was win the city’s first championship in any sport since 1948. In the process, he averaged an absurd 26.1 points per game with 7.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Cavs in the 2010s.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Shawn Marion, Luka Doncic
Even though he was drafted in 1998, the undisputed most important in the career of Dirk Nowitzki happened in 2011 when he won a title and NBA Finals MVP. While his best playing days may have been before this decade, he still managed to be a perennial All-Star. The face of the franchise, he also won the league’s award for Teammate of the Year in 2017. His presence was felt, too, during his final season in the league as he helped ease the transition into the new era led by fellow European star Luka Doncic.
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic
(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kenneth Faried, Ty Lawson
The Denver Nuggets may have hit the lottery when they selected Serbian big man Nikola Jokic with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. Jokic is a talent like no other in the league and has become one of the more versatile players in recent memory. He has averaged 16.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Nuggets and the most exciting part is that he may still plenty of room to improve. At just 24 years old, the center could also be the best player of the decade in the 2020s for the Nuggets as well.
Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Greg Monroe, Blake Griffin
Despite not coming into the league until 2013, Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond has the second-most rebounds in the NBA since 2010-11. He has led the NBA in rebounds three times, twice earning All-Star considerations. Drummond has been consistent in his role and despite the team not being much of a contender, he has made his presence felt day in and day out.
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant
The things that Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry was able to accomplish during the 2010s were almost laughable. He was a back-to-back NBA MVP who won the championship three times. Curry led the Warriors to an unbelievable 73-9 regular season while topping the league in scoring and in steals in 2016 as well. He also connected on 3.8 three-pointers per game, which is 0.9 more than the next-best player during the decade. Curry has clearly redefined the way the game is played and is a generational talent unlike any we have ever seen step foot on a basketball court.
Houston Rockets: James Harden
(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Clint Capela
There has been no trade recently that changed the league quite like the one that sent the 2012 Sixth Man of the Year winner James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets. He has been an All-Star every year for Houston and led the league in assists 2017. The guard then led the league in scoring in 2018 as the NBA MVP and then again in 2019. Harden has put up an absurd 29.6 points with 6.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists for the Rockets. In an age of analytics, he has been the darling for general manager Daryl Morey.
Indiana Pacers: Paul George
(Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: David West, George Hill
Former Indiana Pacers wing Paul George was a four-time All-Star with the franchise, winning NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2013. The two-way star also received All-Defensive team honors three times while with the team. He averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game for Indiana during his team with the Pacers. One of the other best factors about George is that his trade allowed Indiana’s front office to acquire two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo and potential first-time All-Star big man Domantis Sabonis.
LA Clippers: Chris Paul
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Before there was Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the Clippers, there was Lob City. None of the success happening for the franchise now would be possible if it weren’t for Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The tide was turning when Griffin was drafted in 2009 and won Rookie of the Year in 2011. But it was solidified when they traded for CP3 in December 2011. Paul averaged an impressive 18.8 points and 9.8 assists with 2.2 steals per game when he was a member of the Clippers. He made the All-Star team five times in Los Angeles and twice led the NBA in assists during that time.
Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant
(Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Pau Gasol, LeBron James
Unlike with Nowitzki, the peak accomplishments for Kobe Bryant occurred before 2010. But even during this decade, he added another NBA title to his arsenal and an All-Star appearance each year before retiring in 2016. Bryant averaged 24.2 points per game for the Lakers starting in 2010-11, which was above average for someone who was his age. Of course, there was little more memorable than Bryant scoring 60 points in his final professional game.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: MARC GASOL
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Mike Conley, Zach Randolph
Former Memphis Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol averaged 15.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists during his time with the Grizzlies this decade. He made three All-Star appearances while a member of the franchise, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. The center was a fixture for Memphis, making the playoffs six times with the Grizzlies. Gasol, a World Cup winner with Spain, eventually won his first NBA title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors after a midseason trade.
Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: LeBron James, Chris Bosh
While it was obvious that James was the best player on the team, none of The Big 3 era Miami Heat would have been possible if it were not for Dwyane Wade. He was the instrumental player recruiting both James and Chris Bosh to Miami and even gave up more money in the process to allow it to happen. Wade also sacrificed his role as the key star to make room for more touches to both James and Bosh. This led to two more NBA Finals wins for Wade and All-Star appearances between 2010 and 2016. He was also able to come back to the Heat and retire with the franchise.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the most dominant basketball players in recent memory. He has averaged 19.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game since entering the league. After winning the NBA MVP in 2019, he has followed up with an equally impressive season so far this year. His play has been so sharp that one of the league’s most pressing questions, even now a year and a half away from his eligibility, is what will he decide to do as an upcoming free agent.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns
(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kevin Love, Andrew Wiggins
After trading away Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2014 offseason, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to bounce back in some ways by grabbing No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns. He has played the part of one of the elite big men in the NBA, averaging 22.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game since entering the pros. Towns has also made 39.6 percent of his three-point attempts, showing his versatility as an offensive force.
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson
His exit may have left a sour taste in the mouth of the New Orleans Pelicans, but Anthony Davis was absolutely stellar during his time with the team. He averaged 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and also led the league in blocks three times. Davis was a six-time All-Star for the Pelicans and while he now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, his return will leave New Orleans in a fine place for the upcoming decade. Not only did the front office get an unreal surplus of draft picks in the deal but Brandon Ingram is playing like a potential superstar.
New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony
(Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
It was a relatively underwhelming decade for the New York Knicks under team owner James Dolan. The front office mortgaged quite a bit of their future to secure Carmelo Anthony via trade in 2011 despite knowing that the star would become a free agent that offseason. As such, the team was a bit of a one-man show under his leadership. He averaged 24.7 points as well as 7.0 rebounds per game on the Knicks, eventually leaving in 2017.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant
(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka
The Oklahoma City Thunder somehow drafted three MVP winners who all hit their primes during the 2010s. While none of them is still with the team, the one who made the biggest splash was Kevin Durant. The former No. 2 overall pick put up 28.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while also shooting 38.6 percent from three-point range. Even though point guard Russell Westbrook was the player who had the longest tenure with the team, it was obvious that Oklahoma City was the most successful version of itself with Durant on the roster.
Orlando Magic: Nikola Vucevic
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Evan Fournier
Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic might be the most underrated NBA player of the decade. He made just one All-Star appearance, finally earning the love last season. While he originally started his career in Philadelphia, he has found a niche in Orlando. The former No. 16 overall pick has averaged 16.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for the Magic.
Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Ben Simmons, Thaddeus Young
His career may have started off defined by injury but since he has become a healthier player, there have been few with a higher ceiling than Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. The big man has scored 24.2 points and pulled down 11.6 rebounds per game. He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team his first year in the league back in 2017. He has made the All-Star team, All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team in both years since.
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker
(Photo by Barry Gossage NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Goran Dragic, PJ Tucker
The Phoenix Suns have not had a decade many fans will want to look back on with fond memories. But the one takeaway is that there is at least some hope for the future due to the scoring punch of Devin Booker. He has been able to put up 21.7 points and 4.5 assists per game since he entered the NBA just two days before his 19th birthday. Booker put up 70 points back in March 2017 and at just 20 years old, he was the youngest player to put up 60 points in an NBA game. Back in March 2019, Booker had three games in a row where he scored at least 48 points.
Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard
(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: LaMarcus Aldridge, CJ McCollum
There are few players in NBA history who have embraced their team’s city quite like Trail Blazers star has welcomed Portland into his life. After he was drafted No. 6 overall in 2012, he has turned his the Blazers into one of the most consistent contenders in the league. Lillard, who won Rookie of the Year his first season in the pros, is a four-time All-Star. He was honored with All-NBA 1st Team consideration in 2018 and led Portland to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. He has averaged 23.7 points and 6.4 assists per game for the Trail Blazers during his professional career thus far.
Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Isaiah Thomas, Rudy Gay
While the Sacramento Kings had a disappointing decade in many ways, their most feared player during the 2010s was undeniably DeMarcus Cousins. He was a force to be reckoned with on the Kings, averaging 21.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2011 and he then took home All-NBA 2nd Team in 2015 and 2016. The big man was also disciplined and suspended a bit too often for comfort during his time on the Kings, eventually leading to an inevitable divorce of the two parties.
San Antonio Spurs: Kawhi Leonard
SAN ANTONIO, TX – (Photo byJoe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker
When he won NBA Finals MVP in 2014, it was clear that former No. 15 overall pick Kawhi Leonard was a special player in this league. But he was able to take his game to the next level during his time with the San Antonio Spurs, also winning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards for his efforts in 2015 and 2016. Leonard, who led the league in steals in 2015, also came into his own on the offensive side of the floor while before his time in San Antonio came to a surprisingly ugly close that kept him sidelined for the majority of 2017-18.
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: DeMar DeRozan, Kawhi Leonard
While it was Leonard who was the undisputed best player of the team that won the Toronto Raptors their first NBA championship, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry was the heart and soul of the squad. After the team traded away his longtime teammate DeMar DeRozan during the 2018 offseason, the year was inevitably going to be an emotional rollercoaster for Lowry. But for him to respond by helping Toronto finally carry the Larry O’Brien trophy was an effort that solidified his place as the Player of the Decade for the Raptors.
Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert
(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors
If general fans valued defense the same way they value offense, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert would be considered one of the Top 10 players in the NBA. After he led the league in blocks back in 2017, the French big went on to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and in 2019. Gobert has actually averaged 2.2 blocks per game since entering the league in 2013. He has also pulled down 10.8 rebounds per game and has connected on 63.4 percent of his total field goal attempts.
Washington Wizards: John Wall
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Bradley Beal, Marcin Gortat
Before his recent injury trouble, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall was an electrifying player. He has averaged 19.0 points and 9.2 assists for the Wizards since going No. 1 overall in the 2010 NBA draft. He made the All-Star team from 2014 until 2018, also grabbing All-Defensive 2nd Team honors in 2015 and All-NBA 3rd Team in 2017. Wall has averaged 1.7 steals per game, too, showing he can be a defensive stopper. Now he is on a tough contract, though he initially earned it with his previously fantastic play.
With Clint Capela (heel) out Sunday in New Orleans, the Rockets could use another big performance from young center Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Houston Rockets will likely be without starting center Clint Capela for a second consecutive game on Sunday in New Orleans.
Capela missed Saturday’s home win against Brooklyn with a right heel contusion, and given the brief turnaround time until Sunday’s game in a new city, it wouldn’t make sense to rush the 25-year-old back so quickly.
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Capela was first placed on the injury report prior to Monday’s win in Sacramento, though he played through the heel issue for two games.
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The 6-foot-10 big man is averaging 13.9 points (64.2% shooting), 14.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 33.6 minutes per game this season.
Mike D'Antoni talks the #Rockets 108-98 win over the Nets and how the team played without Clint Capela who missed the game with a right heel contusion.@HoustonRockets back in action tomorrow at New Orleans
Though Capela still averaged 12.5 rebounds in two games since being listed with the injury, he wasn’t as explosive near the basket and struggled to finish. In those two games, Capela shot 45.5% from the field — down from 65.8% over his first 25 games of the 2019-20 season.
With Capela out Saturday, young center Isaiah Hartenstein stepped up with nine points and 13 rebounds in 24 big minutes off the Houston bench. The Rockets (22-10) could use another similarly strong performance from the athletic seven-footer against Derrick Favors and the Pelicans, who have won four of their last five games.
James Harden on Isaiah Hartenstein: "He did an unbelievable job. Clint's out, he had an opportunity, and he took advantage of it. He played extremely well and played extremely hard. For a young guy, that's all you can ask for." pic.twitter.com/4sGkzlh8vx
Mike D'Antoni on Isaiah Hartenstein: "Isaiah's really good. I'm really happy for him. If he plays like that [every night], he's definitely going to play. Good energy….But I've got to know that's what I'll get when I put him in there."
Tip-off from New Orleans is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central on Sunday. Though Hartenstein appears likely to receive more playing time overall, veteran Tyson Chandler is set to again start in Capela’s place.
The Rockets are listing starting center Clint Capela as doubtful for Saturday’s home game versus Brooklyn with a bruised right heel.
Houston Rockets center Clint Capela is doubtful for Saturday night’s home game versus the Brooklyn Nets with a right heel contusion, the team announced at Friday’s practice.
Capela was first placed on the injury report with a heel issue prior to Monday’s win in Sacramento, though he played through it for two games.
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The 6-foot-10 big man is averaging 13.9 points (64.2% shooting), 14.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 33.6 minutes per game this season.
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Though Capela has still averaged 12.5 rebounds per game this week while dealing with the injury, he hasn’t been as explosive near the basket and has struggled to finish. In his last two games, the 25-year-old is shooting 45.5% from the field — down from 65.8% over his first 25 games.
Clint Capela doubtful for tomorrow vs Brooklyn with a right heel contusion.
With Capela out against the Nets, the Rockets will likely start 37-year-old Tyson Chandler in his place at center. The 19-year NBA veteran has only played in three games in December, and none for more than seven minutes, as he’s dealt with a back injury and illness.
With Chandler likely on a minutes limitation, young prospects Isaiah Hartenstein and Gary Clark could get extended opportunities off Mike D’Antoni‘s bench Saturday versus Brooklyn. It’s unclear whether Capela will be able to return by Sunday, when the Rockets finish up a weekend back-to-back in New Orleans.
Clint Capela played 40 and 39 minutes in consecutive games last week, and now he’s on the Houston injury report with a bruised heel.
Starting center Clint Capela was added to the Houston Rockets’ injury list before Monday’s game at Sacramento with a bruised right heel.
He’s listed as probable to play, which indicates that the team doesn’t view the injury as significant. However, it could be a reminder of the importance of keeping Capela’s minutes in check.
Capela played 40 minutes and 39 minutes in consecutive outings last week, in large part because the Rockets fell behind by 25 points and 17 points, respectively, in the first half of those games against the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Rockets (20-9) rallied to win both games, but had to lean even more heavily on top players such as Capela due to the reduced margin of error.
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For the 2019-20 season to date, the 6-foot-10 Capela is averaging 14.0 points (65.8% FG), 14.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 33.5 minutes per game. Thus, last week’s minutes totals were quite a bit above his norm.
That 14.6 rebounding total ranks second in the NBA to Detroit’s Andre Drummond (16.4) on a per-game basis.
Backup options that head coach Mike D’Antoni could potentially turn to in hopes of limiting Capela’s minutes include veteran Tyson Chandler and second-year forward Gary Clark, who hit 3-of-5 three-pointers off the bench Saturday in 19 minutes at Phoenix.
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Center Clint Capela added to the Rockets injury list, but as probable to play against the Kings on Monday with a bruised right heel.
The illness bug going around the Houston Rockets has claimed guard Austin Rivers and center Tyson Chandler as its latest victims.
The illness bug going around the Houston Rockets has seemingly claimed guard Austin Rivers and center Tyson Chandler as its latest victims.
Both reserves missed Monday’s home loss to Sacramento, and the team announced at Tuesday’s practice at Toyota Center before departing for Cleveland that they would also miss Wednesday’s game.
Within the past two weeks, starting center Clint Capela and small forward Danuel House Jr. both missed multiple games due to illness. While the team has not confirmed that all of its illnesses are related, having four players all suffer extensive illness absences in such a short timeframe would appear to point to something being contagious.
Mike D’Antoni says Tyson Chandler and Austin Rivers out (illness) tomorrow night. Will not make the trip to Cleveland. TBD after that.
Rivers, now 27 years old, is averaging 8.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game for the Rockets (15-8).
Chandler, who is 37 and in his 19th NBA season, averages 1.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game.
With the pair of veterans out, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni turned to second-year forward Gary Clark and rookie guard Chris Clemons to help fill out his bench rotation on Monday.
