Center Clint Capela is expected back after the All-Star break.
MINNEAPOLIS — To the Rockets, Wednesday’s game was not just the last before the All-Star break. Coach Mike D’Antoni referred to the game against the Timberwolves as “the last one until Clint comes back probably.”
Center Clint Capela has been out since he injured ligaments in his right thumb Jan. 13 in Orlando, requiring surgery the following week. The game against the Timberwolves was the 15th he had missed, but he was cleared to resume workouts several weeks ago. The Rockets expect him to practice with the team for the first time since the injury next week in Los Angeles.
“He’s doing everything without contact,” D’Antoni said. “I guess those two practices will determine whether he will play the first game (after the break) or not.”
Capela averages 17.6 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. His 63.1 percent shooting ranks third in the NBA. The Rockets were 24th in rebounding percentage before Capela’s injury, 28th since.
Saunders lauds Harden’s prep
As Timberwolves interim coach Ryan Saunders studied
James Harden to choose a defensive game plan for the league’s top scorer, he said he was most struck by what he perceived as examples Harden has been studying, too.
“I don’t think he gets enough credit for how he studies, in the offseason, too, because he’s seen every type of defense,” Saunders said. “You take one thing away and a lot of times he does something else great.
“There’s a lot of times you’re watching his games, just watching a month ago when we’re not even playing them, just watching on TV and you think to yourself, there’s not much more a defense can do in that situation. When you start preparing for him, you see even more how talented he is, what he does. A lot of things are game plan that you can try to shut off, but for a guy like him that can score in the A, B and C area, and also use the foul line as a positive, that’s hard to stop.”
Wolves undergo learning process
The Rockets’ game against the Timberwolves was their first since Tom Thibodeau was fired as Wolves coach, replaced by
Ryan Saunders, the son of former Minnesota coach and executive Flip Saunders.
Given how much Saunders favors his late father, with even similar mannerisms, it would be understandable if Rockets coach
Mike D’Antoni did a double take when looking to the other end of the court.
“I’m happy for him,” D’Antoni said. “Flip was special, a great coach. I’m sure (Ryan) is excited about the opportunity in Minnesota.
“If he’s as good as his dad, he’ll be good.”
Saunders took over Jan. 6 with the Timberwolves 8-9 since the coaching change after Wednesday’s 121-111 victory.
“It’s been obviously a learning process,” Saunders said. “Anything that’s new and sudden, it takes time to get more comfortable just in your regimen, your daily routine in things. But I felt comfortable out there. The credit goes to the players in terms of how they make me feel, too.”
Wolves adjust offensive scheme
In what could be typical of basketball in 2018-19, when the Timberwolves replaced Taj
Gibson, a paint scorer, in the starting lineup with Dario Saric, a range shooter, they had their most productive game in the paint of the season.
The Timberwolves scored 74 paint points against the Clippers on Monday, their second most since 1996-97. The Timberwolves are hoping to increase their 3-point attempts, but interim coach Ryan Saunders said scoring inside and the 3-point shooting “goes hand in hand.”
“That’s one thing we like with Dario spacing the floor and having Taj in there at times, too,” Saunders said. “Karl (Anthony
Towns) has a little more opportunity to work. Playing through Karl is definitely a focus of ours.”