Capela starts despite matchup
With the Rockets facing the Trail Blazers and one of the league’s biggest, most physical centers in Jusuf Nurkic, the team stuck with Clint Capela as its starter.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni had often used Nene against the more physical centers, such as the Blazers’ 7-0, 280-pound Nurkic. Nene has started six games this season, all against teams — the Mavericks, Clippers, Thunder, Raptors, 76ers and Pelicans — with particularly burly centers.
D’Antoni, however, said he believes Capela is ready for matchups with the more physical centers and prefers stability with his rotation at this time of the season.
“I like to keep everybody in their roles,” D’Antoni said. “I don’t like to jump around. We’re just at the point we don’t need to jump around. He needs to, and he will do a good job. Sometimes, we overact and we throw a big guy out there because we think, ‘Oh, it matches up better,’ when Clint’s going to do fine.”
The match up with Nurkic could also be good preparation for the postseason, with the Rockets most likely to open against either the Grizzlies and Marc Gasol, the Thunder with Steven Adams or Clippers with DeAndre Jordan.
Heading into Thursday’s game, Nurkic had averaged 15 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists since the February trade to Portland and had a career-high 33 points with 16 rebounds on Tuesday against Denver.
Harrell’s return positive for Nene
With Nene playing the first half of the Rockets’ back-to-back in Portland on Thursday, the team intends to have him sit out, with Montrezl Harrell to rejoin them in Oakland in time to be the backup center. Harrell had been away from the team for three days following the birth of his son.
“I’ve liked it a lot,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said of the team’s efforts to limit Nene’s workload by having him sit out one game in most of their 16 back-tobacks this season. “I think it’s the only way we can do it and get the most out of Nene, make sure he’s ready for the playoffs.
“Having said that, it hinged on whether Montrezl could accept that. Montrezl has played really well. There’s no reason why he hasn’t played a lot other than you just can’t play three guys.”
Harrell has played in 53 games, averaging 9.1 points in just 18 minutes per game.
“You can’t discount that,” D’Antoni said of Harrell’s attitude. “Here’s a guy who obviously wants a big future in the NBA, and he’s willing to sit games that, rightly so, could tick you off. He’s not displayed anything other than a willingness to be a good teammate and play well when he gets a chance. That’s commendable. That’s harder than it looks.”
Portland duo has team rolling
The Trail Blazers have the NBA’s best record in March, with Portland producing the secondbest net rating and thirdbest offensive rating. (The Rockets had the best offensive rating and thirdbest net rating.)
“They’re playing better,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “(Jusuf) Nurkic has helped them. Since the All-Star break, they’re ninth in the league in defense. They shored that up a lot. They’ve always been an explosive offensive team. They’re playing really well. Terry (Stotts, the Blazers coach) is doing a great job. He always does.”
Entering Thursday’s game, guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum have combined to average 52.4 points per game in March, with the frontcourt bolstered by the trade for Nurkic.
“They’re playing well all month, starting with those two, Dame and C.J.,” Rockets guard James Harden said. “They’re the leaders of the team. They’ve been playing well, and the team’s been following them.
“Defensively, they’ve done a lot better. Obviously, offensively, they’ve been scoring the ball at a high clip. Those two are really good. They play well off each other.”