Capela’s most important task will be to defend Joel Embiid (center) as well as possible. Image: keystone
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Analysis
After a successful series against New York – Capela & Co. are facing an insoluble task
Clint Capela wins his first playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks. For the Swiss, it is the biggest role in an NBA team of his career – but now, with Philadelphia for MVP candidate Joel Embiid, there is an almost impossible task.
The Atlanta Hawks are in the playoff semifinals of the Eastern Conference. In the first round, they beat the New York Knicks in five games. And Clint Capela has played a big part in this. Because he is the anchor of the second best defense in the NBA playoffs to date. When he was on the field, the Knicks scored 99.7 points per 100 possession of the ball – without him it was 16.2 points more. Capela was the main reason for Atlanta’s strong defense work. New York had big problems to score, especially near the basket – Capela’s area – their throwing rates dropped significantly compared to the regular season.
Capela blocks Randle’s throw and wiggles her finger – just like Dikembe Mutombo once did.
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The previously so strong Julius Randle did not even hit one in three of his throwing attempts. Before the series, Capela talked about knowing how to get along with the 26-year-old. It turned out that the Swiss was right. The center appeared self-confident and provided Statements before the fifth game for a stir: «We will come to you and win the game. We will send you on vacation. ” Capela was right – the Hawks won that game too, ending the New York season.
It was an eventful series between the two positive surprises of the regular season. Especially the feud between Hawks star Trae Young and fans of the New York Knicks will be remembered. In Madison Square Garden, the legendary home ground of the Knicks, Young received loud insults from the start. He responded with the winning throw in his own way and gave the audience to understand that they had better be quiet. After leading his team to their fifth win, he bowed to the New York fans.
With all the euphoria – Philadelphia is much stronger than New York
But as exciting and enjoyable as the first play-off round for the Atlanta Hawks was, it will be difficult in the next series. Philadelphia is next – the best regular season team in the East and one of the favorites for the title. The 76ers have an MVP candidate in Joel Embiid who will play in Capela’s position. The 27-year-old Swiss man now has the most difficult job at Atlanta – stopping the unstoppable Cameroonian.
Embiid (213cm / 127kg) is even in comparison with Capela (208cm / 108kg) a colossus that can hardly be defended. He missed the last game against Washington with an injury, but sooner or later he will play against Atlanta – and then the man from Geneva is in demand. Because if he doesn’t manage to stop Embiid even remotely, the Hawks have no chance.
Joel Embiid is notorious for making fun of his opponents. Image: keystone
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“JoJo” dominated the first playoff series when he was on the field and is one of the best players in the league both offensively and defensively. It is more than doubtful that the offensively limited Swiss will cause him problems. So the offensive will be even more dependent on Trae Young than it already is. But the Sixers also have one of the strongest defenders in the NBA in his position. Ben Simmons is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and will make life difficult for Young. Simmons (211cm / 108kg) also has clear physical advantages over «Ice Trae» (185cm / 81kg).
Trae Young decides the first game in New York. Video: YouTube/NBA
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The beginning of development
Realistically, Atlanta’s chances in a best-of-7 series against Philadelphia are slim. The Sixers are qualitatively the better team, their defense was the second best in the NBA during the regular season. It will be extremely difficult for the Atlanta offensive despite Trae Young, who can throw from almost anywhere. Because if the defensive can focus on him, the Hawks have few alternatives.
At the same time, Young is a big point of attack on one’s own basket. You could still “hide” him against New York by letting him defend weaker opponents. That will hardly be possible against Philly, as almost every one of their players is able to score against the little point guard in some way.
Nevertheless, the direct encounters so far give some hope. Although the Hawks lost two of the three games this season significantly, both teams were not fully occupied in either game. Capela was able to cause problems for Embiid and keep him below his usual efficiency. But even if the Swiss succeeds in the playoffs, the Sixers have at least two other good scorers, Tobias Harris and Seth Curry, who can also hit the basket from behind the triple line.
The young team in Atlanta can approach the series without great expectations and maybe with their cheeky demeanor they will succeed in one or the other surprise. And if this is not the case, they can at least gain experience for the future. Because this team around Trae Young and Clint Capela, who has finally arrived as a star in the NBA with the Hawks, is only at the beginning of its development.
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