Checking in on Houston Rockets center Clint Capela

The Rockets decided last offseason to part ways with Dwight Howard, a decision partly motivated by a belief that his cap figure could be better spent, and partly borne from confidence that third year big man Clint Capela was ready to take over at the position.

I detailed extensively last season how production-wise, Capela was just as good as Howard, and how the team fared better with Capela at center. This data formed the basis of my argument that Houston would be best served in parting ways with Howard in free agency.

So how is Capela doing thus far? In games played through Friday night (December 3), Capela is averaging 12.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocked shots in 26.3 minutes per…