Clint Capela is attacking his 9th season in the NBA, the 3rd with the Atlanta Hawks. And the 28-year-old Meyrin center has a less squeaky body.
He is delighted after two seasons of battling left foot ailments.
Checking in on someone’s health when you haven’t seen or heard from it in a while is more or less part of social convention. But when it comes to Clint Capela, social convention turns into obligation given the Genevan’s health concerns over the past two years. Plantar arch, Achilles tendon, arch again, the troubles of the only Swiss in the NBA are all at the bottom of his body.
He did all the training
Crossed this summer during his camp, Clint Capela emphasized the care to be given to this recalcitrant left foot. And a few days before the start of the NBA season, where is it? ‘I’m happy to have been able to do all the training, he rejoices over the phone. I met good specialists, especially in Houston. So, I took the Atlanta physio with me to talk with the specialist, just to have a common and coherent program to strengthen my foot and my hamstrings. And today I see the difference, which makes me feel better in my head.’
Eliminated by Miami in the first round of the play-offs, Atlanta chose to take matters into their own hands and secure the services of Dejounte Murray. To give in San Antonio, the Hawks sent Danilo Gallinari and three first draft picks in 2023, 25 and 27! But it must be said that the all-star rear is a jack of all trades on the court. Last year, he averaged 21.1 points, 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2 steals. ‘I have to build my relationship with him, explains Capela, who gets on very well with point guard Trae Young. Murray is a point guard who likes to give the ball ‘low to the ground’, ‘bounce passes’ à la Tony Parker, while Trae seeks the passes higher. In any case, he arrived in the team with a lot of humility.’
Maximize your strengths
Atlanta’s ambition echoes that of its No. 1 center. “We want to be top 6 in the East, I want to stay in double-double average if possible, he asserts. As for my personal goals, I want to be better and more present defensively, more reliable at free throws and to score more on the counter-attack.’ And what about mid-range or three-point shots? ‘I don’t want to get lost. At 28, the time has not come to create a new identity for myself. I read an interview with Draymond Green where he said he knew what brought him to the NBA. It’s the same for me. They count on me in defense and under the panels, not on the three-point line.’
When it comes to wrestling in the Eastern Conference, the Genevan imagines five tough opponents: Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami and Brooklyn. ‘It will be a real struggle, but we have the potential to disturb them, he notes. The NBA season is a marathon, you should never forget that. Every game is a challenge.’
/ATS