Ben DuBose

Like they are really impressed with physically how his body looks and what he's still able to do at 31 years old now in his second decade in the NBA.

What I heard internally is that Clint still needs to get better at learning the playbook and what the expectations are for the Rockets.

He hasn't been here in the Emeu Doka era.

So in contrast to some of his teammates that have been in the system for a while, this is all new terminology, a new system for Clint.

And so in the super high leverage minutes...

Emay is still learning to trust Clint.

But I'm wondering if now with Steven out and Jabari, you know, he played better tonight, but it's been a bad month for Jabari overall.

Is this a point in which Emay Udoka may have no choice but to rip the Band-Aid off and trust Clint Capella a little bit more?

Because athletically, Dave, he looks good.

Like, he's a loft rat, as you mentioned.

He protects the rim.

I think he has some synergies with...

with Reed that helped mitigate his deficiencies on the defensive end, Reed that is.

Like, I know it's not easy for a coach like Ime Udoka.

You know, someone mentioned defensively the Rockets not having the personnel this year that Ime wants.

Maybe not tonight, but I do think moving forward that with Tari and DFS, the Rockets, maybe it's not quite as much as a year ago, but they've got some defensive pieces.

And I think Clint, with the run protection, the athleticism, can fit into that as well.

It's just, to this point...

at least as I understand it, the Rockets have been a little hesitant to play him high leverage minutes because he's still getting used to the terminology, the new team, what his responsibilities are as the back line of this defense.

I'm wondering now with Stephen Adams out, like these are not bit minutes anymore.