Ben DuBose

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.

Stephen is not coming back.

So,

Is this the time that, you know, you're midway through the year, you have, what, two and a half months until the playoffs, that you just rip the Band-Aid off and don't make Clint Capella the part-time backup center?

Make him the backup center in each half.

Give him 15-plus minutes per game because athletically, he looks the part.

He looks really good.

He was a huge part of their success tonight.

They haven't really struck him in these big games to this point.

Maybe it's time they do.

And also, if Shingun has an off night, or if, God forbid, he needs another week or two off to rest that ankle, you need another legit body at center.

Like, if Shingun needs to shut it down for a while, and I'm not saying that's the case now, but...

when you see him having repeated issues with the same ankle, you do have to worry about that.

I don't think we're anywhere near a point in which you want to make Jabari Smith a full-time five.

Like, I do not think that would go well right now, especially with the other elements of his game all suffering in recent weeks.