Rockets center Clint Capela, who had one of his worst games of the season on Monday in Utah, tells Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com that he has been battling a pair of respiratory illnesses during the playoffs. According to Capela, he was diagnosed on Sunday with adenovirus and a klebsiella infection. He’s treating the illnesses with medication and eye drops, and isn’t expected to back to full health for another four or five days.
“It’s tough, man,” Capela told MacMahon. “Especially when I try to breathe, it’s hard. I’m just going to fight it the best that I can.”
If Capela is slowed again in Game 5, it could open the door a crack for a Jazz comeback, though the Rockets remain heavy favorites to finish off the series on Wednesday night, with or without a fully healthy center.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- As John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 clarifies (via Twitter), the Suns wouldn’t draft Ja Morant over Zion Williamson if they get the No. 1 pick. However, the Suns would be happy to select Morant at No. 2, and could explore trading up to No. 2 if they end up with a slightly lower pick, per Gambadoro. This doesn’t contradict a weekend report from Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, who cited sources that believe Phoenix may prefer to end up with Morant. Vecenie himself expressed skepticism that the team would pass on Williamson at No. 1.
- Clippers assistant general manager Trent Redden is in New Orleans this week, tweets Scott Kushner of The Advocate. Nothing is official yet, but there have been whispers that the Pelicans plan to hire Redden as their new GM under David Griffin. Redden and Griffin have already met in New Orleans, reports Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com (via Twitter).
- The latest trip to Salt Lake City for Danuel House reflects how far he has come in the last four-and-a-half months, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. The last time House was in Utah in early December, he was being waived from the Rockets‘ 15-man roster. He ultimately re-signed with the team on a two-way deal, then played his way back onto the 15-man squad before the end of the season. Now, he’s one of Houston’s must trusted reserves, having averaged 23.8 MPG in the first round.
There’s a number of teams that secretly prefer Morant. The Suns should not be one of them, but whatever.
I wonder if a #1 pick has ever been traded before his rookie year… could happen this year. Either to the Pels, or for the #2 pick.
Wiggins was traded before rookie year.
Why wouldn’t D’Antoni just give Kenneth Faried or Nene more playing time if Capela has a damn respiratory infection? They were up 3-0 playing the Jazz, like just make a substitution and make some adjustments and then you get a week of rest. Charles Barkley said it best, D’Antoni doesn’t make adjustments. They would rather miss 27 straight 3s out of stubbornness than go get a bucket at the rim or get to the line. The Rockets have such a high ceiling but it can never be achieved with the way they’re doing things right now.
Capela was 1-6 for the game and -20 in plus-minus playing 28 minutes. Nene with the DNP-Coach’s Decision, and Faried with a grand total of 5 minutes. Derrick Favors destroyed them during the 4th quarter. Not even Gobert. That’s your fault, Mike D’Antoni
Athletes always seem to get the illnesses I never heard of. When I get sick I just have the flu
The reason why the Suns and other teams might be saying they prefer Morant is because the league already informed them that Zion is going to the Knicks.