🏀Basketball Atlanta Hawks HC Nate McMillan Gets Honest About Big Man Clint Capela

[Lupin]

It’s easier to hide in the win but the Atlanta Hawks clearly miss starting center Clint Capela. It is not a slight to say that having Onyeka Okongwu fill in is not the same, nor should it be from a roster-building standpoint. The issue is what Capela brings is so vital to what the Hawks want to do while his absence also pulls Okongwu off the second unit.

The Hawks have had to battle through injuries for yet another season after having their full complement of players for just one game.

Capela has missed the last seven games in a row and 11 of the Hawks’ last 13 contests dealing with a strained calf. Atlanta has gone 4-7 in those games and is 4-9 without the big man this season.

Head coach Nate McMillan didn’t mince words when discussing the 2020 rebounding champion.

Nate McMillan gets honest about what the Atlanta Hawks miss without Clint Capela​

“We need to get our big guy back,” McMillan said after the game. “We’ve been getting pounded on the boards. We’re small when we have Onyeaka and John [Collins] in there. And we need for all of our guys to get in there and help rebound the ball. Tonight we got a break at the end. We made the plays we got the rebounds when we needed to those last couple possessions.”