Clint Capela is in a new position as he prepares for his first playoff series with the Hawks, writes Sarah K. Spencer of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Capela was always one of the younger guys with the Rockets, who reached the playoffs every season he was in Houston. Now at age 27, he is serving as a mentor to Atlanta’s younger players, many of whom are about to have their first playoff experience.
“I really feel like (I’m in) a new role here, that vet role,” said Capela, who was traded to the Hawks at the 2020 deadline, but didn’t get to suit up before the pandemic hit. “So I get to share my experience, and I really feel (listened to) about everything I say. It’s really fun to be part of it.”
There’s more from Atlanta:
- Coach Nate McMillan insists comments he made this week that drew a $25K fine from the league were “taken out of context,” according to Andrew Lopez of ESPN. McMillan seemed to indicate he was concerned the Hawks wouldn’t get a fair shake from the officials in the first-round series against the Knicks because the NBA benefits from having New York in the playoffs. “My intentions were never to suggest any type of bias as it relates to the league and our upcoming playoff series,” McMillan explained. “This type of narrative does not in any way represent me and what I stand for as coach of the Atlanta Hawks.”
- There is “strong momentum” toward McMillan receiving a long-term contract, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (video link). No negotiations have taken place yet, Charania adds, but they’re expected to happen after Atlanta’s playoff run ends. McMillan was 27-11 after taking over for Lloyd Price at the start of March, and the Hawks climbed from 10th to fifth place in the East.
- The Knicks won all three regular season matchups with Atlanta, but Hawks forward Kevin Huerter welcomes the opportunity to face them in the first round, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. “We feel really good about ourselves,” Huerter said. “They beat us three times this year, but all three games we could have won. We like the matchup and are ready for the challenge.’’
- The Hawks will increase seating at State Farm Arena to nearly full capacity for the playoffs, Spencer adds in a separate story. There will be sections for vaccinated and unvaccinated fans.
McMillan gets fined $25K for a totally harmless comment, and LeBron gets away scot-free with violating health and safety protocols. Double standard anyone? smh
100% accurate
No positive test involved.
link to hoopsrumors.com
Uh no, he was fined.
Mcmillan’s intention was to suggest exactly a “league” bias. Clarity is one reason he’s a good coach. On May20 an HR post had Schlenk saying Mcmillen has been “unbelievably consistent with his messaging”.
No mention of refs by anyone in what was quoted.
Rockets get away with Tanking. Selective CRYING is so embarrassing……..
You could’ve won all three games. Yeah It just gets better with these guys. Can you tell they never been in playoffs. Get the F n brooms out. I’m tired of these Birds.
That’s why they play the game,birds ain’t going away,and your dreaming if the regular season transpires what happens in the playoffs.And to even speak of a sweep against 4-5 seeds in playoff is truly coming from your heart instead of your “bird” brain.
We’ll see. Talking to the wrong city. Bird brains are ones who think talking wins games. And ones who think season doesn’t mean anything. Knicks are only second team in History. To lead league in TEAM D, TEAM D opponents lowest scoring. TEAM D opponents lowest 3PT%, Opponents FG%. The other Team 92 Ewing Knicks. Go hawk that lol. Hawks are going to get beat like we beat them all Year. Tune in and see what a Real fan base sounds like. I want a sweep cause you talk too much. There is no way Hawks are winning series. Randle got another 37 for you today.
(crickets),What? Cat got your tongue ,and that’s why Playoffs are a different animal.Already a must/ win in game 2 for y’all,good luck.
Beat hawks! No calls for Trae!
We don’t have to chant eff Trae Young!! Just because yall can’t stop him lol, its pathetic. Where was your boy Randle last night?? Oh yeah, in clamps lol. Knicks were so predictable…iso Randle and stand there. If it weren’t for yalls bench and moving screens by Taj it wouldn’t have been close.