Houston Rockets center Clint Capela said he was taken aback when he learned that Deandre Ayton had referenced him in a complaint about his own role with the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this season.
“I was surprised,” Capela told The California Post. “I don’t know why I’m in someone else’s head. I don’t talk to the guy.”
Ayton’s original remarks surfaced months before the first-round NBA Playoff series between Los Angeles and Houston. Frustrated by what he believed was a limited, rim-running assignment, the Lakers center pointed to Capela’s screen-and-dive duties with the Rockets as an example of a role he did not want to mimic. Capela, who once thrived in that capacity alongside James Harden, said any extra attention is ultimately positive. “If people are thinking about me while I’m just doing my thing, I guess it’s a good thing,” he added.
Through the opening two games of the series—both Lakers victories at Crypto.com Arena—Capela has logged limited minutes, while Ayton has emphasized rebounding and defense in helping Los Angeles build a 2-0 lead. Despite modest scoring totals, Ayton told reporters he is “having fun” anchoring the Lakers’ defense against Houston.
Game 3 is scheduled for later this week at Toyota Center, where Capela and the Rockets will try to cut into the deficit and Ayton will look to maintain the Lakers’ early momentum.
Source: Lakers Nation
