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Atlanta Hawks Center Clint Capela Calls Out His Team For Lack Of Defense: “There Aren’t A Lot Of Guys Who Take Pride On Defense”
It appears as if Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks have gone the wrong way this year following a strong campaign last season. The Hawks have struggled mightily and are currently posting a record of 26-30, which puts them at the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Hawks haven’t been playing like many people expected them to, and a big part of it is because of their lackluster defense. Their defense has always been a concern, but this season, the Hawks have regressed even more, now ranking 26th in terms of defensive rating.
That being said, Hawks defensive anchor Clint Capela doesn’t seem surprised that the team is boasting one of the worst defenses in the NBA. In an interview with The Athletic, Capela spoke out that the Hawks are lacking players who take pride on defense.
“Our approach the entire season, we were already thinking we were going to the playoffs,” Capela told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. “Our approach wasn’t about the next game; it was, ‘Oh, we won this. We won that.’ That’s the problem with teams that are not used to this. I’m not so shocked.”
“There aren’t a lot of guys who take pride on defense, so it’s hard. I’m mostly a defensive-minded guy, but it’s a team thing. Your team has to be defensive-minded. It can’t be just him or him or him. Everyone. So, it is what it is.”
