ESPN reporter says quiet part out loud about Steven Adams' workload

The Houston Rockets know that Steven Adams' health has to be managed. A prominent NBA insider says he'll never play a back-to-back again.

"Steven Adams is never playing a back-to-back again."

- Tim MacMahon, ESPN

There it is. MacMahon is speaking in plain English. There are no minced words here.

Is he being hyperbolic? Perhaps. Adams may play a back-to-back in case of an emergency. Still, this feels like it's loosely accurate. The Rockets will avoid playing Adams in back-to-backs wherever possible.

Can they handle his absence?

Rockets double down on big men

Yes.

This is likely the exact reason the Rockets acquired Clint Capela this summer. For some Rockets fans, it was a confusing move. Adams has been fantastic - shouldn't that money go to someone the team needs?

It seems the Rockets knew more than we did - who'd have thought? Capela is an Adams insurance policy, and Adams ought to be insured. Adding Capela was likely a more logical move than it initially seemed:

But can he truly replace Adams?

Rockets will have a multitude of options

Adams is the strongest player in the NBA. In theory, nobody can replace him - or replicate him, anyway. Capela is burly in his own right, but he won't set the same bruising screens or dominate the offensive glass as thoroughly.

In 2024-25, Adams averaged 10.4 points and 15.0 rebounds per 75 possessions to Capela's 14.5 and 14.0. Adams had a 0.3 Box Plus/Minus (BPM) to Capela's -1.0. Adams may offer unique edges, but in the aggregate, these are comparable players. The BPM gap is partially explained by team context. The Hawks were mediocre, and Adams excelled in double big lineups alongside Alperen Sengun.

Capela's higher scoring volume is telling. His superior vertical leap makes him a better pick-and-roll finisher than Adams. Capela's verticality is waning at 30 - this isn't James Harden's running mate - but he still works in those sets. Capela's 1.28 Points Per Possession (PPP) as a roll man ranked in the league's 46.6th percentile, while Adams' 0.71 PPP landed in the 7.5th percentile.

Capela may also be the better rim protector. That's not to say he's the better player - although you'd be forgiven for reaching that conclusion. He's a more impactful play finisher and a better defender? What's missing?

Well, Adams' space creation via screening and offensive rebounding are outlier skills. That's fine. Adams is still on the roster, and he'll likely be prioritized over Capela in the postseason. Still, it's nice that the Rockets have options:

Expect to see Capela in plenty of back-to-backs.