Thread to Quiet Concerns About Rebounding

[BballTim]

I started this thread in anticipation of complaining and frustration over rebounding numbers of one game...but no one is complaining! Awesome job CB!

I will say, the rebounding numbers aren't a product of one game.  We're fourth from last in offensive rebounding percentage, and are below the league average in defensive rebounding percentage.

For the sake of comparison, last year we were 8th in offensive rebounding percentage, and third in defensive rebounding percentage.  In the championship season, we were mediocre in terms of ORB% (18th), but 8th in defensive rebounding percentage.

It concerns me, the number of offensive boards we give up.  Yes, last night's game was an extreme, but it was still completely unacceptable to give up 20 offensive boards.

Some of the lack of rebounding is due to strategy, sure, but a lot of it was effort.  Matt Bonner, of all people, was beating our guys to rebounds last night, because he was hustling. 

Also, of course, if the strategy is to get out on the break, and the other team's rebounding is killing you late in the game, wouldn't it be time to change strategies?

  We seem to be constantly victimized by the "tap out" play where the opposing big doesn't try and collect the ball but to tip it to a teammate. Effective, but annoying to watch. Before last night, though, we were outrebounding our opponents (although only slightly). It's worse than we've done in the past two years but I don't think it's a huge concern.

[Donoghus]

My biggest concern with the rebounding is the 2nd chance scoring opportunities teams have gotten on us so far this season.  Given up too many offensive rebounds to opponents.

Real frustrating to watch.  Part of that can be attributed to the lack of hustle/lazy play that we're seen in some instances this season. 

[Greenbean]

I started this thread in anticipation of complaining and frustration over rebounding numbers of one game...but no one is complaining! Awesome job CB!

I will say, the rebounding numbers aren't a product of one game.  We're fourth from last in offensive rebounding percentage, and are below the league average in defensive rebounding percentage.

For the sake of comparison, last year we were 8th in offensive rebounding percentage, and third in defensive rebounding percentage.  In the championship season, we were mediocre in terms of ORB% (18th), but 8th in defensive rebounding percentage.

It concerns me, the number of offensive boards we give up.  Yes, last night's game was an extreme, but it was still completely unacceptable to give up 20 offensive boards.

Some of the lack of rebounding is due to strategy, sure, but a lot of it was effort.  Matt Bonner, of all people, was beating our guys to rebounds last night, because he was hustling. 

Also, of course, if the strategy is to get out on the break, and the other team's rebounding is killing you late in the game, wouldn't it be time to change strategies?

Yeah last night was a good example of a time where an in game adjustment would have worked in our favor to send a guard in to help rebounding. I would have to agree there.

It was a road game and the Spurs were getting a lot of energy from Bonner and Blair on the glass. You are right that the effort has to increase from the bigs as they have more resposibility when there is no help on the boards. If KG gets stronger rebounding then this strategy becomes much more effective. Perk is our only potentially dominant rebounder right now.

So here's a question for you then. How would you rather see the C's play? Crash the defensive glass and set up half court offense, or push the tempo while sacraficing rebounding?

[The Bill]

- so far this season, the Celtics are outrebounded even more severely when Williams is on the court.

Do you think that Williams isn't a solid rebounder though? It's basically his best skill.

[Atzar]

They're outboarded even more when Shelden is on the court because he just replaces Perk as the ONLY Celtic on the glass.  Somebody's going to have to realize that more than one player needs to crash the glass before this is going to get any better.

[Fafnir]

They're outboarded even more when Shelden is on the court because he just replaces Perk as the ONLY Celtic on the glass.  Somebody's going to have to realize that more than one player needs to crash the glass before this is going to get any better.

Crashing the glass isn't the biggest problem, its boxing out. I think the C's will be fine without improving too much on the offensive glass. But they have to be better on the defensive end!

[scoop]

- so far this season, the Celtics are outrebounded even more severely when Williams is on the court.

Do you think that Williams isn't a solid rebounder though? It's basically his best skill.

Yes, he is. That's exactly the problem - not him being a solid rebounder, but the team being even more outrebounded when he's on the floor with the 2nd unit.

[scoop]

So here's a question for you then. How would you rather see the C's play? Crash the defensive glass and set up half court offense, or push the tempo while sacraficing rebounding?

I've never heard of any coach trying to push the tempo while sacrificing rebounding. Isn't that a contradiction?

[wdleehi]

Starting a fast break instead of making sure the defensive rebound is securied is a terrible thing to see.


Why? 


It works great in the regular season. 


But come playoff time; bad, bad, bad.


How many time do we have to see teams the run at the expense of defense put up great regular season records only to flame out in the playoffs?



I don't care about the Celtics offensive rebounding numbers.  A lot of that came from Leon Powe chasing to many shots when better defensive big men like Perk and KG were busy making sure they could get down court in time to set up the defense. 


Defensive rebounding, that's a must. 

[Greenbean]

So here's a question for you then. How would you rather see the C's play? Crash the defensive glass and set up half court offense, or push the tempo while sacraficing rebounding?

I've never heard of any coach trying to push the tempo while sacrificing rebounding. Isn't that a contradiction?

Sacraficing rebounding bodies. Poor wording sorry. Sending guards on a break rather than having them crash the boards.

[Greenbean]

Starting a fast break instead of making sure the defensive rebound is securied is a terrible thing to see.


Why? 


It works great in the regular season. 


But come playoff time; bad, bad, bad.


How many time do we have to see teams the run at the expense of defense put up great regular season records only to flame out in the playoffs?



I don't care about the Celtics offensive rebounding numbers.  A lot of that came from Leon Powe chasing to many shots when better defensive big men like Perk and KG were busy making sure they could get down court in time to set up the defense. 


Defensive rebounding, that's a must. 

I 100% agree but I also think our team is capable of playing both ways. As Roy mentioned, an adjustment in game would have been nice in the 4th last night but for the most part we were getting easy shots on the Spurs.

We have a great rebounding sf (Pierce) and pg (Rondo) so come playoff time if the game dictates a slower pace, they have the tools to be a good defensive rebounding team unlike teams like the Suns and Warriors.

[wdleehi]

Starting a fast break instead of making sure the defensive rebound is securied is a terrible thing to see.


Why? 


It works great in the regular season. 


But come playoff time; bad, bad, bad.


How many time do we have to see teams the run at the expense of defense put up great regular season records only to flame out in the playoffs?



I don't care about the Celtics offensive rebounding numbers.  A lot of that came from Leon Powe chasing to many shots when better defensive big men like Perk and KG were busy making sure they could get down court in time to set up the defense. 


Defensive rebounding, that's a must. 

I 100% agree but I also think our team is capable of playing both ways. As Roy mentioned, an adjustment in game would have been nice in the 4th last night but for the most part we were getting easy shots on the Spurs.

We have a great rebounding sf (Pierce) and pg (Rondo) so come playoff time if the game dictates a slower pace, they have the tools to be a good defensive rebounding team unlike teams like the Suns and Warriors.

But teams just can't flip that switch come playoff time.

This is a practice that must be put into place in the regular season so that the players first instinct is to attack the defensive boards, not run down the court.

[Fafnir]

Starting a fast break instead of making sure the defensive rebound is securied is a terrible thing to see.


Why? 


It works great in the regular season. 


But come playoff time; bad, bad, bad.


How many time do we have to see teams the run at the expense of defense put up great regular season records only to flame out in the playoffs?



I don't care about the Celtics offensive rebounding numbers.  A lot of that came from Leon Powe chasing to many shots when better defensive big men like Perk and KG were busy making sure they could get down court in time to set up the defense. 


Defensive rebounding, that's a must. 

I 100% agree but I also think our team is capable of playing both ways. As Roy mentioned, an adjustment in game would have been nice in the 4th last night but for the most part we were getting easy shots on the Spurs.

We have a great rebounding sf (Pierce) and pg (Rondo) so come playoff time if the game dictates a slower pace, they have the tools to be a good defensive rebounding team unlike teams like the Suns and Warriors.

Pierce is not a great rebounding SF.

[Greenbean]

Starting a fast break instead of making sure the defensive rebound is securied is a terrible thing to see.


Why? 


It works great in the regular season. 


But come playoff time; bad, bad, bad.


How many time do we have to see teams the run at the expense of defense put up great regular season records only to flame out in the playoffs?



I don't care about the Celtics offensive rebounding numbers.  A lot of that came from Leon Powe chasing to many shots when better defensive big men like Perk and KG were busy making sure they could get down court in time to set up the defense. 


Defensive rebounding, that's a must. 

I 100% agree but I also think our team is capable of playing both ways. As Roy mentioned, an adjustment in game would have been nice in the 4th last night but for the most part we were getting easy shots on the Spurs.

We have a great rebounding sf (Pierce) and pg (Rondo) so come playoff time if the game dictates a slower pace, they have the tools to be a good defensive rebounding team unlike teams like the Suns and Warriors.

Pierce is not a great rebounding SF.

I think he is when we need him to be. Would you agree with just good?

[Fafnir]

Starting a fast break instead of making sure the defensive rebound is securied is a terrible thing to see.


Why? 


It works great in the regular season. 


But come playoff time; bad, bad, bad.


How many time do we have to see teams the run at the expense of defense put up great regular season records only to flame out in the playoffs?



I don't care about the Celtics offensive rebounding numbers.  A lot of that came from Leon Powe chasing to many shots when better defensive big men like Perk and KG were busy making sure they could get down court in time to set up the defense. 


Defensive rebounding, that's a must. 

I 100% agree but I also think our team is capable of playing both ways. As Roy mentioned, an adjustment in game would have been nice in the 4th last night but for the most part we were getting easy shots on the Spurs.

We have a great rebounding sf (Pierce) and pg (Rondo) so come playoff time if the game dictates a slower pace, they have the tools to be a good defensive rebounding team unlike teams like the Suns and Warriors.

Pierce is not a great rebounding SF.

I think he is when we need him to be. Would you agree with just good?

He's solid, but rebounds always matter. You are what you are over the whole season. I don't believe you can rely on "turning it on".