Big Baby

[Fafnir]

Glen Davis is currently 42nd in the NBA in rebounding rate. (this includes all players including those with very limited minutes like Glen)

Last year he was in the 200s.

[Who]

Glen Davis -- rebounding per 36 minutes

• Rookie = 8.0
• 2nd year = 6.6
• This year = 9.9

Rebounding rate

• Rookie = 13.2
• 2nd year = 11.2
• This year = 16.9

Davis has only played 10 games (and only 17mpg) so it's a tiny sample size. Can't take those numbers at face value. I'm expecting those numbers to drop back down to earth as the season progresses.

Most of the difference is in offensive rebounding and he can't keep up that present rate (19.6% offensive rebound rate). I'd expect him to come back down to a rate similar, hopefully slightly higher than, his rookie rebounding levels overall.

[MBz]

Guys, he's normally the 2nd big off the bench when everyone is healthy.  Find a better 4th big man on a team then Glen Davis.  Not all 12 of our players are going to be superstars.  There is a reason why he is a bench player.  I'm not saying give the guys a complete break, but he's a bench player.  Yes the bench is important, but look at all of these other teams, how many teams has a 2nd big man better then Glen Davis?

[Fafnir]

Glen Davis -- rebounding per 36 minutes

• Rookie = 8.0
• 2nd year = 6.6
• This year = 9.9

Rebounding rate

• Rookie = 13.2
• 2nd year = 11.2
• This year = 16.9

Davis has only played 10 games (and only 17mpg) so it's a tiny sample size. Can't take those numbers at face value. I'm expecting those numbers to drop back down to earth as the season progresses.

Most of the difference is in offensive rebounding and he can't keep up that present rate (19.6% offensive rebound rate). I'd expect him to come back down to a rate similar, hopefully slightly higher than, his rookie rebounding levels overall.

You're right that he likely can't keep up this level of offensive rebounding but I'm hopefully he can keep his overall rate much higher than the 12 he usually posts.

[mmbaby]

Glen Davis is currently 42nd in the NBA in rebounding rate. (this includes all players including those with very limited minutes like Glen)

Last year he was in the 200s.

Fafnir, thanks for the info. GO BIG BABY DAVIS!!!

[BigBaby]

go easy on me bro, i'll come around

[Spilling Green Dye]

Guys, he's normally the 2nd big off the bench when everyone is healthy.  Find a better 4th big man on a team then Glen Davis.  Not all 12 of our players are going to be superstars.  There is a reason why he is a bench player.  I'm not saying give the guys a complete break, but he's a bench player.  Yes the bench is important, but look at all of these other teams, how many teams has a 2nd big man better then Glen Davis?

Precisely, and this was my point.  I'm happy at what he's producing for that particular depth position and pay.  I only become anti-BBD when people make him out to be more than he is. 

He is NOT a starter on a championship team, or championship caliber team.

He is NOT a future starter for this team.  If he is, we're in trouble.

He is NOT a great defender.

But he does enough things right and fills in where needed, and so he has value on this team.  I'm glad we have him for that.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I've been one of the most vocal Anti-BBD people in the past, but I think he's done some decent things upon his return.  However, I think my overall "beef" is with many posters here.  I get sick of hearing how incredible a player BBD is and how he is the future of the Celtics starting rotation (or how he was going to turn this team around upon his return).  Once you view him as a backup player who comes in for 8 to 10 reliable minutes on a championship team, then you appreciate what he does.  

He's improved his rebounding, but that's it.  And I'm happy about that.  But he is most definitely looking out of shape, which there's no excuse for if you hurt your hand.  His defensive rotations have always been subar and slow, which I've tried to point out and no-one listened, but it really does hurt the team.  Overall he makes easy things look difficult (much like when Scally would dive for a ball that any normal player would run over and pick up with ease), and unless he gets some "ups" in his legs he won't be finishing around the hoop anytime soon.  I do think he's improved his body control though, so that's good.  

Overall I'm glad he's on this team b/c I think the Celtics need that depth and he hustles on the court, but in the playoffs I don't want to see him more than 8 minutes a game.

I'm one of Big Baby's greatest fans, so ya probably heard a lot of that from me 

I KNOW he's played and started on a championship team.
I KNOW this championship team wanted to keep him.
I KNOW he's got what it takes.

Anyhoo, GO BIG BABY!!!!!!!!!!!

Not to be debbie downer, but he did not start on a championship team.  They were a championship team until he started, then they lost to Orlando.  Albeit there were a few other factors, but nonetheless.

And yes, they wanted to keep him, but not as a starter. 

They were the reigning champs.

Yes, they were.  And one reason the Celtics didn't repeat as reigning champs is that instead of KG starting they had Glen Davis start. 

If a company made a profit of $20million dollars one year, hired you at the end of the year, and then proceeded to barely break even can you adequately say that you are an employee in a $20million dollar profit company? No.  Quite frankly you had absolutely NOTHING to do with their previous profit.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Glen Davis -- rebounding per 36 minutes

• Rookie = 8.0
• 2nd year = 6.6
• This year = 9.9

Rebounding rate

• Rookie = 13.2
• 2nd year = 11.2
• This year = 16.9

Davis has only played 10 games (and only 17mpg) so it's a tiny sample size. Can't take those numbers at face value. I'm expecting those numbers to drop back down to earth as the season progresses.

Most of the difference is in offensive rebounding and he can't keep up that present rate (19.6% offensive rebound rate). I'd expect him to come back down to a rate similar, hopefully slightly higher than, his rookie rebounding levels overall.

You're right that he likely can't keep up this level of offensive rebounding but I'm hopefully he can keep his overall rate much higher than the 12 he usually posts.

It's a small sample size, but I too am really hoping he keeps up the increased rebounding.  I wonder if any of it has to do with playing alongside different personnel?  I can tell at least some of it is definitely attributed to his improvement in that category, and playing closer to the hoop. 

[Chris]

Glen Davis -- rebounding per 36 minutes

• Rookie = 8.0
• 2nd year = 6.6
• This year = 9.9

Rebounding rate

• Rookie = 13.2
• 2nd year = 11.2
• This year = 16.9

Davis has only played 10 games (and only 17mpg) so it's a tiny sample size. Can't take those numbers at face value. I'm expecting those numbers to drop back down to earth as the season progresses.

Most of the difference is in offensive rebounding and he can't keep up that present rate (19.6% offensive rebound rate). I'd expect him to come back down to a rate similar, hopefully slightly higher than, his rookie rebounding levels overall.

While agree that the numbers will come back down a bit, I do think there is a clear change.  It was a goal of his from the preseason (given to him by Doc) to improve his rebounding, and it is clear that he has been working harder at it than he did in the past.  He is attacking the boards a lot more, and being much more aggressive going after offensive boards, where last year he tended to drop back a lot. 

[Who]

Glen Davis -- rebounding per 36 minutes

• Rookie = 8.0
• 2nd year = 6.6
• This year = 9.9

Rebounding rate

• Rookie = 13.2
• 2nd year = 11.2
• This year = 16.9

Davis has only played 10 games (and only 17mpg) so it's a tiny sample size. Can't take those numbers at face value. I'm expecting those numbers to drop back down to earth as the season progresses.

Most of the difference is in offensive rebounding and he can't keep up that present rate (19.6% offensive rebound rate). I'd expect him to come back down to a rate similar, hopefully slightly higher than, his rookie rebounding levels overall.

You're right that he likely can't keep up this level of offensive rebounding but I'm hopefully he can keep his overall rate much higher than the 12 he usually posts.

It's a small sample size, but I too am really hoping he keeps up the increased rebounding.  I wonder if any of it has to do with playing alongside different personnel?  I can tell at least some of it is definitely attributed to his improvement in that category, and playing closer to the hoop. 

I definitely believe that some of Baby's increased rebounding is due to personnel + role. Playing closer to the paint offensively has certainly given him more opportunities to grab offensive rebounds. It's closer to the role he had as a rookie than during his second season when he was asked to take more jump shots

Rebounding per 36 numbers again

• Rookie = 8.0 -- 4.3 defensive rebounds + 3.6 offensive rebounds
• 2nd year = 6.6 -- 4.0 defensive rebounds + 2.7 offensive rebounds
• This year = 9.9 -- 4.4 defensive rebounds + 5.5 offensive rebounds

Davis' defensive rebounding has been fairly comparable each season while his offensive rebounding took a large hit (25%) when asked to take more jump shots during his second year.

With Rasheed Wallace now on board, versus Leon Powe, Davis has been able to play in the paint more often. So I think he has the opportunity to produce rebounding numbers comparable to his rookie season + I'm hoping he's improved some since his first year and is actually able to produce slightly more rebounds (hoping for a 14% rebound rate).

[Who]

Going back to his rookie season ... Glen Davis ranked 12th in the NBA in offensive rebounding rate [12.8] out of players who played a minimum of 750 minutes.

12th best in league = excellent offensive rebounder (important note when comparing him to his rookie season rebounding numbers)

I think Davis can improve on that figure and that's where I hope to see the increase in rebounding from. But we're probably only talking about an 0.5 rebounds per 36 minutes (at 14.5% offensive rebounding rate, 3rd-to-5th best in league territory) to maybe 0.8 per 36 at 15.5% offensive rebounding rate (best in the league territory).

If Davis wants to make larger improvements than that he's going to have to focus on improving his defensive rebounding -- where his value is more boxing out and taking up space than grabbing the ball -- and he hasn't shown that yet in his limited time on the court so far this season.

That's why I would be expecting numbers closer, but hopefully slightly higher, than his rookie season rebounding production. Since defensive rebounding is similar + hoping for a slight uptick in offensive rebounding.

If Davis can find his way to 8.5 to 9 rebounds per 36 ... I'll be very happy with that because he does add considerable value with his boxing out beyond his individual rebounding production.

[buellj814]

To be honest i really hate the 48 minute rebound rate because if glen davis were to paly 48 minutes he wouldnt be able to move by the end of it.

I really am just annoyed about what the guy did by getting in the fight and then i see people say let him get his legs underneath him! why should we have to wait??

Again i dont expect much from baby because i also agree as a 4th big off the bench hes fine, but really there was no reason to sign him we should have let him walk when we had the chance.

There was a reason there was no real interest in davis in the off season because at best hes an adequate backup.

[Bahku]

I like Big Baby ... always have. I know his problems with immaturity and self-discipline, but when a guy has heart like Glen, you can see past the imperfections, and find a guy who gives 110% almost every moment he's on the floor. It's not difficult to find fault with his game and his emotions ... he's young and wears his heart on his sleeve. But I love his energy, his effort, his emotional commitment to the game, and his on-the-court energy. Say what you want about him, when he comes on the floor he injects excitement and momentum to our side ... and there is no limit to what that kind of investment will bring to him and his abilities over time. I hope we keep him, because I think he'll only get better, and always be a positive addition to this team.

[Chris]

To be honest i really hate the 48 minute rebound rate because if glen davis were to paly 48 minutes he wouldnt be able to move by the end of it.

I really am just annoyed about what the guy did by getting in the fight and then i see people say let him get his legs underneath him! why should we have to wait??

Again i dont expect much from baby because i also agree as a 4th big off the bench hes fine, but really there was no reason to sign him we should have let him walk when we had the chance.

There was a reason there was no real interest in davis in the off season because at best hes an adequate backup.

I really don't know what people are seeing to suggest he needs to get his legs underneath him.  He really has been very effective already, and not a whole lot different than he was the last two years with his conditioning.  I think the reason he seems to be getting tired is because he is actually working his butt off out there like he was two years ago and the beginning of last year.  At the end of last year, when they stretched his minutes due to injuries, he was cruising a lot more, and took a huge step down defensively and on the boards, but this year, he has his energy level back up, plus he is finishing like he did near the end of last year.

As for the whole broken thumb thing, it was a boneheaded move, and it hurt the team when he wasn't on the floor.  I think the time to complain about that was when he wasn't on the floor.  However, now that he is back, I think it is time to get over it.  Plenty of athletes have done stupider and more damaging things that have been forgotten, so lets give him a second chance.