What's wrong with the defense and rebounding?

[Chris]

All season long, there has been something wrong with this teams defense and rebounding.  That much is clear.  But for the life of me, I could not quite put my finger on it.  Was it lack of athleticism?  Maybe, but this team isn't as unathletic as some say.  Was it lack of effort?  Maybe, but when you watch them, you can see them digging in and working.

So what is it?  Focus, and CONSISTENCY of effort.  This team has taken on the personality of Tony Allen in my opinion.  They show flashes of brilliance, but they can't string that together into real success.

Last night games showed in sharp contrast what is wrong with this team.  They are not playing D'Antoni defense.  They are actually trying to stay in front of their men.  However, the problem is, they are not following through for entire posessions.

In football, one thing you always hear is "finish your blocks".  Well, that is exactly what the C's have not been doing.  They have been blocking just long enough for the running-back to hit hole, however, they come off them in time for the defender to still make the tackle. 

It shows itself in multiple ways.  With the rebounding it is most obvious.  They work really hard to get a stop.  They dig in, they force the other team into a difficult shot.  And then they let down.  They don't box out, or they half-heartedly box out. 

But they do the same thing on defense.  They dig in to try to beat their man to the spot, but then they forget to get their hand up, or the guy on the backside forgets to rotate to the open shooter.  Or they rotate for the first two passes, but then just stand there when the team makes that extra pass to the wide open shooter in the corner.

All of these things are a matter of focus.  Its not pure effort, but it does take energy to focus for 48 minutes.  And for some reason, they have not been willing or able to do that.  Will they be motivated and able to focus without letdowns in the playoffs?  I don't know.  But something needs to change, and it needs to start with the players on the floor.

[Who]

The big men lack quickness and that has weakened the team defense. The screen and roll defense is weaker and the team regularly gets beat when forced to make multiple defensive rotations on the same possession because they're not quick enough to get to the spot in time. The transition defense is also weaker. I think this is the primary cause to the decline in the C's defense.

The rebounding has dropped off mainly because of Rasheed Wallace's very poor rebounding + poor rebounding contributions from the wing players.

[2short]

injuries and guys expecting their teammate to do the job instead of giving the extra effort to follow through themselves
ie eh i'll stop pursuing the man because my teammate can get him or i won't drop/switch to cover man because the play is already done
rebounding complete lack of effort by nearly everyone, i almost feel our most aggressive rebounder is our point guard!
no one boxes out, its almost like a me team , man should box out his guy so there is no chance he can get rebound so if it falls to pp so be it, sheed & perk have been absolutely HORRIBLE at boxing out their man (and they aren't the only ones)

[BudweiserCeltic]

The big men lack quickness and that has weakened the team defense. The screen and roll defense is weaker and the team regularly gets beat when forced to make multiple defensive rotations on the same possession because they're not quick enough to get to the spot in time. The transition defense is also weaker. I think this is the primary cause to the decline in the C's defense.

The rebounding has dropped off mainly because of Rasheed Wallace's very poor rebounding + poor rebounding contributions from the wing players.

I don't think Rasheed is the problem here, though clearly he's not a good rebounder. The main problem is that overall, our team is not boxing out AND our "rebound guys" aren't rebounding the ball well. Look at Perkins for example... Since February he's been averaging about 5.5 rebounds per game. Come on.

KG's rebounding production has also declined, but for what he's going through he's done fairly well for himself this year.

[housecall]

I have felt some of the players are not in tip/top condition...a few came into the season out of shape and still haven't got right yet.Thats just from an eyeball test,nothing i know for facts but it does appear that way to me.Age has little to do with,when i look at J.Kidd,A.Jamison,G.Hill,even Shaq all guys 35+,that are playing at a high level night in night out,why,because they came in ready and still work hard at staying in shape.

 This leaves me to believe that not being able to rebound and playing consistent (good)defense is one of the signs of poor conditoning,especially in fourth quarters when your stamina is tested the most.  

[hpantazo]

The big men lack quickness and that has weakened the team defense. The screen and roll defense is weaker and the team regularly gets beat when forced to make multiple defensive rotations on the same possession because they're not quick enough to get to the spot in time. The transition defense is also weaker. I think this is the primary cause to the decline in the C's defense.

The rebounding has dropped off mainly because of Rasheed Wallace's very poor rebounding + poor rebounding contributions from the wing players.

Wallace isn't the problem, the starters are. Mainly Perkins and Pierce.

[fanofgreen]

The big men lack quickness and that has weakened the team defense. The screen and roll defense is weaker and the team regularly gets beat when forced to make multiple defensive rotations on the same possession because they're not quick enough to get to the spot in time. The transition defense is also weaker. I think this is the primary cause to the decline in the C's defense.

The rebounding has dropped off mainly because of Rasheed Wallace's very poor rebounding + poor rebounding contributions from the wing players.

Yes are big men lack quickness and the athleticism, all of them: Sheed KG Baby Perk Scal Sheldon.........Which is why for the longest I've been saying over and over that this team NEEDS to sign Sean Williams.

we have the least athletic front line in the league, and one of the most freakishly athletic players is just out there and could be had for cheap.

[Who]

The big men lack quickness and that has weakened the team defense. The screen and roll defense is weaker and the team regularly gets beat when forced to make multiple defensive rotations on the same possession because they're not quick enough to get to the spot in time. The transition defense is also weaker. I think this is the primary cause to the decline in the C's defense.

The rebounding has dropped off mainly because of Rasheed Wallace's very poor rebounding + poor rebounding contributions from the wing players.

Yes are big men lack quickness and the athleticism, all of them: Sheed KG Baby Perk Scal Sheldon.........Which is why for the longest I've been saying over and over that this team NEEDS to sign Sean Williams.

we have the least athletic front line in the league, and one of the most freakishly athletic players is just out there and could be had for cheap.

Athleticism by itself won't accomplish anything.

Athleticism + talent is very valuable and would have an impact

[Who]

Kevin Garnett's rebounding has declined but he is still an above average rebounder. The Celtics can still be a very good rebounding with this KG.

The reason they're not able to be that very good rebounding team is the lack of rebounding from Rasheed Wallace + wing players.

[wdleehi]

Kevin Garnett's rebounding has declined but he is still an above average rebounder. The Celtics can still be a very good rebounding with this KG.

The reason they're not able to be that very good rebounding team is the lack of rebounding from Rasheed Wallace + wing players.

The wing players are not attacking the defensive boards this year as they did last year.

[hpantazo]

Kevin Garnett's rebounding has declined but he is still an above average rebounder. The Celtics can still be a very good rebounding with this KG.

The reason they're not able to be that very good rebounding team is the lack of rebounding from Rasheed Wallace + wing players.

how is Rasheed responsible for the rebounding issues when the starters are the ones who have been terrible in rebounding and defense? It's easy to blame it on a guy who wasn't here the last 2 seasons, but the responsibility is on the starters. Defense and rebounding come from effort. Any lack in these two categories signifies lack of effort, which is unacceptable.

[Who]

Paul Pierce = 4.5 rebounds per 36
Marquis Daniels = 3.6 rebounds per 36
Ray Allen = 3.4 rebounds per 36

Paul Pierce's individual rebounding has not only declined but so too has his team rebounding. His box out ability. I'm not seeing him rotating down and keeping opposing bigs off the glass anywhere near as often as he used to.

All three players have been very poor on the backboards.

[hpantazo]

Paul Pierce = 4.5 rebounds per 36
Marquis Daniels = 3.6 rebounds per 36
Ray Allen = 3.4 rebounds per 36

Paul Pierce's individual rebounding has not only declined but so too has his team rebounding. His box out ability. I'm not seeing him rotating down and keeping opposing bigs off the glass anywhere near as often as he used to.

All three players have been very poor on the backboards.

I agree with that. Pierce used to be a great rebounding SF, now he's pathetic. I hope it's just a question of getting fully healthy and not lack of effort.

[Celts17Pride]

Kevin Garnett's rebounding has declined but he is still an above average rebounder. The Celtics can still be a very good rebounding with this KG.

The reason they're not able to be that very good rebounding team is the lack of rebounding from Rasheed Wallace + wing players.

The wing players are not attacking the defensive boards this year as they did last year.

Bingo! with the exception of Rondo.

[housecall]

Paul Pierce = 4.5 rebounds per 36
Marquis Daniels = 3.6 rebounds per 36
Ray Allen = 3.4 rebounds per 36

Paul Pierce's individual rebounding has not only declined but so too has his team rebounding. His box out ability. I'm not seeing him rotating down and keeping opposing bigs off the glass anywhere near as often as he used to.

All three players have been very poor on the backboards.

From comparing the Celtics with(3)other top teams around the league,i found our 3's are rebounding closer to their 2's,our2's are closer to their pgs(1),the 4'scloser to their 3's,our5's more like their3's&4's...we are not rebounding at the level/rate we should by position in comparison to better teams .