Biggest Concern: Rebounding

[PapaG]

How to fix it? You can't consistently run when the other team gets 17 and then 14 offensive rebounds.

Being significantly outrebounded against a Utah team playing without Paul Millsap isn't exactly what I wanted to see, and is the one big concern I have after two exhibition games.

 

[magnifier661]

How to fix it? You can't consistently run when the other team gets 17 and then 14 offensive rebounds.

Being significantly outrebounded against a Utah team playing without Paul Millsap isn't exactly what I wanted to see, and is the one big concern I have after two exhibition games.

This team needs to score more in the paint. Stop settling for outside shots, when you can put other teams in foul trouble posting them up. I don't want to see Wallace, Batum and Aldridge be spot up shooters. Aldridge needs 80% of his offense be inside. Wallace needs to drive to the basket more and the same goes for Batum. They are all very capable inside scorers/slashers. Long shots = long rebounds. Instead of having your bigs gather offensive boards, you reply on your wings. Not very smart, IMO.

EDIT: Also keep in mind that Utah is a big team. They have and always had played that physical style of basketball. Let's see how we sit playing a few other teams.

 

[Nikolokolus]

How to fix it this year? I don't know if there's an answer, except to have the guards hang back and crash the defensive glass, but that keeps them from leaking out down the court on offense and that's this team's clearest path to easy offense.

 

[Nikolokolus]

This team needs to score more in the paint. Stop settling for outside shots, when you can put other teams in foul trouble posting them up. I don't want to see Wallace, Batum and Aldridge be spot up shooters. Aldridge needs 80% of his offense be inside. Wallace needs to drive to the basket more and the same goes for Batum. They are all very capable inside scorers/slashers. Long shots = long rebounds. Instead of having your bigs gather offensive boards, you reply on your wings. Not very smart, IMO.

That's all well and good, but the trouble last night was with defensive rebounding, which isn't really related at all.

 

[magnifier661]

That's all well and good, but the trouble last night was with defensive rebounding, which isn't really related at all.

So you don't think that taking it inside will help with offensive rebounding? It seems the OP is talking about a generalized "rebounding" problem.

 

[PapaG]

How to fix it this year? I don't know if there's an answer, except to have the guards hang back and crash the defensive glass, but that keeps them from leaking out down the court on offense and that's this team's clearest path to easy offense.

That's my concern. Nolan Smith only played 6 minutes, but in that time had 3 defensive rebounds (4 total). Chris Johnson had 1 rebound in 10 minutes, and Wesley looked like the Wesley of old, with zero rebounds and only 1 assist in 32 minutes.

It's a big concern. I wonder if Przy might be willing to come back, because at the very least, he can still grab a few boards in his 8-10 minutes.

 

[PapaG]

So you don't think that taking it inside will help with offensive rebounding? It seems the OP is talking about a generalized "rebounding" problem.

I'm more concerned with defensive rebounding, which is I why I mentioned the offensive rebounding stats for Utah. You can't run if the other team is grabbing their own missed shots.

 

[Nikolokolus]

So you don't think that taking it inside will help with offensive rebounding? It seems the OP is talking about a generalized "rebounding" problem.

Offensive rebounds are nice and if they can get them so much the better, but the biggest problem last night was giving up offensive rebounds, not gathering them for extra possessions.

 

[jlprk]

That's my concern. Nolan Smith only played 6 minutes, but in that time had 3 defensive rebounds (4 total). Chris Johnson had 1 rebound in 10 minutes, and Wesley looked like the Wesley of old, with zero rebounds and only 1 assist in 32 minutes.

The new guy plays like most players in the sport of basketball, and the guys who know McMillan's system suck. Why do you think that might be? What is wrong with these lazy players?

 

[B-Roy]

So you don't think that taking it inside will help with offensive rebounding? It seems the OP is talking about a generalized "rebounding" problem.

You can't take it inside without making some outside shots. That's what the Jazz were doing all night, packing the paint.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I hope our "acting" GM is looking seriously into the availability of Varejao or Millsap.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I hope our "acting" GM is looking seriously into the availability of Varejao or Millsap.

Word, yo.

 

[tlongII]

The problem will be less pronounced as LaMarcus and Jamal get more comfortable and shoot a higher percentage. We could definitely use Przy though.

 

[Brock]

ok deep breath...


Joe Freeman @BlazerFreeman
MRI results on #Blazers center Marcus Camby's left knee are back and are negative. Camby is listed as day-to-day with sore left knee.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Well, the Jazz have a very underrated front court. Those guys can rebound even with Millsap gone. Favors and Al Jefferson are both guys who can grab 10+ rebounds each. Okur is a guy who can grab 8-9 rebounds in a Pryzbilla kind of way, meaning his rebound rate is actually higher than the stats show. Even their guards are pretty decent rebounders as CJ Miles demonstrated.

The only thing that went wrong is that the Blazers didn't have Camby. That void at the center position is really the only thing that needs to be fixed because without a strong presence the Blazers become disorganized and unstructured, which I don't know if that's because of Nate's style or the players.

Otherwise, I, too, am concerned.

 

[PapaG]

The problem will be less pronounced as LaMarcus and Jamal get more comfortable and shoot a higher percentage. We could definitely use Przy though.

I guess I don't understand how LMA and Crawford shooting better will help keep the other team off of the offensive boards?

 

[PapaG]

Well, the Jazz have a very underrated front court. Those guys can rebound even with Millsap gone. Favors and Al Jefferson are both guys who can grab 10+ rebounds each. Okur is a guy who can grab 8-9 rebounds in a Pryzbilla kind of way, meaning his rebound rate is actually higher than the stats show. Even their guards are pretty decent rebounders as CJ Miles demonstrated.

The only thing that went wrong is that the Blazers didn't have Camby. That void at the center position is really the only thing that needs to be fixed because without a strong presence the Blazers become disorganized and unstructured, which I don't know if that's because of Nate's style or the players.

Otherwise, I, too, am concerned.

The Blazers had Camby on Monday, yet the Jazz had 17 offensive rebounds. It's a concern.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The problem will be less pronounced as LaMarcus and Jamal get more comfortable and shoot a higher percentage. We could definitely use Przy though.

Defensive rebounding will be improved by LA and Crawford shooting a higher percentage? Alriiiiiggghhtty then.

 

[magnifier661]

This is why I dislike the small lineup scenario. We will get killed.

 

[SantaDora]

This is why I dislike the small lineup scenario. We will get killed.

Last year, the small-line scenario had a +8 PPG per 100 possessions - who cares about rebounding if you are +8 PPG?

Sure, rebounding is important - but if you win more with a small lineup, you go with the small lineup.

FWIW - the Blazers were only +3 PPG per 100 possessions in a big lineup last year.

 

[tlongII]

I guess I don't understand how LMA and Crawford shooting better will help keep the other team off of the offensive boards?

Then why did you say you were more concerned with defensive rebounding?

 

[tlongII]

If LaMarcus and Jamal shoot a higher percentage it leaves less possibility for the opponent to get defensive boards.

 

[PapaG]

Then why did you say you were more concerned with defensive rebounding?

I thought that was obvious in the initial post where I mentioned the offensive rebounding numbers by the Jazz.

How to fix it? You can't consistently run when the other team gets 17 and then 14 offensive rebounds.

I guess I'll just really have to start dumbing things down for some of you and be extremely literal.

 

[PapaG]

If LaMarcus and Jamal shoot a higher percentage it leaves less possibility for the opponent to get defensive boards.

Or, it gives the Blazers more opportunities for offensive boards if they continue to miss their shots.

 

[Mediocre Man]

We singed Chuckford instead of beef inside.

Our biggest concern is Nate, not rebounding

 

[PapaG]

We singed Chuckford instead of beef inside.

Our biggest concern is Nate, not rebounding

At this point, I have to think you're advancing some sort of agenda. The rebounding has been terrible, and Nate is running an offense you've been begging for the past 5 years.

What's your deal? Seriously, I'm wondering. I know you've taken over my old role of whining about the mods, but you seem to be dead set on proving some point. Reading your posts is like eating soggy Cheerios. Is that the claim you're making?

 

[RoyToy]

Just let him be miserable

 

[magnifier661]

Last year, the small-line scenario had a +8 PPG per 100 possessions - who cares about rebounding if you are +8 PPG?

Sure, rebounding is important - but if you win more with a small lineup, you go with the small lineup.

FWIW - the Blazers were only +3 PPG per 100 possessions in a big lineup last year.

Actually since we are talking about defensive rebounding, I would trade 8+ ppg for winning the rebounding battle. The blazers historically are the best when they are one of the best rebounding teams. Op has a point and we need to take care of it. What happens when it becomes a half court game? What happens if our team plays great d and forces a missed shot only to give up a offensive board? Nah I'd like us to take care of the glass in these scenarios.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Then why did you say you were more concerned with defensive rebounding?

If LaMarcus and Jamal shoot a higher percentage it leaves less possibility for the opponent to get defensive boards.

Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick.

Think long and hard about this. The blazers have trouble securing DEFENSIVE rebounds, which come from OPPONENT MISSES ... NOT THEIR OWN. Is that clear enough for you?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Actually since we are talking about defensive rebounding, I would trade 8+ ppg for winning the rebounding battle. The blazers historically are the best when they are one of the best rebounding teams. Op has a point and we need to take care of it. What happens when it becomes a half court game? What happens if our team plays great d and forces a missed shot only to give up a offensive board? Nah I'd like us to take care of the glass in these scenarios.

Maybe I'm misreading it, but I'm pretty sure he's saying the Blazers had a +8 point differential over their opponent vs. +3 with a large lineup. I'm a little dubious about comparing the pre-Wallace Blazers with the post-Wallace Blazers, but the main point seems to be they outscore opponents by a greater margin, which is far more indicative of increased wins than just winning the rebounding battle.