Rebounding Has to Become a Priority

[George O'Brien]

Last season the Suns were out rebounded -4.08 rpg during the regular season (28th of 30) and 8.65 rpg during the playoffs (15th of 16).

Obviously statistics can be deceptive, but I cannot find any comfort in the statistics. It's not that the Suns can't rebound, they were 10th in number of rebounds grabbed at 41.8 rpg. The problem was that they were dead last in the regular season in opponent's rebounding at 45.69 rpg. This is not a new problem. In 2004-05 the Suns were out rebounded 46.1 rpg to 44.1 rpg.

Rebounding differential is a key part of the success of teams like the Heat (last year led the league with +4.24), the Mavericks (third with +3.85 rpg), and the Clippers (+2.85). So while there are things that can distort these numbers (for example, bad shooting teams like the Jazz and Knicks get a lot of offensive rebounds), it is awfully hard to win without solid rebounding.

Obviously D'Antoni's preference for small, quick guys, over big bangers is in no small degree responsible for the Suns futility in rebounding differential. At the same time, it does not appear that the Suns work hard enough on rebounding technique.

Getting back Kurt Thomas should help. Last season he led the team in rebounds per minute played and the Suns rebounding dropped considerably after he was injured:

Kurt Thomas - 26.6 minutes - .293 rpm
Shawn Marion - 40.3 minutes - .292 rpm

However, the rest of the guys did not produce:

Boris Diaw - 35.5 minutes - .194 rpm
Tim Thomas - 24.4 minutes - .201 rpm
James Jones - 23.6 minutes - .144 rpm

IMHO the Suns won't lose much rebounding from the loss of TT, whose rpm numbers are very low for inside guys since Jumaine's .178 rpm was done playing the wing. Still, the Suns won't gain much either.

In theory, the Suns should improve their rebounding with the addition of Amare and Banks (a very good rebounder from the PG position at 4.7 rpg with the Wolves.)

On a career basis, Amare averaged .258 rpm. However, his rpg was best his rookie year when he grabbed 0.281 rpg. It dropped to 0.241 rpg his second year and 0.246 his third year.

Oddly enough, for all his struggles last season, Amare averaged .32 rpm in his brief appearence. This provides hope that he's learning to become a better position rebounder. It is not out of the question that he could get into the 0.27 rpm to 0.28 range which would be a big help.

IMHO, the real key to the Suns closing the rebounding gap will be Diaw. If he improved his rebounding per minute to "average" for PF's and Center, he'd be closer to 9 rpg as opposed to last season's 6.9 rpg. But in any case, the entire team needs to be focused on rebounding if they hope to get to the finals.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Rebounding is a big problem.

But it is DAntoni who has to make it a priority. Sadly, many team don't make their biggest problems their number #1 priorities. DAntoni will demonstrate that improving the rebounding is a priority when he makes strategic and personnel adjustments to deal with it.

Until then its just the big problem, but not a priority.

 

[Covert Rain]

To be more precise, offensive rebounding should be a priority. Defensive rebounding should be OK. The last 2 seasons have sort of hidden how often this team is 1 and done. Meaning they have been shooting so well that it sort of hides it. This team when they miss NEVER get rebounds.

 

[overseascardfan]

Rebounding is a big problem.

But it is DAntoni who has to make it a priority. Sadly, many team don't make their biggest problems their number #1 priorities. DAntoni will demonstrate that improving the rebounding is a priority when he makes strategic and personnel adjustments to deal with it.

Until then its just the big problem, but not a priority.

We should go after Paul Milsap out of LA Tech, Karl Malone's alma mater, he led the NCAA in rebounding the last couple of years, I believe he os an UDFA. I would go after him than Steven Smith.

 

[elindholm]

To be more precise, offensive rebounding should be a priority. Defensive rebounding should be OK. The last 2 seasons have sort of hidden how often this team is 1 and done. Meaning they have been shooting so well that it sort of hides it.

I know that statistics aren't very popular on this board, but the numbers don't support your claim. The Suns were in the middle of the pack last year in terms of offensive rebounding, but at the bottom for defensive rebounding. And having watched around half of their games, I believe that defensive rebounding was a much bigger problem.

By the way, the statistics to look at are rebounding percentages, not per-game numbers.

 

[elindholm]

Well, I stand corrected. I must not have checked the season-long stats for a while, but in fact the Suns were the worst offensive rebounding team in the league last year. They collected only 22.1% of all possible offensive rebounds. Next worst was New Jersey at 24.0% and Minnesota at 25.1%. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/statistics?stat=teamstatreb&season=2006&seasontype=4&league=nba)

Defensive rebounding wasn't good either, at 72.0%, but it wasn't a disaster. The site doesn't give an average, but that puts them somewhere in the middle of the pack. Even some other good teams, like Detroit (!) at 71.1% and Dallas at 72.2%, didn't fare any better.

Overall the Suns collected 47.6% of all possible rebounds, third worst behind Portland (47.0%) and Charlotte (47.4%).

 

[George O'Brien]

It is hard to sort out the various factors. Some opponents know they are too slow to get back on defense against the Suns break and decide to seriously attack the boards while other teams try very hard to get everyone back and don't go after offensive rebounds the same way. I'm not sure if there is a good way to tell which approach worked better for either team.

 

[Covert Rain]

Well, I stand corrected. I must not have checked the season-long stats for a while, but in fact the Suns were the worst offensive rebounding team in the league last year. They collected only 22.1% of all possible offensive rebounds. Next worst was New Jersey at 24.0% and Minnesota at 25.1%. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/statistics?stat=teamstatreb&season=2006&seasontype=4&league=nba)

Defensive rebounding wasn't good either, at 72.0%, but it wasn't a disaster. The site doesn't give an average, but that puts them somewhere in the middle of the pack. Even some other good teams, like Detroit (!) at 71.1% and Dallas at 72.2%, didn't fare any better.

Overall the Suns collected 47.6% of all possible rebounds, third worst behind Portland (47.0%) and Charlotte (47.4%).

No problem. I had already looked up the stats. I think with getting Amare, Kurt and some other pieces our defensive rebounding will be even better. It's the offensive rebounding that needs to get a ton better.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Oddly enough, for all his struggles last season, Amare averaged .32 rpm in his brief appearence. This provides hope that he's learning to become a better position rebounder. It is not out of the question that he could get into the 0.27 rpm to 0.28 range which would be a big help.

Nice write up George, but this is the only problem I have with it. Amare played in only three games- that simply isn't enough evidence to suggest or provide hope that his rebounding technique is getting better, only that he may have been the beneficiary of a couple of lucky bounces his way (3 to be exact).

 

[George O'Brien]

Nice write up George, but this is the only problem I have with it. Amare played in only three games- that simply isn't enough evidence to suggest or provide hope that his rebounding technique is getting better, only that he may have been the beneficiary of a couple of lucky bounces his way (3 to be exact).

Actually Amare's career has included great rebounding games and just as many where he has not done much. It has generally believed that he was not given much training in positioning, footwork, and blocking out. I keep hoping that some of his workout time has been spent learning what it takes to be an elite rebounder; but that remains to be seen.

Another hopeful factor is that the Suns depth may help Amare get over his passivity. Much of rebounding is just a matter of effort, but always being afraid of getting into foul trouble kills that.

 

[Errntknght]

George O, "Banks (a very good rebounder from the PG position at 4.7 rpg with the Wolves.)"

Did Marcus Banks play part of the season with another team? His rebounding stats for last year are 135 rebounds in 58 games which comes out to 2.3 per game. On a per minute basis he got .090 rpm, which is not as good as Nash, Leandro or Eddie House did on the same basis. In fact the only Sun that rebounded at a lower rate was Raja Bell at .085 rpm. Also Banks had the lowest rpm of any member of the TWolves. The league wide average for 109 PGs is .097 rpm. Maybe you'd better re-check your rebounding stats on him. (I'm getting my numbers from Doug's stats web site, the raw data file. Those stats agree with yours on the other players, btw.)

I have to agree with SacTown the 3 games/50 minutes is far too small of sample to conclude much of anything about Amare's rebounding, though it is a tiny positive sign.

 

[SunsTzu]

George O, "Banks (a very good rebounder from the PG position at 4.7 rpg with the Wolves.)"

Did Marcus Banks play part of the season with another team?

Yes, he Davis and Blount were sent in the deal where the Celtics aquired Szerbiack and Kandi.

 

[Errntknght]

Thanks SunsTzu, I wasn't sure. On NBA.com I found his stats for his time in Minnie... 40 games 1228 minutes and 116 rebounds. So that comes out to 2.9 reb/game and rpm = .094. Still way out of line with George's stats and still below average in rpm among PGs league wide.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

If we have to rely on Marcus Banks' rebounding, we're in trouble. This team will never be a great rebounding team. The Suns' style will always be more fast-break oriented than pounding the glass.

We just need to limit opposing teams' second chances. We can give up the occasional put back, just not 4 or 5 attempts. Last season's team is one of the only winning teams I can remember that got beaten that bad on the boards.

We'll see how Amare comes back, that will be the key to the season. I'm guessing he comes back a little slower. If he averages only 20 ppg, but can grab 10-11 rebounds per game I'll be happy.