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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
You can't take it inside without making some outside shots. That's what the Jazz were doing all night, packing the paint.
The problem will be less pronounced as LaMarcus and Jamal get more comfortable and shoot a higher percentage. We could definitely use Przy though.
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.
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.
I guess I don't understand how LMA and Crawford shooting better will help keep the other team off of the offensive boards?
Defensive rebounding will be improved by LA and Crawford shooting a higher percentage? Alriiiiiggghhtty then.
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.
