So JJ Hickson rebounds at an elite rate at 20.7%, but as a rookie he had an anemic 13.9% TRB compared to Robinson's 17.1 Let's look at the players you mentioned. Omer Asik - 18.1 JJ Hickson - 13.9 Reggie Evans - 19.2 DeMarcus Cousins - 17.2 So he has some work to do. Evans actually saw his % drop to 18.8 as a sophomore. Does Robinson rebound at the same level as these other guys? Not yet, but I think he could.
Way, way, back, like when Emininem was in his 20s, I observed this simple rule of thumb: The NBA's top 2 or 4 rebounders (only statistically the top, since they are often substitutes) get 1 rebound every 3 minutes. So the guys at the top of the "rebounds per minute" list, to average 10 rpg, will play 30 mpg. So it's impossible for a sub to average 10 rpg for a season.
This preseason Thomas Robinson has had 40 rebounds in 98 minutes or 0.408 rebounds/minutes My previous guess is that he gets 25 minutes/game. Multiplying these two yields 10.2 rebounds/game. I suppose you can make the argument that he's on some sort of temporary "rebounding tear", but it's an argument one would have to make. I don't think he'll get this high, but it's not completely outside the realm of possibility, though I cannot think of anyone ever averaging 10 rpg off the bench.
I said 2-4 players per year get 1 rebound every 3 minutes, but it's 7-10 players per year. In the last 10 years, 98 (9.8 per year) have done it if you set this to minimum 200 minutes. 68 (6.8 per year) have done it if you set this to minimum 1000 minutes. http://bkref.com/tiny/0rFU8 As for Robinson, this is only preseason, and as the season wears on, coaches will demand that he diversify his energies into a more rounded game.
Ah, now I get 2.5 players per year if I set it to starter's minutes, 2200. http://bkref.com/tiny/5JvYO Here's what's relevant to your hope for Robinson. No one has averaged 10 rpg without averaging starter's minutes (more than half of 48 minutes). http://bkref.com/tiny/JZday
The fact is they had to give up something or two to get Howard. They basically did what the Lakers did in 96 when they signed Shaq. The Lakers traded, released players to free up the cap space to sign Shaq. I think this will pay for Houston. But the fact is, I love Thomas Robinson. I think he was nice pick up by this General Manager and I do think he pay dividends for Portland. And its not all about scoring. I am thrilled with how he is effecting the game.
Guys, I think Thomas Robinson was a great pick up. A real steal. But, a little more perspective: Yes, he is averaging 8 RPG, but it's preseason, and a very small sample size of 5 games. He also plays the same position as our best player, who consistently averages between 36 and 39 MPG. Aldridge has missed 2 of the 5 games. That's the equivalent to missing 32 regular season games. And, in the three games Aldridge has played, he's only averaging 18.7 MPG. Does anyone think Aldridge will only average 18.7 MPG during the regular season? And all this yields 8 RPG for Robinson. Does anyone really think that playing behind Aldridge he's going to see enough PT to average anywhere near 10, or even 8 RPG? BNM
If the goal is 8 rpg, then he has a chance. 0.7 players per year do it with under 24 mpg, but he can't be very far below 24. The majority were Blazers. http://bkref.com/tiny/RLeOA
Dwight Howard is past his prime, regardless of his age. Houston will never win a 'ship with him. Harden will always be their best player, and we got Robinson for nothing. I don't care about Houston fans.
It was never a question of keeping Walton over Malone - it was between keeping Lucas over Malone. Weinberger's wife loved Lucas...but it would have been nice to have had Malone only one year later as Walton went down when we were something like 58-10.
