I took another look at the boxscore from last night and was shocked at what I saw. Our starting small forward got 0 rebounds last night. Our starting power forward got only 3 rebounds. Our starting center, who was a rebounding beast during the last few games of the regular season, got a grand total of 5 rebounds. Our best player, Brandon Roy, got only 2 rebounds. That's where we lost the game right there--on the boards. All those rebounds that Houston gobbled up led to second-chance baskets for them, or denied us the opportunity to get second-chance baskets for ourselves. If Aldridge, Pryz, Oden, Batum, Roy, et. al. can rebound better in the next game, I think the outcome might be very different.
Rebounding, especially defensive rebounding, is a byproduct of defense. When you let a team shoot over 60% for much of the game, you are likely to get out-rebounded big time. Our defense was pathetic last night. Blake on Brooks, Joel on Yao was just a big
True, but that doesn't explain Aldridge getting only 3 rebounds. Houston did miss some shots, but he wasn't hungry enough to go after them. Our entire starting frontline was pretty pathetic last night.
The Rockets shot 59% = less defensive rebounds while the Blazers shot 41% = more defensive rebounds. BUT THE BLAZERS TOOK 19 more SHOTS THAN THE ROCKETS AND STILL LOST BY 27. You can't blame the officials. The Rockets beat the Blazers last night, lets see if thee Blazers set the tone early for game two.
that and we were going for blocks when their guards when penetrate and that left Yao on the weak side all by himself for the easy board and put back.
There is such a thing as offensive rebounds, you know. Why didn't we get more of those? It's all about desire, and the Blazers didn't seem to have much of it last night.
We did. 15 to 8 was the O-board advantage for Portland. After midway through the third, yeah. But we were out-executed and out-muscled for much of the game prior to that point. And that had more to do with the way the Rockets matched up with us, rather than us not having the desire to play hard.
If we're not gonna run, and they're not gonna run, then we need to crash the damn rebounds on offense and defense. Neither Aldridge or Channing should be allowed to play more than 10' from the rim, it's doing exactly what that bafoon scola wants.
Look at it this way.. like already mentioned... when We dont make them miss on D.. there arent many rebounds.. When our Bigs are taking Jumpers.. and missing, they arent in position for many offensive rebounds.. and somehow we still got some of those. Too many Jump Shots and Lack of D was the most telling story last night.
The rebounding problem is the long jumpers and also the fact that the second unit plus Blake and sometimes Brandon do this really neat thing where while Greg is getting boxed out by two people and still manages to tip a rebound out they just stand there and let their Houston guy get it.
