Rebounding Could Be An Issue For The Boston Celtics
By Justin Rowan
The Boston Celtics have all the tools to make a run deep into the playoffs. But their Achilles heel may be on the boards.
The signing of Al Horford was an incredibly smart move for Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics. The Celtics were fourth in defensive efficiency last season. They did this despite largely relying on solid, yet unspectacular team defenders at center like Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Zeller, or flat out defensive liabilities like Jared Sullinger.
The addition of Horford gives them a defensive anchor as well as an offensive hub. It also gives them a bonafide top five center to highlight a deep and talented supporting cast.
One of the biggest problems with last year’s Celtics team was sub-par rebounding. The team finished in a three-way tie for 18th last season in rebounding. When you look at the rebound rates of their big men, it’s not difficult to figure out why.
Kelly Olynyk ranked 137th in the NBA last season in rebound rate (the percentage of available rebounds that a player collects). Amir Johnson ranked 63rd, Tyler Zeller 80th. The lone strong rebounder on the team was Jared Sullinger, who finished 20th in rebound rate.
While the upgrade of Sullinger to Horford is dramatic, the tax of that swap will occur on the boards. Horford is a poor rebounder, ranking 101st in rebound rate. The Atlanta Hawks finished 28th in the NBA in rebound rate last season, even though Horford was paired with a better rebounder in Paul Millsap (57th in rebound rate) than anybody on the Celtics roster.
Live Feed
Hardwood Houdini
The inability to secure rebounds and surrender second chance opportunities can cripple teams in the postseason. When you look at potential playoff teams in the Eastern Conference, the concern on the boards becomes even more real for the Celtics.
The Cleveland Cavaliers ranked third in rebound rate last season, the Detroit Pistons second and the Toronto Raptors seventh. The Raptors will likely finish even higher with Jared Sullinger replacing Luis Scola in the starting rotation.
Brad Stevens does a tremendous job getting the most out of his roster. This is a deep and talented team with quality players at every position. In all likelihood, the rebounding deficiencies will not slow the Celtics down too much in the regular season and they will finish top four in defensive efficiency.
A lot of the conversation surrounding the Celtics this summer hasn’t been about the roster that’s in place, but rather, the kind of additions they can make with the assets they’ve accumulated.
As currently constructed, this team will experience plenty of regular season success. However, most recognize they are a piece away from truly contending. There’s no doubt that Danny Ainge will be aggressive in seeking improvements to this team throughout the year. While looking to improve, it would be wise for the team to try and bring in some help on the glass.
Next: Boston Celtics: 2016-17 Season Outlook
Six of the eight teams that made the conference semifinals last year finished top eight in rebounding percentage. When the game slows down and the value of each possession increases, you can’t surrender second chances. The Celtics need to be cognizant of the strengths of their opposition and make moves to mitigate the damage on the boards. If not, they could fall short of their goals this season.