Rebounding for the Portland Trail Blazers has been key to their success
By Ty Delbridge
Defensive rebounding
Since the break, the Blazers are grabbing 37.1 defensive rebounds per game, third in the NBA. They also have only been allowing the other team to get 7.3 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks first in the NBA.
The Blazers are limiting other teams’ possessions and not letting them get second chance opportunities. Since the break, the Blazers rank second in opponents second chance points scored at 9.6 points per game.
Portland tends to always have either Nurkic, Davis, Zach Collins or Aminu on the floor. Those four guys are all strong rebounders who are going to fight for boards. Guys like Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Aminu, Evan Turner and Maurice Harkless can grab the board and take the ball coast to coast to make a play.
The Blazers have a high-powered offense. Being active on the defensive glass is important because it gives them more chances to score either by running in transition or setting up in the half-court and getting the ball to one of their primary guys.
Portland has seven guys on its roster who are averaging at least two defensive rebounds per game, including Lillard and McCollum, who both average at least three defensive boards a game. Portland has its big guys crashing the glass, but the guards are too.