For years, the Rockets have had no trouble getting the boards and were always among the leaders in team rebounds per game. That, of course, was because of Charles Barkley's presence and Hakeem's as well. I have reason to believe that this year rebounding will be a problem. Who excatly is going to clean the boards this year? Francis can't always do that! he's the team's pg for God's sake! Los isnt a consistent rebounder. Mo's MAJOR problem is rebounding. Cato's the only one i can think of and he's STILL not good enough. In my point of view, if Hakeem doesn't step it up on the boards this year then i think the Rockets will get outrebounded every night. what do you all think? ------------------ How Sweet it is! [This message has been edited by CompaqC (edited October 19, 2000).]
i agree and i'm sure it'll be a problem that is already on rudy's agenda to fix.... shandon is doin pretty good and so is cato at the boards... but i agree that we do need to improve ont he boards ------------------ "Wahooo"-homer
When we won our championships we were one of the worse rebounding teams in the league. I worry more about our turnovers. We can't win if we have 20+ turnovers to their 8 or 9. ------------------
But atleast we had Hakeem and OT averaging 10+ Rebounds per game in our championship year ------------------ How Sweet it is!
I remember those rebounding discussions from last season. I ran some numbers and had found that the Rockets became a better rebounding team after Barkley blew out his knee. We didn't have anybody getting a lot of rebounds, but everyone did a decent job, especially Anderson and Francis(for their positions). However, I think it may be as important who gets the rebounds as it is that we get a lot of them. There was one game last season when Francis got 19 boards and we lost. I remember some people blamed it on Francis for crashing the boards all the time and not getting back on D or running for the break. If guards are neglecting other duties to pick up rebounds, we're going to suffer as a team, even if our rebounding percentage looks good as a result. It's not something I have enough information on to call, but it seems to me it's probably better to get fewer rebounds and all concentrated in the C and PF positions than more rebounds when it takes the whole team to do it. ------------------ Rockets Draft Obligations Summary http://www.gaffordstudios.cjb.net/
According to his profile on NBA.com, Francis' career high in rebounds is 17 vs. Golden State. Did he tip a couple out to teammates or something. ------------------ Don't come in Bullard's house!
I think we have a good REB team. But I think we will still improve this year. Even if Mo.T. doesnt average 10+ as long as he can keep other PF off the boards, i'll be happy. ------------------ I'ma need more than 6 and a half rebounds a game from the PF
Yo,Maan!MO will light up on that issue, because his future with the Rockets is at stake.As far as for Cato and Rogers, this guys will improve as the season prolong. So seat back and enjoy the game! ------------------ Rudy T. will find and fulfill Rockets destiny.
You're right, it was 17 not 19 (plus he had 14 assists and 25 points for his first triple double), but that really wasn't the point. ------------------ Rockets Draft Obligations Summary http://www.gaffordstudios.cjb.net/
The other problem is in the playoffs. A good example was Indiana. When you have guards that are good rebounders, all of a sudden, the big men are not going to start letting them in to get those boards, and it often allows 2nd chance points. I think having your big men be solid rebounders is important. Part of our board problem was likely we were playing a bigger team, and we were missing our key PF (MoTay) and a very good rebounding SG (Shandon) and replacing him with a smaller SG (Cat). Did anyone else notice how a lot of rebounds just sort of hit Ewing in the head, giving him a much higher total than he probably should've had? If there was one stat that was not good in the Seattle game, it was boards. The turnovers were fabulous (13 compared to Seattle's 23, 11 of which were steals). The assist total was also very high. ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated.
I agree with OT. Last year, with Barkley and Hakeem on the shelf most of the year, the Rockets were 6th, I believe, in the West in rebounding percentage. They've got great rebounding guards. I've gone into great detail in the past discussing rebounding and the Rockets. Poor shooting and foul trouble increase total rebounding numbers (see Golden State). Turnovers and defense are, BY FAR, the biggest problems this team had last year, and look to struggle with again this year (at least early). The Rocket were among the worst, and I believe THE worst in the West, in the turnover category. Forgive all the "I believe"'s, but I already ran the numbers in a previous thread and I'm not motivated right now. ------------------ "Not just a layup, but a mundane layup." -- Calvin Murphy, not realizing that a mundane layup IS just a layup.
OT is right about our championship years. And to add to that, look at the rebounding leader over the last couple of years. It's Golden State! A lot of good all those rebounds did for them. Maybe an overrated stat? Depends on what you do with the ball after you get the rebound. ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
