RE: Rebounding / Time of Possession

["R. Singh" <keltsfan@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The average number of shots for your typical NBA team is probably right
around 75-80 the last couple years.  So yes Josh, a team should get more
than 64 shots in a game. And if the Celtics had done a better job on the
defensive glass they would have easily reached the league average and
perhaps won the game. 

I don't believe Kestas was arguing that the Celtics offense is better
this year than any other year under O'Brien.  He was just stating the
obvious - that poor defensive rebounding in the game in question led to
a low number of shots which ultimately meant, a low point total.  

Now that is not to say that there aren't other problems with the
offense. There are many.  But Kestas' point about the shot total
wouldn't even be offered for debate amongst a group of 30 NBA coaches.
They would all agree.  

The best and most opportune way to fast break is off a missed shot.
There are a lot more missed shots than turnovers in a typical NBA game.
The way to make players miss is to play good defense and it follows that
the way to get the ball after a miss is to rebound it.  Then you run. 

Ravi

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Josh Ozersky
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 10:35 AM
To: celtics list
Subject: Rebounding / Time of Possession


I just don't buy it, Kestas.  I don't care how you many offensive
rebounds you give up.  You should have more than 64 shots in a game.
The Celtics' offense blows just as much as it did in the Antoine era.

"There's never been a good fast-break team in the history of basketball
at any level that wasn't a good defensive team and a good rebounding
team. Right now, we are a good defensive team up until the time we
challenge their first shot. After that, we have not gotten the job
done.''  -- Jim O'Brien

There have been hundreds of good fast break teams that couldn't rebound
or play good defense:  Doug Moe's Nuggets teams, Loyola Marymount, the
Don Nelson Golden State Warriors, on and on.  No team should ever score
71 points in a game.  You can run off turnovers, you can run off the
25-30 defensive rebounds we had, you can at least get into the offense
early by pushing the ball off made baskets.  The Celtics by every right
should have won that game.