Who Needs Rebounding?

Who in basketball says you need to rebound the ball in order to win? Well, traditionally, everyone.  In most cases, you have to be at least competitive on the boards to hang around in any game. However, that wasn't the case last night as The Timberwolves dominated the The Heat in Miami on the glass 53 to 24, but still managed to lose the game. This is a trend that became apparent when the Miami Heat were able to win an NBA title last year without any real size. It is continuing this season as The New York Knicks have the second best record in the league (18-6) and are 27th in rebounding differential (-3.8). While you have the Lakers second in the league in rebounding differential (+5); and their struggles this season have been well documented. How is it that teams that get beaten up on the boards are still able to have as much success as they are? For one, offensive efficiency. The Knicks and The Heat rank second and third in the NBA in that category-- which makes up for their lack of rebounding. And they must continue to play quality offense if they are going to continue to have success. The Heat are averaging a league low with 7.8 offensive rebounds a game but are able to make up for their lack of second chance buckets by creating easy scoring opportunities by  forcing turnovers. The Knicks compensate by simply not turning the ball over, averaging a mere 10.5 turnovers a game (Philadelphia is a distant second with 12). Though the Knicks lose the battle of the boards most games, it's not hurting them as they have enough scoring opportunities because of how well they take care of the ball.

The question is:  can a team that is one of the worst at rebounding in the league consistently win? Despite what the beloved Charles Barkley believes, I say they can. The NBA is a point guard dominated league so statistics that primarily relate to point guards (assists, turnovers, steals) will have more baring on the outcome of games. The power forward is no longer the hardest position to play against, so stats that they have the most impact on mean slightly less, like rebounding. Something Charles Barkley aka "The Round Mound of Rebound" will never admit. The immense young talent the league has at point guard, and lack of true big men will only continue to lessen the importance of rebounding. It is an accepted truth that basketball games are won and lost in the paint. Well, if the league continues to evolve this way, the new truth will be that the game is won and lost in the open court.