The Brooklyn Nets could have higher prospects for winning a championship if it wasn’t for their poor rebounding, according to a recent article by Bleacher Report. In the post, B/R broke down one area of basketball that is holding back every playoff team from being at its best.
It’s been known for awhile now that the Nets struggle rebounding the basketball because of their lack of size in the frontcourt. Even when Brooklyn had two seven-footers on the floor at the same time (Kevin Durant and Nic Claxton), they still had a tough time competing on the glass.
Just to paint the picture, the Nets are 29th in the NBA in total rebounds per game (40.5) and allow their opponents to collect 45.1 rebounds per game (27th in the NBA). On average, the Nets are getting out-rebounded by their opponents. Their success is even more evident in their splits in terms of wins and losses.
In games that Brooklyn has won (45), the Nets average 42 rebounds per game while their opponent averages 43.5 rebounds per game (-1.5 rebound difference). However, in losses, the Nets collect only 38.7 rebounds per game while their opponent gets 47.1 rebounds per game (-8.4). Here’s what B/R had to say about Brooklyn’s rebounding:
“Before the trade deadline, the Brooklyn Nets were not a very big team. After it, they have become a long team.
The one constant, though, has been a lack of rebounding.
Brooklyn is 26th in rebound percentage and 24th in rebounds per game since the trade deadline. Their best rebounder for the season has been Nic Claxton, who is averaging a 9.2 rebounds. The drop-off after Claxton is significant, as the team’s next highest rebounders are Royce O’Neale at 5.5 and Day’Ron Sharp at 5.2 after the trade deadline.”
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