Washington averaging fewest rebounds in NBA
Who made the comment wasn’t exactly clear. But Andray Blatche still heard the message.
After a season-high 15 rebounds against Cleveland last weekend, Blatche said he had been inspired by hearing that a New York Knicks coach said the Wizards had the NBA’s worst frontcourt.
“One of the coaches relayed a message to us, and myself and the bigs had a conversation,” Blatche said. “We decided that we gotta step it up because they actually right. We been getting outrebounded by every team so far.”
Even with Blatche’s best night of the year on the glass and another 10 boards from starting center JaVale McGee, the Wizards remain dead last in the NBA in rebounding, with just 35.2 per game. Only five teams average less than 40 rebounds per game.
Washington also is at the bottom of the NBA in defending close to the basket, allowing opposing teams to shoot 73.3 percent inside of five feet, according to HoopData.com.
“We gotta get a little more physical, play harder, play smart, just put our nose in there and take care of home,” reserve center Hilton Armstrong said. “I think collectively, we haven’t been doing as much as we are capable of in the paint so we definitely need to step that up.”
Rebounding is the most glaring problem but inconsistency also has reared its ugly head when Washington can least afford it.
McGee, who is fifth in the NBA in blocks (2.6 a game), found himself on the bench at the end of the Cavaliers game despite a remarkable plus-minus rating of plus-12. But that number had been plus-18 before he failed to box out on Anderson Varejao, which led to a wide-open 3-pointer. McGee then missed a pair of free throws and gave up an easy lay-up to Varejao on a pick and roll.
Armstrong admitted to being guilty of mental lapses defending the pick and roll as well, and seven-footer Yi Jianlian trails both John Wall (3.2 rpg) and Kirk Hinrich (2.8 rpg) with just 2.4 rebounds per contest.
Washington’s most consistent rebounder has been small forward Al Thornton, who has pulled down either six or seven boards each contest.
Wizards head coach Flip Saunders wasn’t surprised to learn that his big men were trying to rally themselves.
“I hope so,” Saunders said. “It would be pretty obvious when you’ve been in a situation and you’re getting your butt kicked on the glass.”
