Nets worried about rebounds plaguing them again

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 21 Oktober 2014 | 20.49

Sure, the Nets were missing Brook Lopez and Kevin Garnett during Sunday's preseason loss to the Celtics. But the fact Mason Plumlee and Mirza Teletovic started in their places shouldn't have turned Jared Sullinger into Moses Malone.

Yet that's exactly what happened, as Sullinger went off for 21 points and 19 rebounds in just 28 minutes.

"We gave up 20 offensive rebounds, 20 second-chance points," Nets coach Lionel Hollins said. "So it was not a pretty picture out there from that perspective.

As a team, the Nets were outrebounded 50-42 — including a 20-7 edge on the offensive glass. And while the Nets were impressive defensively, forcing Boston to shoot 37.8 percent from the field and 31 percent from 3-point range, that isn't going to do them much good if they can't manage to secure defensive rebounds.

"Well, you've got to be tougher," Hollins said. "That's all. You've got to hit first.

"You know, you get pushed under the basket if you stand there and watch."

The Nets were better on the boards during Monday's 99-88 win over the 76ers at Barclays Center, as Plumlee finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds. But one strong performance against what will almost certainly be the NBA's worst team won't change the fact rebounding will be a key issue for the Nets this season.

Such issues go back to last season, when the Nets finished next to last in the league in rebounds per game.

Part of the problem was due to their small-ball lineup with Paul Pierce at power forward and Garnett at center once Lopez was lost for the season with a foot injury. The Nets employed an aggressive defense to attack opposing offenses and force turnovers. It was a similar strategy to that used by the Heat — who, not surprisingly, finished dead last in rebounding a year ago.

But with Hollins coming to Brooklyn to replace Jason Kidd and Lopez returning from injury, the Nets scrapped the small lineup and instead are planning to go into the regular season with a traditional lineup featuring Garnett at power forward and Lopez at center.

Whether this team can improve on its rebounding will play a big role in how successful Hollins is in turning the Nets into a factor in the Eastern Conference.

While they finished 12th in defensive efficiency after Jan. 1 last season, the turnovers they created and pressure they put on opponents with that group will be lessened because of the switch to the bigger lineup.

If Hollins can get the Nets back in the top half of the league in defense again this season, they'll likely cruise to a playoff berth and could potentially even win the Atlantic Division over the defending champion Raptors. But if they struggle on the boards, it'll be difficult for Hollins to take them where they need to be.


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