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ZonkertheBrainless wrote:huh, why are there two game threads?

OK, we need to stop mincing words and call this what it is: Jay Triano is in over his head, and if the Raptors don't do something about it, it will cost them their best player this summer. The 146 points Wednesday night by Atlanta was the latest ridiculous example of Toronto's defensive ineptitude, and while the roster composed by Bryan Colangelo is far from ideal in this respect, this should not be the worst defensive team in history. Right now it is.

Getting defensive effort from players is one of the basic measuring sticks for an NBA coach, and Triano has failed miserably in this respect. The carping in the locker room following Wednesday's defeat spoke volumes -- players were basically begging the coaching staff to go through the film and go over the mistakes so they could correct them. Which makes one wonder what on earth the Raps were doing for the first quarter of the season while opponents conducted layup drills at their expense.

There's an added urgency for the Raps because of Chris Bosh's impending free agency -- if the Raptors can't show substantial improvement, he's probably a goner after the season. And it appears there's no chance of Toronto's showing that kind of progress under Triano. It would be a desperation move to change conductors at the 20-game mark, but I'm not sure the Raptors' situation gives them much of a choice.

Hoopstarr wrote:So far in his career, the stats say he is right up there. These are just the cold, hard stats. I'm not going to get into any theories about "stolen rebounds" or "fake rebounds", or excuses like "Bargs isn't asked to rebound".

AB stat page: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... nan01.html

Per 36 min rates

In the modern 3pt era, the lowest career per 36 minute total rebounding rate for a center who averaged at least 30 mpg is 8.3, and 6.5 for a single season: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... i?id=JVqjX (you can switch between single and career season by pulling down the search form)

For DRB, it's 5.6 and 4.2, wrt career and single season rates: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... i?id=kMU4N

Bargnani's TRB per 36 min was at 6.1 last year and he's at 6.9 so far this year.
Bargnani's DRB per 36 min was at 5.1 last year and he's at 5.5 so far this year.


Rebounding percentage

In the 3pt era, the lowest career TRB% for a center who averaged at least 30mpg is 12.9%, and 10.3% for a single season: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... i?id=W6qbV

For DRB%, the lowest is 17.9%, and 12.8% for a single season: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... i?id=TsLCH

Bargnani's TRB% was 10% last year and 11.2% this year.
Bargnani's DRB% was 16.4% last year and 17.5% this year.

Now, combine these stats with the empirical evidence we see every game where AB fails to rotate, box out, and release from box outs, and we have one of the worst rebounding big man ever to play 30+ mpg and probably THE worst.

I believe the idea of a big man not being able to improve his rebounding is a myth. For example, just check out our former big man Marcus Camby. However, at 24 and in his 4th season, AB still fails to perform basic big man duties and it's hard to believe that will improve, whereas other big men who struggled with rebounding early in their career improved drastically by their 4th season--KG, Camby, Dirk, Nene, even Aldridge.

And while his defensive rebounding in particular has improved to a non-puke-inducing level, his poor off the ball D and awful offensive rebounding (which I didn't even get into; it's even worse than the other numbers. he's going to obliterate records in this category) nullify that improvement.

Gilbert0Arenas wrote:To everyone complaining about my lack of innovation on the game theads:

I didn't see you go on a winning streak