Solving Defensive Rebounding

[raptorforlife88]

This is, by about a million miles the Suns biggest problem. And it's not an anomaly after 9 games.

The Suns are currently one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in history. I went back about 20 years and the only other team that I can find that was as bad were the 97/98 Toronto Raptors who went 16-66.

They're grabbing only .648% of their defensive rebounds, and that was before letting Gasol tear them apart tonight. It's a huge issue.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/lea ... _2011.html

So what are some solutions? There are two solutions that don't require dealing anyone.

One is trying out Gani Lawal who was a very good college rebounder and see if he can help. I really don't think Siler is a potential solution at all, he's not a very good rebounder.

Signing Dampier is a possibility the Suns need to look into, particularly if their losing Lopez for any length of time. Whatever you think of Damp, he's been a solid rebounder his entire career.

One thing that would improve rebounding slightly is playing Childress a little more, he's always been an above average rebounder at his position.

Other than that, you have to start looking at possible deals to make. Who's available?

This Suns team is good, and can possibly be very good. They are still the leagues top offense, they have faced the toughest sched in the league so far and are over .500. Improve the rebounding and this team can finish well in the West.

[Nando88]

lol i'm not trying to be a dick, but why are u on the suns board?

[raptorforlife88]

lol i'm not trying to be a dick, but why are u on the suns board?

Honestly? Suns have always been a team I've liked. I've watched basketball since I was a kid and before the Raptors got a team, so I've always had an interest in other teams. Suns just happened to be a team I've latched onto (I liked Barkley, thank you Space Jam and now they have Nash), and if the Raptors are going to finish near last I'll cheer for them to get a draft pick and cheer for the Suns to win as many as possible.

I probably should have picked another handle, but I was just rushing it. So I have to answer this on every board. So I don't mind you asking.

[Christine-In-AZ]

So what are some solutions? There are two solutions that don't require dealing anyone.

One is trying out Gani Lawal who was a very good college rebounder and see if he can help. I really don't think Siler is a potential solution at all, he's not a very good rebounder.

Signing Dampier is a possibility the Suns need to look into, particularly if their losing Lopez for any length of time. Whatever you think of Damp, he's been a solid rebounder his entire career.

I hear ya, but the Suns have a 10 man rotation now. If those 10 are healthy, whos 12 or 14 minutes do you give to Lawal or Dampier? And how much difference can those 12 or 14 minutes make...and at what expense to other areas of the Suns overall game?

Just saying, I don't see adding a rebounder to this 10 man rotation is going to help that much and may end up be a net zero. A trade seems the only solution to me.

[Reverse_Angle]

Are you Dampier's agent for crying out loud???

[raptorforlife88]

I hear ya, but the Suns have a 10 man rotation now. If those 10 are healthy, whos 12 or 14 minutes do you give to Lawal or Dampier? And how much difference can those 12 or 14 minutes make...and at what expense to other areas of the Suns overall game?

Just saying, I don't see adding a rebounder to this 10 man rotation is going to help that much and may end up be a net zero. A trade seems the only solution to me.

I actually hadn't considered this. You're right that there is a problem of having too many players for the rotation. Lopez if he's out for any lengthy period of time does leave one spot open. The way he's played the best option might be to let him rest for a while anyways and get his back and knee back to 100%, because he's playing now, but he's not really helping.

[raptorforlife88]

Are you Dampier's agent for crying out loud???

He's just one of the more viable options for the Suns to pick up. Who else is out there? You could try to go for Jason Thompson through a trade, but as far as just signing a guy, he's probably one of the better options.

Look I've illustrated why defensive rebounding is a huge problem for the Suns, so you have to look at the potential options to solve it, even if you don't like the guy personally or whatever.

[Christine-In-AZ]

Are you Dampier's agent for crying out loud???

He's just one of the more viable options for the Suns to pick up. Who else is out there? You could try to go for Jason Thompson through a trade, but as far as just signing a guy, he's probably one of the better options.

I'm "voting" for someone like Earl Barron.

If the Suns bring in anybody, I hope it has some consideration for the future. There's little future with Erick Dampier and the Suns need to try and address the woeful rebounding, not just for the short term.

If they sign Dampier (due to an injury) ...alright, but I'd rather see them look at younger/quicker possibilities.

[raptorforlife88]

Actually he'd be a good option and probably better than Dampier. Is he just a free agent right now?

And this is if the Suns are really desperate at some point and only, and I'm just throwing it out there, but Reggie Evans is on an expiring contract. And he is leading the league in TRB%. He's a complete write-off offensively, but he'll grab boards like no tommorow.

Also somehow I failed to mention this before, but the Suns are actually 7th in offensive rebounding, so that's pretty impressive.

[Christine-In-AZ]

Actually he'd be a good option and probably better than Dampier. Is he just a free agent right now?

And this is if the Suns are really desperate at some point and only, and I'm just throwing it out there, but Reggie Evans is on an expiring contract. And he is leading the league in TRB%. He's a complete write-off offensively, but he'll grab boards like no tommorow.

Barron is out there somewhere. Not on an NBA roster, I know.

He's had some good rebounding games in the past with Miami and the Knicks just last year. Who knows, maybe something would click for him to be on a veteren laced team like the Suns. Stranger stories have happened in the history of the NBA.

[Christine-In-AZ]

Here's some Earl Barron for ya from last year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFholGdH-2k

[DRK]

Adding another player to our roster isn't the solution. Lets give Lawal a go first, as he is already a proven rebounder at the college level. Usually tenacity on rebounds translates to the NBA pretty well.

[ma_falaa_50]

unfortunately, the suns are not in a position to add anymore players that can be purely beneficial to the team. I think the team and gentry will have to be resourceful. I think the suns would have had a better record if the 3 point shots are falling. I think the rebounding is what it is. I think lawal deserves some time. I do not believe in this height thing because milsap is 6'8" and he rebounds and plays effective. I think we just need power from our 4 and 5s. As far as j-rich. We can extend him but I think the suns staff is better off by sticking to their original plan. J-rich is balling most definitely but they suns need to wait n see and fix the defensive rebounding.

[sunfire0112]

Idk if anyone is saying Lawal is too small. He's a banger and definitely deserves some PT. However, it looks like he'll follow the same developmental path a Clark: accumulating DNP's on the bench cause there are too many players ahead of him on the depth chart.

[Christine-In-AZ]

So they give Lawal who's minutes? Who sacrifices?

He'd have to play at least 12 to have even a small effect on the rebounding efficiency.

[lilfishi22]

With Lopez questionable, that should give Lawal some minutes. I'd love to see us run a 2nd unit of Dragic, Duds, Jchill, Lawal and Frye. Much like last season but Lawal replaces Lou.

[DRK]

Dampier is someone I do not want. A guy that can that skip training camp shows that he is lazy, and not worth our trouble. Give Lawal a shot instead of signing another washed up, lazy and old center.

[solidrake13]

Kevin Love is the answer

[DRK]

With Lopez questionable, that should give Lawal some minutes. I'd love to see us run a 2nd unit of Dragic, Duds, Jchill, Lawal and Frye. Much like last season but Lawal replaces Lou.

Sure. Would be great if Lopez isn't injured. But as of right this moment, I think Frye is our starting center, and the second unit will run a lineup of Dragic, Dudley, JChill, Warrick, Siler/Lawal

[JohnVancouver]

Joe Alexander has been cut - I still think this guy can play, he's a ridiculous athlete and has a tremendous work ethic

who do we cut/deactivate? If Lopez is hurt, put him on the DL and let him get better