2015 Hornets = elite defensive rebounding team?

Saints14 · Post #1 » by **Saints14** » Sat Jun 6, 2015 8:25 am

Hey Hornets fans,

So I was crunching some numbers from this site (http://www.nbaminer.com/four-factors/), looking at some advanced NBA statistics, and came across something rather odd:

Since 1997, the team with the best opponent offensive rebound rate (i.e. best defensive rebound rate - doesn't let their opponents get offensive board) is...this years Hornets. What's interesting is that the Hornets are also 2nd last this year in their own offensive rebound rate, which suggests that they were an elite defensive rebounding team and a poor offensive rebounding one.

I wanted to check on this board to see if it aligned with what you guys noticed this year and if you had any possible explanation...coaching philosophy that devalues offensive rebounds, perhaps. Was very confused by this.

Thanks

Post #2 » by **Diop** » Sat Jun 6, 2015 8:35 am

Saints14 wrote:coaching philosophy that devalues offensive rebounds, perhaps. Was very confused by this.

thats pretty much it. Coach Clifford wanted players to get back instead of going for the O board. I think MKG was the only one allowed to crash the boards.

He was very big on defensive boards for everyone.

He's a very defensive orientated coach.

SeanBobcats · Post #3 » by **SeanBobcats** » Sat Jun 6, 2015 11:36 am

It fits our players' style as well our coach's. Now if only we can come to our senses and get rid of Al to make us an elite defensive team to go with it.

BeesWax · Post #4 » by **BeesWax** » Sat Jun 6, 2015 12:52 pm

A lot leans on our players here. Our coach preaches defensive rebounding and only leaves the center low on most offensive possessions. Al is so slow he is not a good offensive rebounder. When Biz is in the game he grabs a solid number but our defensive coach devalues post defense and plays Al way to much.

Post #5 » by **yosemiteben** » Sat Jun 6, 2015 6:28 pm

Cliff cares more about transition defense than offensive boards. Eliminating transition points with our defense has been a fundamental tenet of his coaching philosophy that he preached as soon as he arrived in Charlotte.

LofJ · Post #6 » by **LofJ** » Sat Jun 6, 2015 7:39 pm

MKG is allowed to crash the offensive glass only because he is such a beast in transition. There have been a few times when he's seriously outran cross court outlet passes on the fast break. There are only a few other players in the league that are as fast as he is from baseline to baseline. That's the only reason our coach makes an exception for him when it comes to offensive rebounds.

As far as defensive rebounding though it's a natural result of so many of our guys being good to great rebounders and our coach preaching the importance of it. It's definitely the area we excel the most in as a team. That said I think we could be equally as good on the offensive glass if we weren't hamstrung by Al Jefferson. I think most of our young guys are athletic enough to recover and get back on defense, but Al definitely isn't.