Rebounding

LMA — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:53:53 -0000

Long time Bedger, first time lead poster. Just curious about what other fans think about the Blazers frontcourt stocks. Alot has been said about filling a need at 1 and 3, but as it is I think we are ridiculously deep in the backcourt and small forward positions.

Which brings me to thinking about our centers and power forwards. I remember not too long ago the Blazers were considered a strong rebounding team, but over the last couple of seasons this strength has become a major weakness.

I know Oden will be a monster on the boards, but the guy is coming off major microfracture surgery, which many experts estimate takes a good 18 months to fully recover from, so his explosiveness will probably return mid-season or next season. Joel is a great rebounder but he will see less minutes playing backup to GO, and both players will never be on the court at the same time. LaMarcus and Channing are hardly what you'd consider bangers in the post, both guys are finesse PFs with great length and range. Diogu is an unknown. And finally Outlaw, for all his athleticism, is by no stretch a bread and butter rebounder.

Rebounding for mind is an innate skill, you either have it or you don't. Players can improve on it with work on their technique and attitude, but not improve by very much. As such I don't see LMA or Channing improving in this area a great deal, so I was hoping that the Blazers would have kept Joey Dorsey, or pick up another PF through trade or FA.

I'd like a low post presence with a bit of attitude and menace. It seems like we have a team of nice guys, and with Jarret Jack being our default "enforcer" last season, you'd have to think we have a glaring need for a bruising intimidating big guy. No players not named Shaq have ever fit that description in their rookie year, but I think GO will become that type of player... just not anytime soon. To help his development, he needs help down low now.

Which frontcourt bangers can you see the Blazers picking up? Should we be looking for a role player or an All-Star Elton Brand type player?

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Rebounding