LMA, boxing out, and the fundamentals

by The Graduate on Mar 1, 2008 2:02 PM PST

Is it just me, or do some of LMA's defensive rebounding issues result from the fact that he is too concerned with boxing out? While boxing out is important, and the first step, the most successful rebounders on any level are those who after making contact with their opposing man, go get the rebound- something that Joel does quite well. In watching recent games, I have been thoroughly impressed with LMA boxing out, but he doesn't seem to take the next step. Furthermore, this is partly why LMA excels at offensive rebounding. He is less concerned with his opposing man and more concerned with getting the ball in any way possible.

Anyway, for as much as we harp on LMA (other Blazers as well: Frye, Trout, Webster) for not boxing out and rebounding, I actually don't think that's really the issue. It seems that the Blazers, like all young teams, are still too caught up in the fundamentals.

Do you agree, disagree? What other parts of the Blazers on-court performance do you see as being the result of this team overstressing fundamentals?

P.S. Best win of the season last night! Let's keep them coming!

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Your right

One of the things about our team, is that they are so strict, so tightly gripped. I think that comes from Nate. It's not a bad thing, he's teaching our guys the game. Stuff that will payoff in 3-4 years and for a decade. But there are times where it hurts us. Our inexperience, our guys try so hard to follow the fundamentals they stall so often. It'll get better though.

Formerly known as Junit3123

by Jason3123 on Mar 1, 2008 2:12 PM PST reply actions

I never noticed

the issue with him being too concerned with boxing out. I will keep my eye on it in the future. I do however like how his post game has stared to blossom. I'm not sure if he will consistently use it, but a few times now he has started on he left block, spin right and do a sweeping finger roll on the right side of the rim. It's definitely a thing of beauty.

by Philthyanimal on Mar 1, 2008 3:46 PM PST reply actions

boxing out strategy

I thought that boxing out was sort of a team thing. You box out your man and maybe you get the rebound because you're in better position, or maybe one of your teamates gets it because your man was boxed out.

by blazernerd on Mar 1, 2008 6:55 PM PST reply actions

I disagree.

I've been watching this closely all year. I sit in the lower bowl for half the games and I watch all the other's with a dvr so I find out why things happen. I've already made a long post about it so I'll just say here that the problem is that they are NOT boxing out. What they are doing too much is looking for an opportunity to help defense, even when it's not needed and completely forgetting about boxing out.

A recent example came this past week and I cann't remember the team. But Lamarcus was on the 'weak' side baseline with offensive guy on the weak side baseline. The ball came to the strong side basket within several feet but there was already help defense there. Even though LA was not involved in the defense of the play he completely lost track of what he was doing and simply drifted underneath the basket. The opposing player came up to his back and easily pushed him another foot forward, from underneath the basket to slightly away from the basket. Opposing player got the rebound and dunked it.

There is simply not enough coaching with respect to rebounds going on with the blazers and this remains my only criticism of Nate.

by mrwonderfull on Mar 2, 2008 3:47 AM PST reply actions

I have noticed

I big increase in both Outlaw, websters, and Lma's attention to trying to box out, the guards, and small forwards are doing a good job help reboundings, ie: boxing out a big when our big went to help defend.

Hopefully they can continue this, as it has help us in the last few games.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 2, 2008 9:28 AM PST reply actions