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Rebounding blues

Sporting News, The, March 22, 1999 by Mark Montieth

It's the Pacers' Achilles' heel. It is what kept them from advancing to the NBA Finals last season and probably will be a major obstacle to attaining their postseason goal in 1999.

It is rebounding, or lack thereof.

"That's the one thing I believe that could hold us back from winning it all," coach Larry Bird says. "That's the major issue."

Last season, the Pacers ranked 27th in total rebounds and were last in offensive rebounds. Accurate field-goal shooting (46 percent from the field, which ranked fourth in the league) partially explained the scarcity, but not enough to satisfy Bird.

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The importance of the issue was dramatically driven home in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals last May. Chicago won that game, 88-83, mostly because it outrebounded the Pacers 22-4 on the offensive glass and outscored them 24-3 on second-chance points.

Bird's goal for this season is to average 13 offensive rebounds per game, up from last season's average of 10.7. He wants to limit opponents in the same category to 10, down from 13.2 in 1997-98. Bird also wants to average 42 total rebounds, up from 39.3 last season.

Unfortunately, the Pacers aren't meeting those quotas. After 19 games, they were averaging 40.1 rebounds--11.5 on the offensive end--and allowing opponents 12.9. But Bird sees signs of improvement.

"I like what I see, and I see it coming," he says. "The more games we play, I think we'll get better."

So far, the 14 victories entering this week have brought doubt to the significance of rebounding. In fact, the Pacers were outrebounded in nine of those wins. Occasionally, however, the importance is driven home. In a 103-100 overtime loss to Orlando three weeks ago, the Pacers were outrebounded by 20. Dale Davis led the team with 11 boards, but no one else was in double figures. A few more rebounds would have brought victory.

"We have to get tough," guard Jalen Rose says. "We have to stick our nose in there and want the ball. It's not brain surgery and there's no theory, we just have to want the ball."

Rebounding blues

Sporting News, The, March 22, 1999 by Mark Montieth

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