We've (aka I) have been engaged in a hearty debate comparing Robin Lopez to Marcin Gortat in the rebounding department. Using both numbers and anecdotal evidence from watching the games and various replays, it's pretty clear that Lopez does a better job boxing out his man and preventing him from getting the offensive rebound while Gortat does a better job aggressively going after the boards himself.
↵It's kind of a risk / reward thing like Nash making high-risk passes leading to more assists but also more turnovers. If a guy (Marcin) is going after the ball every time, there will be occasions where he gives up the offensive board. If he (Robin) boxes out almost exclusively he's not going to get many rebounds but the overall team rebounding could be improved.
↵Before the Suns-Bobcats game I asked Alvin Gentry to weigh in on this great debate. What is he looking for from his centers?
↵"I would rather for a guy to not box out his guy and get 12 or 14 rebounds. I don't know if you can hold him (Gortat) responsible -- he's had 11, 14 and 13 rebounds. Whatever he's doing, I would like for Robin to do that too. Or anybody else. Any of our big guys who want to not box out their guys and get 13, 14 and 11 rebounds, I'll live with that."
↵So, there you go. Less filling. Tastes great. Who cares as long as the rebounding numbers are there.
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