Miami Heat May Have a Problem if Rebounding Wins NBA Titles
In my opinion, defense and rebounding are the two most important variables in the NBA championship theory. If that's the case, at least the Miami Heat have one half of the equation.
Miami's defense has arguably been the best in the NBA, as it has held opponents to a paltry sum of 86 points per game.
But on the flip side, the Heat have only averaged 41.7 rebounds per game in their opening season six-game stretch, which ranks 19th in the NBA.
Most observers felt that the lack of a superior inside presence would be an issue for the Heat, and at this point in the season it could be argued that not even Chris Bosh is living up to his end of the bargain.
It was understood that Bosh's numbers would decline on a roster that included Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, so under that scenario Bosh's 13.3 points per game average is understandable; but it's harder to explain his 5.5 rebounds per game.
In last night's 96-93 loss to the New Orleans Hornets, Bosh bottomed out at one single rebound in a game that saw the Heat grab 36 rebounds total.
Bosh averaged 10.8 rebounds last season as a member of the Toronto Raptors, and if anything, it was generally assumed that he would be capable of matching that number in Miami, where he would be the strength of the team's interior.
Instead, Bosh finds himself third on the team in rebounding behind Udonis Haslem's 8.3 rebounds per game and Wade's 5.8. The Heat's lack of strength in the interior is manifesting itself a little earlier than expected.
One explanation for Bosh's play inside could be his 44 percent shooting average from the field, which may suggest that he's not spending too much time down low at all.
Bosh carries a career shooting percentage of 50 percent, and although his ability to operate from the perimeter was viewed as one of the strength's of Miami's team, at this point it looks more like a weakness.
Of course, it's still very early in the season and six games does not equal the end of the world for Miami, but you have to wonder if this is an issue that will plague them throughout the course of the year.
Miami plays good enough defense that the talents of James and Wade might compensate for their lack of strength on the boards, and the Boston Celtics, last season's conference finalists, are even worse than the Heat in terms of rebounds.
Boston is 23rd in the league in rebounding, but the Celtics were poor last season in that category and have shown that good team defense and chemistry can supersede the need for superior rebounding.
At least until it mattered the most.
In last season's NBA Finals, the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers were virtually even in most categories, but the one advantage the Lakers held was a rebounding edge. In Game 7, their dominance on the boards could have been the main difference in the series.
I think Miami is talented enough to overcome this issue, but its two losses against New Orleans and Boston have illustrated the main concerns most observers had pointed out in the off-season.
Both the Hornets and the Celtics have superior point guards in Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo respectively, and both teams won the battle of the interior against the Heat.
Miami point guard Carlos Arroyo has actually exceeded expectations with his play, and the ability of either Wade or James to serve in that capacity lessens any back court issues.
But barring a trade, the Heat will be left to work out their rebounding problems on their own.
As Miami establishes chemistry and grows more comfortable playing together they will continue to excel despite their rebounding issues. But unless they correct the problem they may resurface at the worst possible moment.
