A key quantity stands out from Group USA’s two second-round video games at the 2023 FIBA World Cup: One. That is what number of rebounds beginning middle Jaren Jackson Jr. — reigning NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months — has pulled down within the win over Montenegro and loss to Lithuania mixed. One.
After cruising by means of the group stage with a median margin of victory of 36.3 factors, the Individuals have run into some hassle within the second spherical. They escaped in opposition to Montenegro, however weren’t able to pull off a comeback against Lithuania after trailing by as much as 21 points in the first half. The widespread denominator in each video games was the Individuals getting bullied on the glass, on the defensive finish specifically. Whereas that definitely does not fall all on Jackson, his ineffectivness because the workforce’s beginning five-man stands out.
This is a have a look at the numbers:
Vs. Montenegro
| Groups | Off. Rebounds | Rebounds | Second-chance factors |
|---|---|---|---|
|
USA |
8 |
31 |
8 |
|
Montenegro Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
|
23 |
49 |
22 |
Vs. Lithuania
| Groups | Off. Rebounds | Rebounds | Second-chance factors |
|---|---|---|---|
|
USA |
9 |
27 |
2 |
|
Lithuania |
18 Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
|
43 |
17 |
“The priority is turnovers and rebounds,” head coach Steve Kerr stated on Friday. “If we keep even on the possession sport, I really feel nice about our possibilities in opposition to anyone. The way in which groups can beat us is that if they get further possessions and power lots of turnovers and we’re not sharp and we’re not boxing out. And I’ve informed our guys that. … It is not likely a secret.”
Whereas repeatedly getting crushed on the glass definitely wasn’t by design, it’s to an extent a results of Group USA’s roster constructing. Jackson is finest suited as an influence ahead, and the one different true bigs on the workforce are Bobby Portis, one other energy ahead, and Walker Kessler, the second-youngest participant on the workforce. Within the present beginning lineup, Jackson is the one participant taller than 6-foot-6. Because of this, they’re usually at a extreme dimension drawback, particularly in opposition to a few of the European groups that use extra conventional frontcourts.
Take this play from the opening minutes of the Montenegro sport, when Nikola Vucevic grabbed two offensive rebounds. On each events, Jackson has been pulled away from the rim, which leaves the likes of Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards to try to cope with Vucevic underneath the rim. The ultimate result’s no shock.
There have additionally been cases of the Individuals merely getting outworked, nevertheless, reminiscent of the ultimate play of the third quarter in opposition to Lithuania. All 5 Individuals have been within the paint, but Mindaugas Kuzminskas got here up with the unfastened ball after plenty of ideas and scored a vital basket on the buzzer.
Group USA’s small-ball strategy offers them a big benefit in lots of areas, however with a purpose to win this event they will should rebound. That begins with Jackson. Though he is not recognized for his rebounding, he has to assist set the tone in that division because the beginning middle. However when he isn’t across the rim, both as a result of he is guarding somebody on the perimeter or has challenged a shot, the remainder of the workforce wants to assist decide up the slack. Performs just like the Kuzminskas one can not occur.
It is also honest to surprise if it is time to give Portis or Kessler some extra prolonged minutes. Based mostly on the 2022-23 NBA season, they’re statistically the workforce’s finest rebounders, but they rank tenth and twelfth on the workforce in minutes, respectively. That is comprehensible contemplating how Steve Kerr needs to play, but when Group USA continues to have hassle rebounding the ball, then a personnel change could also be vital. Portis, specifically, has been in tons of huge video games, can area the ground, and is at all times going to provide all-out effort.
The Individuals’ first probability to make some enhancements on the boards will come on Tuesday once they tackle Italy within the quarterfinals. Whereas the Italians have scraped by at occasions on this event, they enter because the second-best rebounding workforce remaining, and have averaged 11.4 offensive rebounds per sport.
Group USA goes to have a expertise benefit in opposition to each remaining workforce, however as we have discovered again and again by means of the years in worldwide tournaments, that solely means a lot. In shorter video games on smaller courts, in opposition to extra skilled and battle-tested opponents, it’s important to do the little issues to win. And maybe no little factor is greater than rebounding.
