Here's why the Portland Trail Blazers should dominate the boards
The Portland Trail Blazers lost LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez this summer, but that doesn't mean they won't crush the glass. General manager Neil Olshey replaced those two with a collection of capable rebounders, including Mason Plumlee and Noah Vonleh—huge dudes who can control the paint, if nothing else.
The Trail Blazers won't be as effective scoring the ball or stopping the other team from scoring on them, but they should at least hold their own on the boards. Here's SB Nation's Blazer's Edge with a closer look:
When Mason Plumlee, Noah Vonleh, Ed Davis and Al-Farouq Aminu joined holdovers Chris Kaman and Meyers Leonard to ostensibly form Portland's frontcourt rotation of the foreseeable future this past month, pundits knew the offensive production down low would likely take a dive. On the other hand, the rebounding acumen of the Blazers' bigs has been touted as a potential strength for the team. So what exactly can we expect to see from Portland's frontcourt on the glass this season? In terms of total rebounding percentage, according to NBA.com, Kaman actually led the team last year at 19 percent, followed by Thomas Robinson (18 percent) and Joel Freeland (16.7 percent). Leonard came in at No. 4 on the list, ahead of Aldridge, Victor Claver and Lopez. Batum brought up the rear of the frontcourt rotation."
The strengths found in rebuilding teams are often overlooked, and Portland is about as tall as anybody in the Western Conference. Throw in Aminu, a rebounding machine who could develop into a lethal small-ball power forward if his corner threes start falling, and the Trail Blazers may already have an identity.
(h/t: Blazer's Edge)
