The Houston Rockets may pose a bigger problem for the Boston Celtics than most other teams in the league. With Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun anchoring the frontcourt, the glass could be a massive problem for Boston, as they have struggled mightily with defensive rebounds for long stretches of this season.
For the past two games, the Celtics have held that issue at bay. They’ve crashed the glass with perfect intentionality, holding off the New Orleans Pelicans, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Philadelphia 76ers for three straight wins. But Houston’s two-center lineups may be the biggest challenge yet, and it will undoubtedly be a huge test for the Celtics.
That said, if the Celtics respond well, it could speak volumes.
How will Celtics rebound vs. the Rockets?
The Rockets have six guys on their roster who grab at least five rebounds per game: Adams (10.8), Sengun (8.0), Kevin Durant (5.8), Amen Thompson (5.3), Tari Eason (5.3), and Jabari Smith Jr. (5.0).
The Celtics? They only have three: Neemias Queta (8.2), Josh Minott (7.0), and Jaylen Brown (5.2).
Through the Celtics’ first three games of the season, they did a terrible job on the defensive boards. They got destroyed by the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Duren, giving him crucial offensive rebounds at key points of the contests.
If they don’t play their cards right, that’s exactly what could happen against the Rockets, as they have certainly been studying potential weaknesses they could attack.
Since their loss to the Pistons, however, the Celtics have made a better effort to hit the boards. Every time an opponent crashes, they mark them. Whether it’s Minott, Queta, Luka Garza, Payton Pritchard, or anyone else on the roster, they have made sure to get a body on everyone possible.
The results have spoken for themselves. Boston’s extra efforts on the glass have directly led to wins, as their new-look defense is only effective if they end the possession with a defensive rebound.
Battling Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen down low was a big challenge for the Celtics, and they met it. But Adams and Sengun will be another battle, especially with the likes of Thompson, Eason, and Smith ready to help him out on the glass.
And if the Celtics manage to keep those guys from beating them on the boards, then perhaps the rebounding problem is legitimately solved for good. (Or, at least for the time being.)