The Boston Celtics have been one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the NBA this season. According to NBA Stats, they ranked seventh during the regular season with 12.5 offensive boards per game and sit fourth in the postseason with 12.7 per game.
On Friday, April 24, the Celtics needed two clutch offensive boards from Derrick White to give them a platform to secure the second win of their playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Boston has mastered the art of the long rebound, which, given their perimeter-based offense, is smart work. However, they also have the size and physicality to be a force when crashing the glass.
During a recent news conference, head coach Joe Mazzulla discussed Boston's focus on the offensive glass and the value those extra possessions can provide throughout the course of a game.
"Yeah, I mean, the key is just getting extra possessions when we can," Mazzulla said. "It doesn’t have to be a three. I think the key is just getting extra possessions, you know, and that’s the most important thing, and you want to do those through ball security, through offensive rebounding, and through trying to force some turnovers. But those are a luxury. Obviously, offensive rebound threes are a luxury, but just getting offensive rebounds in general helps us, and then, you know, when you can convert them, it gives you a chance."
Offensive rebounds are primarily about timing and positioning. The Celtics are masters at "boarding up," meaning cutting out of the corners, or from the baseline to chase down long rebounds via missed threes. Payton Pritchard is especially gifted in that specific area.
With game four against Philadelphia scheduled for Sunday, April 26, Boston will need to continue carving out extra possession on the offensive glass. After all, the Sixers are a genuine threat in transition, so the more bites of the apple the Celtics can get on offense, the more distance they can build on the scoreboard heading into the clutch.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Joe Mazzulla explains the Celtics' focus on the offensive glass