Is rebounders per game an overrated or underrated stat?

[KnicksorBust]

As a basketball coach and someone who loves discussing the game, I find myself constantly in situations where you find people discussing rebounding with such conviction. Especially on this website it seems to be met with such reverance as if rebounding was equivalent to scoring and rebounding won games. Now this is not to say that rebounding is irrelevant. In fact, I would argue team rebounding is integral part of success because more possessions will inherently create more points. However, my question focuses more on individual rebounding statistics. Players on great teams AND bad teams both put up outstanding rebounding numbers. This begs the question how much of it is skill and how much of it is opportunity? If a lot of rebounding numbers can be inflated (or deflated) by your teammates, does that make it an overrated stat? Or if it's all skill and certain players could lead the league on any team, does that make it underrated?

Feel free to post examples that you believe are appropriate in matching some of my descriptions.

[Hellcrooner]

Underated.

Example?

No one ever mentions Nate Thurmond in all time greats threads.

well the dude averaged 15 rebounds in his career AND had a 20 with 22 season and a 19 and 21 season. then a 21 and 19,7 season.

[sep11ie]

It's kinda like RBI's in baseball. Some find it overrated since you are relying on teammates to be on base OR missing shots, but the player is the one that is actually batting them in OR cleaning up the missed shots...

I personally think it's underrated.

[KnicksorBust]

Underated.

Example?

No one ever mentions Nate Thurmond in all time greats threads.

well the dude averaged 15 rebounds in his career AND had a 20 with 22 season and a 19 and 21 season. then a 21 and 19,7 season.

What aspect of Nate Thurmond's game was most important to you believing he was an all-time great?

[KnicksorBust]

It's kinda like RBI's in baseball. Some find it overrated since you are relying on teammates to be on base OR missing shots, but the player is the one that is actually batting them in OR cleaning up the missed shots...

I personally think it's underrated.

Not a bad analogy since much of it is predicated on who is on your team. What makes you feel it is underrated though? Are there certain players you feel don't get enough respect? Or because you feel like it's important aspect of defense?

[mightybosstone]

I think it could go either way depending on what you value most, but I do think individual rebounding deserves its just due. Defensive rebounding prevents second chance opportunities and offensive rebounding creates second chance opportunities. Having watched a Rockets team that lacked a legit rebounding force from the Rockets lost Yao and last season when they added Camby, I can tell you it makes a huge difference.

I don't know if there's anything more frustrating than watching another team consistently get second chances in an offensive possession or anything more satisfying than watching your team's big man get an offensive rebound and go up for an easy two points.

[b@llhog24]

Is rebounding overrated in general? No. Is the value put into defensive rebounding overrated? Yes.

[Hellcrooner]

What aspect of Nate Thurmond's game was most important to you believing he was an all-time great?

Rebounding and Defense + longevity.

[Swashcuff]

Underated.

Example?

No one ever mentions Nate Thurmond in all time greats threads.

well the dude averaged 15 rebounds in his career AND had a 20 with 22 season and a 19 and 21 season. then a 21 and 19,7 season.

I did, multiple times.

[KnicksorBust]

I think it could go either way depending on what you value most, but I do think individual rebounding deserves its just due. Defensive rebounding prevents second chance opportunities and offensive rebounding creates second chance opportunities. Having watched a Rockets team that lacked a legit rebounding force from the Rockets lost Yao and last season when they added Camby, I can tell you it makes a huge difference.

I don't know if there's anything more frustrating than watching another team consistently get second chances in an offensive possession or anything more satisfying than watching your team's big man get an offensive rebound and go up for an easy two points.

This is a great example of the opposite. Marcus Camby put up better rebounding numbers by percentage and per 36 minutes as a Rocket at age 37 than in his prime with the Knicks or Nuggets. Wouldn't that make rebounding statistics overrated? There is no way he's a better rebounder now.

[KnicksorBust]

Is rebounding overrated in general? No. Is the value put into defensive rebounding overrated? Yes.

Do you believe (similar to MBT's post) that defensive rebounding IS a critical part of defense?

[KnicksorBust]

Rebounding and Defense + longevity.

How do you feel when you see players like Kris Humphries and David Lee averaging 10+ rpg? Are they underrated too?

[baller101200]

Do you believe (similar to MBT's post) that defensive rebounding IS a critical part of defense?

Yes.

[b@llhog24]

Do you believe (similar to MBT's post) that defensive rebounding IS a critical part of defense?

Yea.

[Hellcrooner]

How do you feel when you see players like Kris Humphries and David Lee averaging 10+ rpg? Are they underrated too?

yep they are.