The Boston Celtics’ struggles with rebounding are as clear as day.
Against a Utah Jazz team without their top rebounder, Walker Kessler, the Celtics still lost the battle on the boards 55-36, and the issue was punctuated by Jusuf Nirkić’s offensive rebound and game-winning putback with 0.6 seconds remaining (h./t @TheHoopCentral).
The final defensive possession was emblematic of a problem that has haunted the Celtics early this season. Players and coaches have acknowledged it, but recognition alone won’t fix it. The question now is whether Boston can find an answer.
Celtics' Rebounding Woes Are a Familiar Problem
Late-game rebounding breakdowns are not new for this team. In their third game of the season, the Celtics surrendered nine offensive rebounds to the Detroit Pistons in the fourth quarter alone. Each of Detroit’s final four made field goals came on second-chance opportunities.
The Celtics’ defense has held up better than expected, given the departures of several elite defenders. But no defense can survive multiple shots per possession.
After that loss to Detroit on Oct. 26, Jaylen Brown made it clear that rebounding was their biggest issue during the team’s three-game losing streak.
“A lot of our issues can be solved on the defensive glass,” Brown said. “I gotta get more involved. I gotta get some more rebounds… Some of the shots keep bouncing over our head, or some of those guys are pushing us underneath, but rebounding is definitely the biggest issue for us right now.”
It was certainly the reason they fell short in that contest—and it burned them again against Utah. And while those breakdowns have been costly, they’re hardly a surprise given what Mazzulla has been preaching since the summer.
HC Joe Mazzulla’s Early Warning Signs
Head coach Joe Mazzulla has been stressing rebounding since training camp.
He took a hardline approach in training camp, enacting a short leash for any player who allowed an offensive board. Any time someone gave one up, Mazzulla immediately called for a sub. It was a zero-tolerance policy enforced to drive the point home—they need to be locked in on securing rebounds.
That emphasis carried into opening night against the Philadelphia 76ers. When Neemias Queta failed to box out forward Dominick Barlow on one of the first possessions, Mazzulla quickly pulled him from the game.
The strategy was never going to be sustainable throughout the season, but by carrying it into the regular season, Mazzulla was trying to ensure his players understood the mission.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
In just about every possible category, it’s evident that the Celtics are losing their rebounding battles.
The Celtics currently rank 25th in opponent rebounds per game (62.3), 27th in defensive rebounds (29.5), and 29th in opponent offensive rebounding percentage (31.2%).
It’s not for a total lack of effort or athleticism—Boston actually ranks ninth in offensive rebounds per game (13.0). That reflects their energy on that end, with high-flyers like Josh Minott and scrappy guards like Payton Pritchard generating surprise extra possessions. But defending their own glass has been a far bigger challenge.
The Celtics have tried multiple centers to address the issue, but each has limitations. Size is undeniably part of the problem. Boston lost four of its top five rebounders from last season—all listed at 6-foot-8 or taller, including two seven-footers. Technique alone can’t replace that, but it can certainly help.
According to NBA.com’s tracking data, the Celtics rank 18th in defensive box-out percentage. It’s an imperfect metric, but it supports what the eye test shows: too many missed assignments and lapses in fundamentals.
Nurkić’s game-winner was a prime example. After helping on Keyonte George’s drive, Queta got caught in no man’s land as Pritchard recovered. By the time George pulled up, Queta was late to box out Nurkić, who crashed hard and easily pushed him underneath the rim. The result was an easy opportunity for an offensive rebound and the ensuing putback.
Celtics Need a Solution
After Monday’s loss to Utah, Mazzulla was asked about the fact that Boston was outrebounded 46-22 after the first quarter.
“We’re never gonna be top five, but we gotta be better,” Mazzulla said. “There’s ones that we have to get, and then we have to be able to compensate in other areas… We just have to fight to be better at that.”
He later added that Utah simply played “better and harder” during that stretch—a revealing comment given the emphasis he’s placed on effort this season.
Mazzulla is right that the Celtics need to compensate elsewhere. The team’s offensive struggles have made life difficult for them on defense and on the boards. That became prevalent during the second-half collapse and is a theme that was evident in Boston’s Oct. 24 loss to the Knicks.
Still, the Celtics can’t just wave the white flag regarding rebounding. They have to find ways to improve. The usage of Minott to help in the department provided a temporary bandage when they first made the switch to him being used in the starting lineup, but it is clearly not a permanent solution.
The Celtics must find ways to up their game either through personnel or playstyle. Either way, their current efforts on the glass are simply not cutting it.