South Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Hornets have shown significant improvement in their rebounding statistics this NBA season, despite the absence of starting center Mark Williams and limited appearances from his backup, Nick Richards. The team currently ranks seventh in total rebounding, fifth in offensive rebounding, and tenth in defensive rebounding percentages. Last season, without Williams for 63 games, the Hornets finished much lower in these categories.

Under new Head Coach Charles Lee, rebounding has become a crucial aspect for all players on the team. "I’m going to rely on the biggest component [of rebounding] being the mindset," Lee stated. He emphasized that impacting winning isn't just about scoring but also involves getting possession of the ball.

The Hornets' strategy includes a higher number of 3-point attempts compared to last season, which has resulted in more opportunities for offensive rebounds from longer distances. Indiana Head Coach Rick Carlisle commented on this before facing Charlotte: "[The Hornets] shoot so many above-the-break 3-pointers and those are further out, so the rebounds bounce further away."

Charlotte's smaller lineups due to a lack of healthy centers have contributed to their quickness in chasing down rebounds. Grant Williams noted the team's versatility: "We might be considered [small] because we don’t have our seven-footers... It’s a pretty versatile lineup in terms of rebounding."

Tactically, Charlotte is focusing more on boxing out and contesting rebounds than last year. They rank second only to Miami in average box outs and lead the league in offensive box outs while ranking fifth defensively. This has led to an increase in contested rebounds per game.

Coach Lee explained how this strategy benefits their transition defense: "If we crash, they have to box us out or we’re going to get a layup." As a result, opponents are discouraged from fast breaks after missed shots.

Moussa Diabaté has emerged as an important addition to Charlotte's big man depth. His performance off the bench has exceeded expectations with notable achievements such as being the first NBA player since Dwight Howard in January 2020 to achieve at least 55 rebounds and 20 offensive rebounds across four consecutive games.

Diabaté attributes his success to endurance and persistence: "I feel like I’m one of the most in-shape players... I know that maybe I’m not going to get [the rebound] the first or second time... but if I’m going at it three, four, five, six, seven times... I know that I’m going to get it at some point."

With Williams and Richards recently rejoining team activities, it appears that a change in mindset is key to Charlotte's recent rebounding success. The team's determination is evident as they strive for possession on every missed shot.