The Baller’s Blueprint: Become a Rebounding Machine
In every issue of Dime, we run a feature called “The Baller’s Blueprint,” where we get up with different NBA players and have them break down their signature moves and skills.
In the new issue of the magazine, we asked the Knicks’ David Lee to tell readers what it takes to be a great rebounder in the NBA. This is what he had to say …
“I think the biggest thing about rebounding is wanting to do it. Everybody loves going out there and scoring and things like that. We have a lot of scorers on the team, so it’s been something that I knew could get me on the court playing. I think that making it a priority that every time the ball goes up on the offensive or defensive end, thinking that could be our team’s ball rather than the other team’s. That’s a big part of it.
“The rest of it – you got to be either a quick jumper or a guy who can move people out of the way. It happens to be that I’m a quicker jumper. I always try to put a body on whoever’s around me to stop their progress, stop them from getting a run. And from there’s it’s just a matter of pursuing the ball.
“If you’re going for an offensive rebound in the NBA, you can’t extend your arms and push a guy – they’ll call it. The best way to do it is, if they’re buried under the basket a little bit, just lodge your lower body into theirs so they can’t back you up any further. Then you look for a good bounce.
“A lot of it is second and third effort. A lot of times, guys are going to go up and it’s going to get tipped around. It’s just that pursuit and that tenacity going after it that will get you half the rebounds in the column.
“Finally, for me, it’s just continuing to stay in shape. Staying in shape is a big part of rebounding – if you’re tired then you can’t jump and you don’t have any legs. Then you don’t have a chance. So staying in great cardio shape and staying focused on it, because if other guys are thinking about breaking out down the floor to get an easy bucket and you’re thinking about getting a rebound, the chances are that you’re going to get it.”
December 12th, 2008 at 11:48 am
JCARR says:
I just got my mag yesterday and you’re already posting articles in the mag.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:50 am
SIdney Deane says:
having a team full of chuckers helps.
December 12th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Dime Magazine says:
@JCARR,
What did you think of the issue?
December 12th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
JCARR says:
What did i think?… It was great i like the article “Braveheart” on Brandon Jennings, it gave me a good insight on why he chose to go overseas and his life and it changed my views to why players choose europe instead of college. The pictures in the bottom of the pages was creative.
Also when you took pictures of Nate Robinson why does he look like he’s 6′6″. He takes up the whole page and its obvious the camera man was crouching while taking the pic’s.
The close up ont the Celtics ring was cool.
And the player (Giddens) tatoo section is always cool.
December 12th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Dime Magazine says:
Thanks JCARR, glad you liked it.
December 12th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Mitch says:
Thanks for the post on D. Lee…I’m a youth coach and I’ll give this to my players immediately. It’s all about effort…D. Lee is a beast…
December 12th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Dime Magazine says:
@ Mitch,
Glad you liked it. We’ll have another Baller’s Blueprint with another NBA player going up this afternoon…
December 12th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Can you do one on Eddy Curry? I’d like to know how he gets his Whoppers so fast. They always fuck up my order, takes like 10 minutes just to get a burger…
December 12th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
VINNY says:
can you suggest to david he get a blueprint for a jump shot!
December 12th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Three Stacks says:
I hope the bruised back isn’t a serious injury.
December 15th, 2008 at 4:43 am
flegman says:
DIME has an article on one of the ten MOST OVERRATED players: David Lee, LOL.
The 10 Most Overrated Players in the NBA
By Dime Magazine
http://dimemag.com/2008/11/the-10-most-overrated-players-in-the-nba/