The Celtics have been a horrible rebounding team.  They have been more scared of offensive rebounds than the people of West Baltimore are of Omar Little. The Celtics drafted Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo anticipating that very problem, and while the latter remains with the Red Claws, the former could be the answer (or at least a power rangers themed band-aid) to the Celtics rebounding woes.  Sully has the size and basketball I.Q. to fill that very void, and was third on the team with seven rebounds in limited minutes (18) when the C’s squared off against the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday. (via The Boston Herald)

“He throws his body around,” said Doc Rivers “He’s got it, so he might as well use it. I just like that his motor is higher. His IQ is already high. So if you put that with a high motor, good things will happen.”

Despite his back issues, Sullinger could be the player donned with the role of sparking Boston in to greater rebounding efforts.  Whether it be enthusiasm or greater physicality, the Ohio State product has a knack for getting tough rebounds.

Rebounding is complicated, and problems for the Celtics are multifaceted.

1. The Celtics have trouble defending along the perimeter therefore causing big men to rotate over to help.  This help causes the Celtics big men to move away from their normal rebounding position, and thus offensive rebounds are more prevalent.
2. Some lineups that the Celtic’s boast involve Jeff Green playing the power-forward position, who lacks some of the physical capabilities to put a body on some of the bigger forwards in the league.
3. The Celtics start a true power forward (Kevin Garnett) at center, and thus the primary rebounding position is in fact, out of position.

…yada yada yada…

While the rebounding problem for the Celtics is more nuanced than effort or size alone, a player who provides both certainly couldn’t hurt.  Perhaps a temporary fix to the Celtics rebounding problems has been in-house, as opposed to the Kenyon Martin or Erick (-a) Dampier acquisitions that have been heavily rumored recently.