Rebounds come easy in Clippers’ opener after extra emphasis in training camp

Throughout training camp, Clippers coaches emphasized the importance of rebounding.

It was easy to understand why because the Clippers were ranked 25th in rebounds [42.0 per game] last season and 29th [8.8] in offensive rebounds.

So when the Clippers hauled down 48 rebounds in the season opener Thursday night at Portland, it was perhaps the first step toward becoming a better rebounding team.

To be sure, it was the very first game of the season and the Clippers will be challenged on the backboards again Sunday against Utah in their home opener at Staples Center and again Wednesday against Oklahoma City at home. The Jazz and Thunder are good rebounding teams.

But for the Clippers, getting 15 offensive rebounds against the Trail Blazers was a good sign.

Blake Griffin had five of his 13 rebounds on the offensive end and DeAndre Jordan had seven of his 12 rebounds on offense.

The emphasis on offensive rebounds, however, has always resonated with Jordan.

“I try to do it all the time, because any time I get us an extra possession or create a foul for our team is going to help us out in the long run� Jordan said.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said they’ve always talked about offensive rebounding, but he doesn’t want his players to crash the boards at the risk of allowing opponents to get easy fastbreak opportunities.

Rivers has given his players instructions how best to attack the boards versus not going after offensive rebounds.

“What we’ve always said is if you’re in the paint, go after the offensive rebound. If you’re out of the paint, get back,� Rivers said. “In my opinion, where teams make mistakes is they have guys crashing from the corners. They don’t get it, it’s a fastbreak the other way. So, the offensive rebounds is something we actually have talked about every year. … But defensive rebounding is what we have to be great at.�

Last season, the Trail Blazers were ranked fifth in rebounds [45.4] and were tied for third in offensive rebounds [11.6]. The Thunder were ranked first in total rebounds [43.3] and offensive rebounds [13.1] last season.

So to tie the Trail Blazers in rebounds [48] Thursday night was a good moment.

To get those offensive rebounds gave the Clippers more offensive opportunities.

But the Clippers hope that game against Portland was just the beginning of being a top-notch rebounding team in the NBA.

“We had the lead rebounding most of that game and that was nice,� Rivers said. “We got to do it again tomorrow. We got to do it again on Monday. But you’ve got to do it every night.�

Up next

Clippers vs. Utah Jazz

When: 1:30 p.m.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 570, 1330.

Records: Clippers 1-0; Jazz 1-1.

Records vs. Jazz: Clippers 2-1 (2015-16).

Update: Blake Griffin, who has scored 8,828 points, needs to score eight more to pass Corey Maggette to become the Clippers’ fourth all-time leading scorer. The Clippers have won their last four home openers. The Clippers finished last season with a seven-game winning streak at Staples Center.

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