Finding Solace in Defeat

Does a team lose because of a bad box score, or is the box score bad because of losing? The Pistons were in a bubble, now burst by the Suns and Sonics [and now going to Sacramento, luckily no S's in the east], and they weren't exactly blown out on the other guys home court. BrooklynDodger notes back-to-back games on the downside of a long trip.

That said, when Prince gets only 5, Hamilton only 15, the team gets only 1 three, and rebounding goes OR 10-14, DR 23-35, all R 33-49, the Dodger wonders how they only lost by 8. The only by 8 probably cames from Ronald Dupree scoring 12, got to be his high game, on 6 for 8 shooting in only 15 minutes.

Incidentally, the Pistons missed 48 FGA's and 9 FTA's for a total of 56 caroms; they got 10 OR's, leaving 46 for Seattle to find. Seattle got 9 team rebounds, which added to their 35 DR's gives 44, leaving two unaccounted for. Seattle missed 53 FGA's and 5 FTA's, leaving 58 caroms from which they took 14 OR's leaving 44 for the Pistons to find. Detroit got 16 team rebounds, which added their paltry 23 DR's gives 39, leaving 5 missing.

This prompted the Dodger to search the net for a definition of team rebound, gleaning:

In the NBA if a shot is missed at the buzzer does someone get credit for the rebound?

Answer by Matt contributed on May 09, 2004, at 11:15pm. Last updated on May 10, 2004, at 11:17pm.
No individual player gets credit for a rebound but the offensive team is credited with a "team rebound".
A team rebound is also given following a missed shot, if a personal foul is called before the rebound can be grabbed. It is also given to the defensive team if the ball goes out of bounds after a shot without anyone touching it, or to the team getting the ball if it glances off another player and out of bounds. Also the defensive team gets a team rebound if a shooter misses the rim entirely on the last free throw attempt in a sequence.

Which gives an answer to the mystery: there is no rebound attempt for the missed first shot on a two shot foul, it goes into hyperspace. Which must include some of the 7-11 FTA's that Ben missed. Instead of Hack a Shaq, we may see Banging Ben in the playoffs.