Rockets' Steven Adams Explains Key to Gaining Rebounding Edge
Rockets' Steven Adams Explains Key to Gaining Rebounding Edge
Not everyone can duplicate this.Anthony Duckett|
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Houston RocketsSteven Adams was the key to the Houston Rockets' offensive gameplan this past season. At least, when he was healthy.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka’s strategy of getting second (and third) bites at the apple to generate higher percentage looks on offense was tailor made for Adams' skillset and player profile. It's what he does best.
Adams explained the key to gaining an edge on the offensive glass on the Between Two Beers podcast.
"If you look Bird's Eye view from the basket, there's 180 degrees, if you look at it like that.
If the shot is coming from that way, what you're trying to do is actually occupy more degrees than your person who is trying to box you out.
And that's pretty much the game. If you have more degrees of that 180, then you're more likely because you have more area to rebound."
Adams continued.
"That's what you're trying to do. So if we're side on, we're going to be even a little bit.
You have access to that way, like more degrees. We have access to like both.
But if I jump on your top side and I lock you down, you have access to 10 degrees of rebounding area. I have about 80.
Numbers wise, I'll probably win. That's the game.
That's the sauce."
Adams averaged a total of 8.6 rebounds this past season -- 4.5 were on the offensive end. That number led the entire league in that respective category.
However, Adams wasn't credited as the league's leader, since he didn't hit the league's 65-game qualifying mandate. Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan was credited with the league's lead, instead, although he had the same average.
It's the second time that Adams has ran into this situation. The exact scenario played out just three years ago.
Adams averaged 5.1 offensive rebounds, which led the league, as a whole, but he played 42 games (missing 40) and wasn't credited with the league's offensive rebounding crown. In essence, he's led the league in offensive rebounds on three different occasions, prompting Rockets coach Ime Udoka to deploy the double big lineup, playing another center alongside two-time All-Star center Alperen Sengun.
Adams is also very good at setting screens. It just tends to get hidden, because of his stellar ability to nab rebounds on the offensive end. The Rockets missed Adams and were unable to replace him last season, following his season-ending ankle surgery.
The good thing is that he will be fully healthy for the 2026-27 season.
Published Jun 19, 2026
ANTHONY DUCKETTAnthony Duckett joined Rockets on SI in 2024 and has been covering the NBA professionally since 2019, with stops at FanSided and SB Nation.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
