NBA ROUNDUP : Rodman’s 26 Rebounds Power the Pistons

Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, longtime rivals, were the NBA’s greatest rebounders. They are the only players to have more than 50 in a game.

One of the reasons they managed to get so many rebounds was that players didn’t shoot nearly as well as they do now.

In 1960, when Chamberlain set the record with 55 rebounds in a game, he was the only player to have a shooting average above 50% for the season. Now, it is not unusual for entire teams to make more than half of their shots.

There have been few outstanding rebounders since Chamberlain averaged 18.6 in 1972-73.

Now, there is 6-foot-8 Dennis Rodman of the Detroit Pistons, who is on his way to the best rebounding average in two decades. Rodman had 26 Sunday at Philadelphia during a 90-83 victory over the 76ers.

Orlando Woolridge scored 24 of his 34 points during the second half to lead the Pistons. Woolridge made 16 of 21 shots; the rest of the team shot 34%.

There are some who believe that Rodman’s increased rebound total is the direct result of more minutes. It might not be true.

While averaging 33 minutes last season, he averaged 12.5 rebounds. While averaging 40 minutes this season, he is averaging 18.3 rebounds.

The extra minutes seem to be taking their toll. For instance, against the 76ers, he played 48 minutes. He had 16 rebounds in the first 18 minutes, but got only two rebounds in the last 12 minutes.

“He’s just unbelievable,” Coach Chuck Daly said of Rodman. “He’s not that big, but he tracks down the ball wherever it is. He should be a lesson to kids who don’t shoot that well. They can still make it in the NBA if they work as hard as he has.”

Rodman enjoys defending against top players such as Charles Barkley of the 76ers as much as rebounding.

“It’s great for me to play the superstars, because they know I’m going to keep coming at them and coming at them,” Rodman said. “I just play my game, play defense, rebound and help in other ways.”

Barkley scored 24 points.

Charlotte 126, Miami 109--Rookie Larry Johnson had 28 points and 13 rebounds at Charlotte, N.C., during a game marred by two fights and two ejections.

The Hornets led, 40-18, after a quarter and the Heat was never again closer than 14 points.

After the first fight, during the third quarter, Willie Burton of the Heat was ejected for punching Johnny Newman in the head. The Hornets’ J.R. Reid was ejected after a shoving match with Steve Smith during the fourth quarter.

Orlando 118, Milwaukee 104--Jerry Reynolds had five of his 21 points during a 10-2 spurt early in the fourth quarter at Orlando that gave the Magic its first victory over the Bucks.

The Bucks, who trailed, 55-42, at halftime and never got any closer than six, beat the expansion team the first nine times they played.

San Antonio 112, Sacramento 106--Antoine Carr made his last 10 shots at Sacramento and scored 21 points as the Spurs, with David Robinson having an off night, ended their two-game losing streak.

Carr, acquired from the Kings by the Spurs in a trade for center Dwayne Schintzius in September, made 10 of 11 shots before fouling out with 7:33 to play.

Sean Elliott had 23 points for San Antonio, while Robinson, who had nine points and nine rebounds, was in foul trouble most of the game.

Mitch Richmond and Wayman Tisdale each had 24 points for the Kings, who were without Lionel Simmons due to a pulled groin muscle.