2025-11-12 11:00

As I rewatched the tape of Game 2 from the 2022 NBA Finals, I kept noticing how seemingly small moments ended up creating massive ripple effects throughout the championship series. Having covered basketball for over a decade, I've learned that championships aren't always decided by spectacular dunks or game-winning shots - sometimes they hinge on the subtle battles happening beneath the rim. The rebound margin in this game tells a fascinating story that I believe many analysts have overlooked in their post-game breakdowns.

What struck me immediately when reviewing the stats was that Barangay Ginebra's 46-41 rebound advantage doesn't tell the full story. In my professional opinion, that five-rebound gap should have been much wider given their personnel. Troy Rosario's performance particularly stood out to me - here's a player who averaged nearly seven rebounds during the eliminations but managed only three in this crucial game. Now, I've followed Rosario's career closely, and while his 2-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc provided valuable spacing, his conference-low rebound count created problems that nearly cost them the game. I remember thinking during the third quarter that if Rosario had grabbed just two more defensive boards during those critical possessions, we might be looking at a completely different championship narrative.

The silver lining - and what ultimately saved them - was the phenomenal rebounding effort from Justin Brownlee, Japeth Aguilar, and Scottie Thompson. These three combined for 25 rebounds, with Thompson's relentless pursuit of loose balls creating multiple second-chance opportunities. I've always admired Thompson's nose for the ball - it's something that doesn't always show up in traditional analytics but wins championships. Brownlee's positioning under the rim was masterclass material, while Aguilar used his length to secure rebounds that seemed destined for opponents' hands. Still, watching the game live, I found myself wondering what could have been if Rosario had been more dominant on the glass. His eight points were helpful, sure, but in championship basketball, every possession matters, and those missed rebound opportunities could have been devastating against a different opponent.

What many casual fans might not appreciate is how rebounding impacts everything else on the court. When your bigs are securing boards, it fuels transition opportunities and demoralizes opponents. I noticed several possessions where Rosario's lack of board presence forced other players out of position, creating defensive vulnerabilities that smart opponents could exploit. The numbers show they won the rebound battle, but my eyes told me they left opportunities on the table. In my experience covering finals basketball, these are the kinds of subtle deficiencies that get exposed as series progress.

Looking back, I'm convinced this game represented a turning point in how the coaching staff approached their rotation decisions. While the box score shows they won the rebound battle, anyone who understands championship-level basketball knows they got away with one here. The combined 25 rebounds from their three key players masked what could have been a fatal flaw. Personally, I'd have loved to see Rosario be more aggressive on the glass - his shooting stretches defenses, but his rebounding could make him truly elite. As the series progressed, this narrow rebound victory served as both warning and opportunity - a reminder that in the NBA Finals, every single board matters, and sometimes winning the battle isn't enough if you're not maximizing your advantages.

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