So using the rebound time stamps from the game log from last night, I want to see what a typical DJM triple double looks like reboundingwise.
1 - 8:07 first. Murry grabs an offensive rebound off his own miss that Jakob was batting around. If Murray is not here, this rebound is not grabbed by a teammate but the Thunder
2 - 6:52 first. Murray grabs a near airball on an OKC shot. He moves into position after Keldon moves out to contest the shot. Derrick White could have crashed the board if that area was open, but instead leaks out when DJM gets into position and gets an open 3 on the break after a Murray outlet. White could have rebounded here if he had to, but he didn't and it worked out for the better (missed the shot but still a good open look).
3 - 1:46 first. 3 Spurs and no OKC players around the basket, OKC miss comes off straight to Murray. Another Spur probably would have grabbed this ball if Murray wasn't here, but he didn't do anything out of his way to go get it. He was just playing D, shot went up, he grabbed a board.
4 - 7:33 second. Similar to the previous rebound. Murray ends up with a board that Jakob would have grabbed if he wasn't there.
5 - 7:23 second. Murray secures a long rebound off of a White 3 miss. Not only is this not a rebound any other Spur could get (although it definitely didn't seem contested), it is highly likely to be an OKC fast break if DJM doesn't secure it.
6 - 10:56 third. Murray follows his man in off a PnR and picks up the rebound off the miss. McDermott would likely be able to grab this if Murray isn't here, but Murray isn't out of position by any means.
7 - 7:46 third. Murray grabs a board that Jakob is fighting for and comes out to 15 feet or so. Immediately ignites a fast break that ends up with a McDermott 3. This isn't a contested rebound, but if Murray isn't in position to grab it, OKC ends up with it and there is no fast break.
8 - 3:12 third. Murray follows his own miss, gets his rebound between 3 OKC players. Not sure if this counts as contested. No one challenges Murray for the board because he follows the miss so well and is in the right position. If he's not there, OKC ends up with the board yet it wasn't really a contested rebound.
9 - 46.9 third. Murray gets an uncontested board in the middle of 2 other Spurs. If he doesn't get it, another Spur definitely does.
10 - 10.7 third. Murray gets a rebound by boxing out and having superior position on an OKC player. This definitely feels like a contested rebound.
Out of those 10, only #9 was one where Murray probably didn't need to crash the boards. Obviously just one game, but none of this seems like pointless stat hunting. I'm honestly not sure how they determine contested rebounds, because several of those there wasn't anyone in contact with Murray, but if he doesn't grab it, its not Spurs ball.
The dude is just good at knowing where the ball is going to come off. Its a trait you see in all good rebounders.