FanPost

On Restricted Free Agent Greg Monroe: A Moose Can Actually Run 35 MPH

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Moose are gigantic creatures. They can weigh anywhere from 1,100 to 1,800 pounds. They appear bulky, and uncoordinated. Obviously they are slow too.

The Truth about Moose

Moose actually have a top speed of 35 mph (www.nps.gov). Their less than attractive appearance and massive stature does not seem to support this fact, but it is true.

Just like a Moose, Greg Monroe has been gaining an improper and misguided perception amongst fans, both locally and nationally.

"Greg Monroe is too slow."

"The power forward/center does two things well: rebounding and posting up."

"I'm not kidding when I say that these are Monroe's only two skills."

Actually, none of this is entirely true, or even kind of true.

Greg Monroe is 6'11'', 250 lbs, with an impressive rack wing span at 7'2.5". I am well aware of Monroe's average to below average defensive ability. However, Monroe struggles defensively much more when he plays PF over Center, but Andre Drummond forced Monroe into that situation.

Per 82games.com, Monroe had the best plus/minus numbers of any player that received legitimate rotational minutes for the Detroit Pistons.

Drummond was the worst on the team, by far, with a net -234 points when he was on the floor. Monroe was a net -152. That is still bad, but every player on the Pistons (outside of Tony Mitchell, Gigi Datome, and Josh Harrelson, but they didn't play much at all) was a net negative on the court.That is what happens when you play on a bad basketball team.

Some of the Pistons more effective lineups, though with limited minute samples, did have Monroe at center, not PF.

It is also true Monroe isn't a greater leaper. However, he is not a poor athlete. He is actually a very fluid athlete.

In Transition

Greg Monroe was one of four centers in the NBA to have over 100 transitional opportunities last season, and he scored 1.324 points per attempt in transition. That is outstanding. For comparison, our Goran Dragic only scored 1.23 points per possession in transition.

The Pistons were 5th in the league in fast break points, and Monroe was a significant part of that. Not bad for a guy that is "too slow".

Additionally, there is a misconception that all Monroe does is post-up. Since when? I am sure many of you have watched this video (or maybe you haven't....), but Monroe possess and impressive face-up game that he utilizes off pick n roll/pop situations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbjLUTdgYWo

"Very effective when is in open space as a pick & pop threat. Struggles as a shooter, but has the mobility to attack closeouts."-Draft Express

Most of his stats come from within 3 feet because of his face-ups and drives, not post-ups.

Per Draft Express " Most of his offense comes from face-up situations. Very fragile and coordinated. Uses jab steps. Likes to drive right and spin back to his left."

Unless Draft Express is wrong, he doesn't "only rebound and post-up".

Comparing a Moose and a Plum-Dawg

Speaking of rebounding, Monroe had a rebound percentage of 18.3% before Andre Drummond and Josh Smith came along.

Last season, Miles Plumlee had a 17.9% total rebounding percentage, and he was fighting for boards with Channing Frye and P.J. Tucker... Is Plumlee that much better of a rebounder than Monroe? I have a feeling Drummond and Smith would make Plum's rebounding percentage decrease significantly as well.

Continuing on the Plumlee and Monroe comparison, yes, Plumlee is a rim protector and Monroe is not. However, Monroe's career steal percentage is 2%, which is good for a PF/C. Plumlee's was only 1.3%. Steal percentage is usually a decent indicator of future defensive success from big men, in which Monroe does have a long way to go in that area. He definitely could add strength, though developing lateral quickness would be more difficult to obtain.

Hold up a second. Plumlee is a much better shot blocker, but is he that much better of a rim protector?

Monroe held opponents to 51.2% at the rim and Plumlee held opponents to 50.3%. Not a huge disparity. Plumlee only defended 1 more attempt at the rim per game than Monroe did. 51.2% vs 50.3%, on almost the same amount of attempts. Plumlee is a much better shot blocker, but not necessarily a much better "rim protector" according to those stats from NBA.com.

Look back on the offensive and defensive ratings, Miles was sitting at 104 O-rating and a 104 D-rating. Monroe was +1 with a 109 offensive rating and 108 defensive rating. Moose is +3 in his career in this regard as well.

Plumlee played on a much better team, but yet Monroe had the positive advantage in that metric. Hmm.

Monroe also was a center, not a PF, his first three years in the league. In his sophmore and junior campaigns, he posted 2.7 and 3.2 defensive win shares, respectively from the center position. Plumlee posted 2.8 defensive win shares last season. Clearly, Monroe produces at center just as well as Plumlee defensively, just not when it comes to blocking shots, in terms of win shares.

When Monroe played the bulk of his minutes at PF last year, his DWS plummeted to 2.3. So is Monroe a tweener or was he simply forced out of position?

Passing

If we want to talk about play making, Monroe had an 18.6% assist rate in 2012-13. It dropped to 10.3% last year with the additions of Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith. Go figure.

Plumlee's assist rate was 3.3%....

I am not trying to make this into a Monroe vs Plumlee debate, especially considering the cost difference, but you honestly cannot tell me the Suns wouldn't be a better basketball team if Monroe was inserted as a starter over Miles Plumlee.

Obvious Deficiencies

Monroe does get bullied by bigger centers. He doesn't handle face-up fours well either. But, how many centers handle strong, bulky centers? The likes of Pekovic, Jefferson, D Howard, etc. pretty much abuse most defenders they face. How many 6'11 250 pounders do well versus quick, face-up fours? Not too many either.

Greg doesn't shoot well and this would effect spacing, obviously. However, if he was playing center, as opposed to PF, would it effect spacing that much?

He has obvious deficiencies, but how many 6'11'' 250 pound athletes have a flawless game on all levels? It won't take long to compile the list.

Is Monroe worth the max? Probably not. Is he a good player that has the ability to improve and thrive in an up-tempo system? The data supports it.

A "big three" of Monroe, Dragic, and Bledsoe would be formidable, though none of those three are legit number one options as of now. However, all three are solid number 2/3 options and would be dangerous in transition together.

The primary issue with offering Greg Monroe a contract is the Pistons would match. Unless the Suns overpaid for his services, but even then the Pistons would match with the intent to ravage assets from Phoenix.

I am not necessarily saying I am dead-set on wanting Monroe at any price, but I felt the need to clear up the misconceptions being floated around about the Moose. I am not a Pistons fan, in any way, but living in the Detroit area, I am very knowledgeable of Piston's basketball and Greg Monroe.

Conclusion

I know you may think a Moose is slow, but until you see it in action out in the wild, don't judge an animal by its frame.

Monroe may struggle versus large centers and quick fours. He doesn't shoot well at all and he is an average post up threat.

I would accept these deficiencies, in favor of his strengths.

He is elite in transition, not too slow.

He is a good rebounder, even better when Drummond and Smith aren't next to him.

He is an elite passing big man when Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings aren't ball-hogging.

He has a great face-up game and can get the rack, especially off the pick and pop.

Additionally, Monroe has only missed 3 games in his 6 seasons of NBA and college basketball. Durability is key in the NBA. His game isn't predicated on athleticism, so his game will age well.

I would love to hunt a Moose, but its difficult to shoot when its running away at 35 mph.