[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

Greg Monroe – The Future at Center We Hope For.

      We all see the NBA positions and say the weakest is Center, right?  When thinking of great Centers in the league, Dwight Howard is our first thought.  Only few others pop up in our head like Marc Gasol, Nene, Al Jefferson, Deandre Jordan, and a select few others.  Greg Monroe, Anyone? Greg Monroe has been unnoticed by many in this blow out year he is having.  Greg Monroe a hidden Gem drafted by the Detroit Pistons has been a bright spot in an otherwise rough season for the Pistons.

      Greg Monroe was just a rookie last year.  Few made much of a deal about the solid season he had.  Even I thought he would turn out to just be another 10 and 10 player, but then late in the season Greg Monroe showed spurts of untapped potential ready to burst out.  Most noticed the trend and looked at his future as bright.  Very few though didn’t expect that potential to burst out in just his second year.  In a league weak at the Center position, Few have noticed Monroe’s year this year.  Few expected in the years to come if Monroe had even a 12 and 10 season would be a disappointment.  Monroe’s first year showed less than half of what was to come.

      This year started out with a lockout.  While some players rolled in their millions and others worked hard like Kevin Durant,  Monroe was a silent worker.  The thing Monroe has always been.    “The last thing I would say is the work he put in this summer – I talked to him about what he did and he was in the great state of Louisiana all summer, in the heat in New Orleans, working hard at his old high school and he put in a lot of work. He wants to be great, we’re running a lot of stuff through him and he put in the work he needed to put in to get better. Those three things right there is the reason you’re seeing him take the jump he’s taken.”  Joe Dumars stated about his hard work over the summer.

Monroe isn’t seen as an extremely hard worker, much of a leader, or a player with superstar potential.  He doesn’t look spectacular in his game.  Some are too busy looking at Brandon Knight who has been a helping factor for him.  Monroe is much of those things though.  Monroe worked hard all of the lockout, and even shows some leadership on the floor,  Monroe especially shows Superstar talent in games where he is able to fill up the scoreboard and yet would still go unnoticed.  Against Milwaukee on January 12, 2012 Monroe had a game that really showed his potential and scored 32 points, 16 rebounds.  A game Dwight Howard and Kevin Love would be proud of. 

     Monroe’s year has been spectacular yet he still has a lot to work on and he has been very humble.  A 16 and 9 season is pretty amazing though since most consider the 2nd year is the year where people struggle.  A solid PER and a great point guard to help, this player has talent and help.  The defense he brings is nothing to scoff at either.  Definitely a force in deciding the game in the paint and brings a good 1.5 steals per game for a Center.  But at this point Monroe’s focus is surely at winning some games.  A 4-20 season looks pretty bad on paper but with plenty of talent, Pistons fans are excited. 

  Is Monroe on his way to Superstardom?  Its a possibility I hope for.  His continued improvement leaves way for there to be a tremendous career for this kid.  In a league with struggling Centers and too much talent and not enough work, the humble Monroe sets himself apart in hard work combined with talent and produces nightly for the Pistons.  Surprising everyone this season and going fairly unnoticed I thought I’d write this article.  Monroe already a top 10 center and pushing further is showing the league that the Center position could have a bright future.  He is the future I hope for the center position and I wish him luck in his career and hope it be Injury-free.  Greg Monroe’s Career should be a great one.

Written by Me.

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

My first official sports article.  I do dream of being a Sports Journalist/broadcaster so if you read the article please leave a comment about the article and maybe telling me how I did.  I worked hard on it and hope you enjoyed it.

[bobbybParticipant]

I always liked Monroe since Georgetown. I was upset that my Nets took Favors over him

[CodySLCParticipant]

I was surprised he didn’t go higher in the draft. Big men, especially centers with that kinda skill set are very hard to come by.

[DurantsWingspan]

I thought the article was very informative and a very good, un-biased read. Congrats. Keep working hard,  you can definitley make it.

[tuck243Participant]

but to be honest I wouldn’t put a lot of stake in players this year…  Some players are just a mis match and can easily get shut down if proper scouting takes place… While on the other hand some players NEED the practices to get better…  It’s a lot of bad basketball being played right now… One game scoring is up and the very next day teams are turning the ball over like crazy…  I’ll wait to analyze a player like Monroe who is having a "decent" year but on a bad team…  They aren’t even competitive in majority of their games…  IDK who good he is right now… 

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

People went by a lot of talent with not a lot to show for it with Favors instead of talent with untapped potential and a proven game with Monroe.  Favors, wes johnson, and others went in front of him but this year it looks as if he should have been picked 2nd or possibly 1st consider wall has struggled this year and Monroe has been having a better year.  Obviously Im not saying he will have a better career than Wall but its definitely a possibility..

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

I respect your opinion but Basketball is basketball and thats what is being played no matter the circumstances.  And calling it a "decent" year is like calling Blake Griffin an "average" dunker.

[HitsterParticipant]

Great article by Nate!

Greg has had a very good sopohomore year so far and has the ability to be an All Star within a few years. He really started to come on in the 2nd half of his rookie season and since then he has kept up the high standards.

His game has got a way to go and his next target should be becoming a 20ppg player across a whole season, I’d say that he has the game to easily achieve this and with Big Ben no doubt getting him to put the work in and helping him with his defensive game then he will continue to improve.

Detroit are in rebuild but with Monroe, Knight and another likely high pick this year along with their younger SF’s then a new core is emerging there.

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

Thank you for your feedback. I’m probably gonna do these Articles more often.

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

MikeyV got some competition.

 

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

Lol getting compared to mikeyv?  My articles may be long but my posts could never match his legendary length in any post he does.  But humbled by the comparison.

[HadzialijagicParticipant]

Monroes work ethic was questioned in collge and im happy to see him bringing it every night for this below average team.

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

It was only in question because he is such a silent player who doesn’t talk much.  According to coaches he is very self-discipline and a hard worker.

[goneParticipant]

Good write up but Greg is more of a PF I think if you put him next to another seven footer he would flourish

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

In my opinion, people are too quick and too overexcited and just want a 7 footer at Center all the time.  As if all Center’s need to be moved to the 4.  If the league is in the drought of Center’s why are you trying to move good Centers to the 4 just because you think it’ll make them better?  Its the whole problem.  SG’s want to be PG’s.  SF’s want to be everything, PF’s want to be SF’s.  and C’s want to be PF’s.  Which leaves the Center position empty.  So If we forcibly try to move players to the 4 just because they might be better there then were going to lose the whole position. 

    If there are few good center’s that means any center that is good is going to dominate because of a lack of competition while PF’s get stuck with a bunch of Center’s trying to be power forwards.  If Greg wants to move to PF that should be he and his coaches decision.  I just don’t think it benefits them.  I don’t think moving him to the 4 would make him more comfortable.  At 6’11, he is a 7 footer.  An Inch isn’t going to make you rebound less and be able to play the 4 better.  Monroe seems comfortable at the 5 and moving him to the 4 would probably kill all progress he has made in the NBA.  We can’t just throw people around at positions and see if they fit.  This isn’t a jigsaw puzzle.  Transitioning is hard and doesn’t always work.  Monroe getting 16 and 10 as a statline seems pretty good to me.  I don’t see how he could play better at an over inflated position.

[goneParticipant]

Just thinking of the match up problems Detroit could cause with two legit seven footers and all that length on the defensive end. I bieleve he is skilled enough to the play the four, I watched him at Gtown my favorite team and seen him handle the ball and use quickness in the face up game. But I’m not bashing your article if he can play center and play it well so be it I was just sharing my thoughts

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

I understand I’m just saying, It seems like a weird trend that people think all centers under 7 feet should move to the 4.  Which I see isn’t what you were implying but more of what would be interesting to see and how they could be dangerous.

[Johnny Chill]

Another draft day mistake by the Warriors…

[BigDParticipant]

I’d rather see Monroe stay playing at the C spot, he’s a bigger matchup nightmare for the bigger slower C’s and can use his body against the frail athletic C’s. The PF’s of the NBA today would have a much better time defending him than the C’s.

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

I think we can talk all we want about draft day mistakes but we can’t change them.  You just gotta accept it and move on and root for the guy you chose.  Some people are always late bloomers in the NBA. 

[DanEboyParticipant]

Nate the Great, just remember this…always, and I mean ALWAYS check your stats and facts when it comes to sports, then check them again somewhere else.. Sports fans are the quickest to point out any mistake you made, and will jump all over you for it.

Also, make sure you have thick skin because, as you know if you have been around here for 30 seconds, sports fans are stubborn and if they don’t agree with what you say, will tear your ass apart.

Good job on the article though!

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

Yeah I made sure to check my stats and I’m not really afraid of what people say, I back up what I write and stand for it. No reason to go and cry if someone doesn’t like it. Thanks for the feedback. I don’t know why but lately I had been feeling like Greg Monroe was getting no credit for his great season he had been having. So I took what I already knew looked up some good quotes to use and some interesting statistics double checked everything all that stuff and just posted it. Actually a bit surprised on the High points rating it got. I figured most here would be like "TOO LONG" and leave. Nice to see some people enjoying what I write.

[tuck243Participant]

Averaging 15 n 9 on a 4 win team is a great season???  Am I missing something?? I give him his props but come on now… Basketball isn’t just BASKETBALL this season…  Unless you are a fool its no way you truly believe great basketball is being played right now…  A lot of players are injured, drain, and great players are playing terrible…  Don’t be surprised to see bottom playoff teams in the finals (like EVERY lock-out has bolstered)…  Yall can disagree that I would rather wait until next year to see how legit Greg is… But to say its some good basketball being played right now is in the words of Stephen A. Smith "You are out your mind"…  EVERY analyst said this its not just me… Its not a cop out but you can clearly see this…

[EuroBallParticipant]

Greg is putting up good stats don’t matter how bad his team may be. Big’s rarely get touches especially when they are on a team with scoring guards and a new coaching system. The type of basketball that’s played right now is not bad basketball it’s average to good basketball been played. We are not witnessing the elite players in the league on a decline of play from last season. Lebron, Kobe and many others are playing excellent ball. Consistant players show up on back to back to back nights, now that is more challenging for any player in pro basketball especially the NBA. Greg Monroe stats shows his consistant play so far this season.

[HitsterParticipant]

I too initially thought that Monroe would perhaps be a long term PF in the NBA but as he is playing solidly at C and developing there then there is no need to move him and Detroit should draft/build accordingly around this. I’d figure Detroit may look to go big in the draft again this year even if as a 4 win team so far they could take BPA but if that player happened to be the same position as their best prospect it would not make a lot of sense.

Davis or Sullinger alongside Monroe would be nice fits and maybe Moultrie or Robinson who both have great work ethics Also taking a high character guy like Barnes would be a safe choice or even Lamb alongside Knight long term if they could move one of Gordon or Stuckley.

[tuck243Participant]

what other player stepped up their level of play???  Teams with deep benches right???  Dirk, Wade, Melo, Amare, Westbrook (is coming along now), Pau Gasol, Tony Parker are having down years… I didn’t doubt this would happen with Kobe because he’s in a Iso system now…  I can’t begin to tell you how this year we have seen so many different storylines unfold…  The Nuggets, Pacers, 6ers, and Clippers are all high seated teams…  

The Bucks have beaten the Miami Heat twice…  The Hawks beat a Heat team with LeBron, Wade, and Bosh then loses to the same team with just Bosh…  One day a player like Rudy Gay goes for 34 points then the next day he goes 0-7 from the field…  And yall dare to say its great basketball being played???  This years TO per game has increased and FG% are down…  

Wow…  It’s pretty clear its nothing but children on this site…  You bring a solid argument going against the grain and all hell breaks lose…  A lot of ball clapping been going on lately as well…  Kenny Smith said it best "scrub numbers"…  He putting up decent numbers on a 4 win team… 4 lonely ass wins in a season that’s really up for grabs…  I just would like to see it equate to games being won or at least competitive before I give a fair assessment on the man…  I don’t think it will anytime soon…  So the best case would be to see his level of play next year…

 But you know what it doesn’t matter… A year from now when he’s playing terrible and having a shotty season everyone wouldn’t care, the ish would be in vain…  Like 90% of all my other posts that are dead on…  I really wish I could see all the posts I have written over the years just to see how accurate I am… Because this is non sense… Day in and day out I look at posts that are "In the moment" situations…  Everyone is extremely high on a player then once he gets drafted and less than mediocre no one says a word…  Meh…  Maybe its just the world we living in ya know???  "What have you done for me lately" theme?  Everyone wanna be on the new ish??  They add their 2 cents with an already bias opinion living no room to be wrong…  But whatev…

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

monroe or hibbert ?….. who would you rather pick ?

both talented young improving centers, serious D and rebounding skills, coachable and good teammates,  some offensive moves and good passing abilities…. 

talking about georgetown centers reminds me some good ol’ days….

 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 I don’t think Monroe is going to play much worse next year or on a better team. In part because he really isn’t playing that much better this year than last year. He is rebounding about the same and getting about the same steals. He is scoring more this year, but shooting a little lower percentage. That is to be expected and he could probably drop back to lower scoring with high efficiency, or get a little better and increase his scoring and still stay above 50% on his shooting. His defense seems about the same. I think this guy is now in the top ten for the center position and I don’t think it is changing unless he gets hurt. 

 

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