Portland about to revolutionize the game

[Scalma]

With bigs that can run the floor

- LA (if he re-signs)
- Monroe
- Plumlee
- Leonard
- Vonleh

Shiiiiiiiit who cares about defense, not us! Our defense will be wearing your slugs out.

 

[Scalma]

I'm reading about the interest we had in Monroe last summer and evidently it almost happened; (at least according to marc stein)
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Sources said the Pistons also seriously discussed various sign-and-trade scenarios this month that would have landed restricted free agent Greg Monroe in Portland, but the Blazers ultimately pulled themselves out of the race for Monroe by signing free-agent big man Chris Kaman to join Robin Lopez in the Blazers' center rotation.
-----------

Evidently the stickup might've been batum. So what I'm saying is I wouldn't be surprised if Monroe is target #1 regardless of what happens to Aldridge.

 

[Scalma]

Another probably useless tidbit: Monroe is signed with Jordan brand, same as LA.

And don't forget his agent is David Falk who might push his client towards Portland if the money is the same.

 

[Scalma]

Also found this article that shows how much better Monroe is when playing center:

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Monroe has yet to raise his game when slotted at power forward. Change is acceptable so long as it's beneficial, and it's best that teams don't get stuck in a rut.

But unfortunately for the Pistons, things haven't worked out so nicely with Monroe at the 4.

82games shows that the big man has posted a PER (Player Efficiency Rating) of 17.6 while playing power forward—he's allowed opponents to post an 18.9 PER. That's a net PER of minus-1.3, although the statistical databases indicate that rounding errors are steering us away from a more-accurate number of minus-1.4.

When he plays center, he's posting a 19.9 PER and holding opponents to 15.5. That's a net PER of 4.4.

That's a pretty sizable difference, as Monroe is more effective at center on both ends of the court.

NBA.com's statistical databases (subscription required) also show that Monroe's most effective five-man unit (among the ones with at least 30 minutes played) is outscoring opponents by 20.3 points per 100 possessions.

He plays center in these units.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1931901-the-detroit-pistons-have-a-major-greg-monroe-dilemma

 

[Mediocre Man]

Another probably useless tidbit: Monroe is signed with Jordan brand, same as LA.

And don't forget his agent is David Falk who might push his client towards Portland if the money is the same.

Also with David Falk who owes us a solid after the contract we got his other client....Roy Hibbert

 

[Scalma]

Also with David Falk who owes us a solid after the contract we got his other client....Roy Hibbert

Yup. Can't see both though. If we get Monroe it's to play center. He's clearly better fit there.

Edit. Read that wrong. It's early

 

[rasheedfan2005]

I wouldnt mind run and gun style. Especially if we play hard defense and feed the run with steals.

 

[craigehlo]

Dame
Henderson
Tobias Harris
Greg Monroe
Plumlee

This is squad that can run, let Dame be option #1 and get to the FT line with more frequency than out last lineup.

 

[Schilly]

I do believe we are going to be following a model similar to the Warriors. I wouldn't call it run and gun in the mold of Steve Nash Sun's, but simply more active ball.movement, more an uptempo college style game.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Basketball is simple. If everyone moves and passed the defense will break down. Iso ball sucks and is boring to watch.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Also found this article that shows how much better Monroe is when playing center:

-----
Monroe has yet to raise his game when slotted at power forward. Change is acceptable so long as it's beneficial, and it's best that teams don't get stuck in a rut.

But unfortunately for the Pistons, things haven't worked out so nicely with Monroe at the 4.

82games shows that the big man has posted a PER (Player Efficiency Rating) of 17.6 while playing power forward—he's allowed opponents to post an 18.9 PER. That's a net PER of minus-1.3, although the statistical databases indicate that rounding errors are steering us away from a more-accurate number of minus-1.4.

When he plays center, he's posting a 19.9 PER and holding opponents to 15.5. That's a net PER of 4.4.

That's a pretty sizable difference, as Monroe is more effective at center on both ends of the court.

NBA.com's statistical databases (subscription required) also show that Monroe's most effective five-man unit (among the ones with at least 30 minutes played) is outscoring opponents by 20.3 points per 100 possessions.

He plays center in these units.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1931901-the-detroit-pistons-have-a-major-greg-monroe-dilemma

Thanks for posting that. Interesting statistics and analysis. I wonder if there were some other factors involved besides him just playing either center of power forward. Anyway, it inspired me to track down this scouting video about him. Obviously intelligent and skilled player, and seems to hustle. But his big weaknesses are on defense where he doesn't have the lateral quickness as a PF and not the size, strength of jumping ability as a center. Was an interesting not at the end, the guy though he would play best alongside a stretch four types who rebounds hard.... Leonard? Although not sure why the scout was worried about his rebounding, averaged over 10 a game. It seems his offensive game is too similar to Aldridge as to where he starts out, but he almost always goes all the way to the basket, as he has no jump shot. I guess I would only consider him if Aldridge went, but still not sure if he would be worth the investment. I think the offense would flow really well with him. I did notice that he makes his offensive moves a lot faster than Aldridge.

 

[Blazer4ever]

With bigs that can run the floor

- LA
- Lopez
- Plumlee
- Leonard
- Vonleh

FTFY

 

[Scalma]

I'm over lopez. Time to get more athletic. It was a cool two years but time to move on. Unless he wants to be a backup.

 

[Schilly]

Prediction we add Monroe and Aminu, Lamarcus stays.

Starters Lillard - Henderson - Aminu - Aldridge - Monroe

With Monroe we give up a little defense, not as much as people think though, but we add a lot of offense. When was the last time the Blazers had a legit scoring threat in the post?

Henderson and Aminu we give up some shooting but increase our perimeter defense. Aminu has gotten better each year.

Bench Frazier - CJ - Crabbe - Leonard - Plumlee

Then we still have Vonleh, Kaman and probably Connaughton.... Although Diez could maybe surprise us and beat out Crabbe.

 

[julius]

Prediction we add Monroe and Aminu, Lamarcus stays.

Starters Lillard - Henderson - Aminu - Aldridge - Monroe

With Monroe we give up a little defense, not as much as people think though, but we add a lot of offense. When was the last time the Blazers had a legit scoring threat in the post?

Henderson and Aminu we give up some shooting but increase our perimeter defense. Aminu has gotten better each year.

Bench Frazier - CJ - Crabbe - Leonard - Plumlee

Then we still have Vonleh, Kaman and probably Connaughton.... Although Diez could maybe surprise us and beat out Crabbe.

Not sure that team excites me.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Don't know much about Monroe other than he wanted more money than Detroit thought he was worth last summer and didn't do much this year for Detroit to change their perspective on him. Monroe wants big time money but is he really a big time player or more of a role player?

Also Lillard isn't exactly known for his fast break passing skills.

 

[Scalma]

Can't we go over the cap to re-sign Matthews even if we sign two max guys? (LA, Monroe) I'm probably wrong, just wondering.

 

[Schilly]

Not with cap holds in place.

 

[Scalma]

Also no way Frazier is the backup PG. I know olshey mentioned mccollum but I'd bet anything he will still sign another vet like Barea or maybe even sergio.

 

[Scalma]

Not with cap holds in place.

Who would we have to renounce?

I'm pretty sure Kaman gets cut btw.

 

[Schilly]

There is a scenario we could maybe use....

Wesley has a cap hold of about 10.5 mil. Lamarcus of about 20. We could have close about 44 mil in space. If we could convince Lamarcus to take 19 mil to start... reports he's willing to leave 30 mil on the table to leave why not 7 to stay? We could sign Monroe to about 15 then with Monroe and Lamarcus signed we could go over Wesleys cap hold and the cap to keep him.

 

[Scalma]

Monroe, an unrestricted free agent who played five years with the Detroit Pistons, joins centers Marc Gasol and DeAndre Jordan and power forward LaMarcus Aldridge as those available who could most bolster a team’s frontcourt.

Five teams have shown serious interest — the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. Monroe said he’ll meet with those teams this week.

http://theadvocate.com/news/neworleans/12769441-148/big-man-greg-monroe-formerly

 

[Schilly]

“I’m looking to be with a team that’s ready to win,” said Monroe during a timeout at his youth basketball clinic Saturday morning at the Delgado Community College gymnasium. “Hopefully it will be a team where I’m the missing piece.”

So our competitors really are the Bucks and Celtics?

 

[Scalma]

“I’m looking to be with a team that’s ready to win,” said Monroe during a timeout at his youth basketball clinic Saturday morning at the Delgado Community College gymnasium. “Hopefully it will be a team where I’m the missing piece.”

So our competitors really are the Bucks and Celtics?

Looks like it.

 

[Strenuus]

He'll probably go to the lakers. lol.

 

[Scalma]

Falk will push him towards Portland I just feel it.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Falk will push him towards Portland I just feel it.

Me too. If Portland really wants him, Falk pushes him to us because of what we did for and treated Hibbert

 

[Scalma]

And I believe Falk and Tellem are tight as well. If Falk gets Monroe to Portland it might convince LA to stick around which in the end equals more commission for Tellem yay!!

 

[magnifier661]

Don't know much about Monroe other than he wanted more money than Detroit thought he was worth last summer and didn't do much this year for Detroit to change their perspective on him. Monroe wants big time money but is he really a big time player or more of a role player?

Also Lillard isn't exactly known for his fast break passing skills.

All you really need is a legit third option. I'm not goo goo for Monroe, but he is definitely a legit third. Also, he has high PER with high usage, meaning he's pretty efficient at scoring. If he plays center, he's statistically 5.5 PER better than his opponent. It's at PF where he gives up too much.

I hate how he and Aldridge really wouldn't protect the paint though. Watching teams pick us apart in the paint was maddening the last two years.

 

[stampedehero]

I do believe we are going to be following a model similar to the Warriors. I wouldn't call it run and gun in the mold of Steve Nash Sun's, but simply more active ball.movement, more an uptempo college style game.

+> Yes and that is what sells tickets...