The most annoying thing about following the Pistons lately has been the debate about whether Greg Monroe, one of two good NBA players the team has had over the last five seasons, was a poor fit.
Monroe was the best player on the team from the moment the Pistons drafted him, and was the second best player on the team from the moment they drafted Andre Drummond. After Monroe? There’s a wiiiiiiiiiide gulf in talent and that — not Monroe’s “fit,” or defensive abilities, or lack of athleticism, or whether he’s a center or a power forward — has been the sole reason the Pistons have been a bad team throughout his entire career.
Anyway, Monroe, a player who is good, who rebounds, who is fun to watch if you like crafty below-the-rim low-post play, who seems to work hard, has conducted himself professionally (mostly), is likely leaving for nothing in the offseason. If you’ve enjoyed watching him and feel he’s been unfairly maligned by the “he doesn’t fit” crowd like I have, then I wrote a column at the Detroit Free Press highlighting his contributions in the face of little organizational support/interest. Maybe we can start a support group when he leaves this offseason.
"Let’s keep the scenario game going though.You are clearly the team’s best frontcourt player from the second you join the roster, yet your coach starts your career with two straight DNP-CDs while the power forward position is manned by Austin Daye, Charlie Villanueva and Jason Maxiell. You don’t enter the starting lineup for good until the 38th game of the season, when the team is already 12-25. (Think about that one — for the first 37 games during Monroe’s rookie season, John Kuester thought he had a better starting power forward AND center option on the roster than Monroe! If you don’t think that’s crazy, take another look atthat roster.). You lead the team in rebounding.Your second year, you lead the team in scoring despite taking fewer shots per game than a guy who shoots 42% (Tayshaun Prince) and essentially the same number of shots per game as a rookie (Brandon Knight) who also shoots 42%. The good news? You took one more shot per game than a guy who shoots 42% (Rodney Stuckey). Monroe made 52% of his shots that season.Your third year, you lead the team in scoring for the second straight year, in rebounding for the third straight year, take on a bigger role in the offense while remaining an efficient low-post scorer and you average a career-high 3.5 assists per game, finally flashing the passing skills that made you a sought after prospect in college.In your fourth year, you are not offered a contract extension despite being eligible (and being the team’s best player for three straight years) prior to the season. The team signs a more expensive, older, worse player who plays your same position. You slip to third on the team in scoring by approximately one point per game. You shoot 8% better than the player who finished first, 12% better than the player who finished second and get four and two fewer shots than each of them per game, respectively.In your fifth year, you lose your starting job to the player who proved to be worse than you the previous season and who the team later cut with more than two years left on his deal as the team’s highest paid player. You average a double-double for the first time in your career while playing fewer minutes per game than you have since your rookie season."
You can read the full thing here. You should imagine righteous tears of anger hitting my keyboard as a typed it. A Dashboard Confessional album may or may not have been playing. I’ve said too much.