Will a Monroe/Drummond Front Court Work?

[ComboGuardCity]

Just read an article on Bleacher Report and IMO was terrible written that states its going to be the second coming of Laimbeer getting exposed Webber. Author also fails to even address the Lakers. So, before we see them in action, do you think they can be the starting front court of our future?

And for reference, Top PFs (No order)
Lebron & Durant (Situational)




1. Love
2. Dirk
3. Josh Smith
4. Blake
5. Lee
6. Randolph
7. Andersen

[MrBigShot]

Yes.

The key is Moose getting consistent with that mid-range J. Will really open up the game for him.

[ParrottK]

Yes.

The key is Moose getting consistent with that mid-range J. Will really open up the game for him.

I agree. Monroe already plays very PF'ish. He's mostly a face-up and drive player out of the high post. Adding the mid-range jumper will really round out his game. Obviously there are defensive questions, but it's not like Monroe is a stellar defensive center.

[Joe Berry]

I am not worried about offense, give Moose 2-3 more seasons and he will be a great midrange shooter like Duncan, play them both together with 3 good/great three point shooters and there will be not spacing problems on offense.

But defensively i am really worried.

The issue here is Monroe. He lacks the quick feet to stay in front of athletic big men. A stretch four player would eat him alive.

The Pistons have two options if they run these guys out there together. Either they let Monroe get bested on a regular basis by the league's more athletic and perimeter-oriented fours, or they try to run Drummond out there.

Even if Drummond is able to play effective perimeter defense on stretch fours, they would be missing out on his supreme post defense and shot-blocking prowess.

I think he got a point there. Moose is already to slow for some centers he plays against, he will have trouble guarding PFs on a regular basis, thats just a fact. And while he could switch with Drummond on defense, it weakens our overall defense, Drummond has to protect the basket for the Pistons to contend someday. I really wish Moose would take a closer look at what Duncan does on defense, he isn't the quickest player either, but obviously he is one of the all time greats at both ends of the court.
While i think it will hurt our defense playing Moose at PF a lot, its not the end of the world either. This front court would be great in a 3-2 zone, get me a coach who can implement this and i will promise you the Pistons defense would be top 5. But look at Zach Randolph, Boozer, etc. good rebounders, great scorers, not very good defenders. I think we can be a really good team playing Dre/Moose together, can they form a championchip frontcourt? i dunno, time will tell.

[Piston Pete]

Short and simple; I think it can, eventually, but I have my doubts.

[Goldtop]

yeah, it can work. It depends what we add around them though. If we cant get enough scoring around them, and need to rely on defense mostly to win, then it will be hard with Monroe. Not just defending PFs but just defensively period. I don't think its that he's soft, because you don't play strictly inside as a big man on offense if you are soft. I think its just mental lapses on defense. He doesn't focus enough like he does on offense. Plus he lacks atheticism to recover. A guy like Drummond can afford mental lapses because he can recover in time with his athleticism. If Monroe gets off track he cant get back into position quick enough. Thats really what it comes down to. He just needs to practice his fundamentals and mental tougness on that end.

I don't know if they will lead us to championships, but I definitely think they can at least be a great reg season duo for now.

[Pugz]

Short and simple; I think it can, eventually, but I have my doubts.

this. people jump on frank for not playing them but never bring up what greg has said, he doesnt feel comfortable playing with drummond and doesnt really want to move from the 5. i honestly think thats a big part of his agent coming out and saying he wants to wait to sign an extension.

[rmfc]

But defensively i am really worried.

This is my biggest concern with the pairing. Monroe is not just lackadaisical at times(as seen with his lack of defensive rotations)... he is not even physically capable of playing against these tough interior players.

Drummond will help... but how much can you really expect him to do on his own?

Lets see if Monroe puts in the effort to bulk up and get stronger in the off-season and if he can improve his range and hit his jumpers with confidence and consistency.

I don't expect him to do all that because he is kind of soft...but I am hoping for the best.

We do need his interior scoring, though. It would be great if he can improve his shooting % (this season) because most of his shots are near the basket.

[Jodi]

Yeah, I think it'll work out just fine...

[ComboGuardCity]

Short and simple; I think it can, eventually, but I have my doubts.

this. people jump on frank for not playing them but never bring up what greg has said, he doesnt feel comfortable playing with drummond and doesnt really want to move from the 5. i honestly think thats a big part of his agent coming out and saying he wants to wait to sign an extension.

Source? Greg has said he doesn't see much of a difference between the 4/5.

[Pugz]

there has been a few articles throughout the season on mlive, i believe.

[ComboGuardCity]

there has been a few articles throughout the season on mlive, i believe.

Moose seems fine with it IMO. THis was him at the beginning of the year:
http://www.nba.com/pistons/features/tru ... 0813b.html

“They basically said I need to be prepared to play power forward,” Monroe told me after a lengthy workout Monday at the team’s practice facility. “They’re looking for at least one of those guys to be ready, so I’ve started to prepare myself to be ready to play the four. We’ve been working on stuff to have me in those positions.”

Monroe feels the transition would be relatively seamless, especially on the offensive end.

“It’s very OK with me,” he said. “With us there’s not that much of a difference, anyway. I’m not really worried about the transition. I’ve been playing power forward and center all my life, so I’m comfortable with playing either. I’m comfortable with the ball in the mid-post and at the elbow. Defensively, maybe that would be the only thing – guarding different types of players. I would have to scout more, learn the guys’ tendencies. It would be different footwork, moving your feet more.

“But I’m ready for the challenge. Like I’ve always said, I’m here to do whatever my team needs me to do. Defense is the staple of this organization. It’s what coach L is trying to do, so I’m just here to work as hard as I can to get better at that, too.”

[Pugz]

what i read was from a few weeks ago..

it wasnt anything to really worry about but he was clearly taking the blame for the two of them not playing enough together.

[ajaX82]

Doesn't concern me much. Offensively they contrast well, with Monroe bringing the skill and all around game and Drummond bringing the pure power and athleticism. I love it. They should dominate the glass too, which is an often overlooked aspect.

Defensively is obviously the bigger problem but it isn't that dire. Truthfully I could see Moose guarding 5s and Dre switching over to more athletic 4s when we need to. The great thing about Dre is that he is so damn athletic for his size that he can hang with anyone in the league.

Look at OPs original list and I think Moose can hang with some, like Love and Lee, allowing Drummond to stay at the 5. When you play someone like Atlanta, put Dre on Smoove and let Moose guard Horford. Super athletic frontcourts, like LACs will be a problem for sure, but those aren't common. Bringing in a third respectable, defensive minded big to run a 3 man rotation would be a nice idea

tldr; Offensively and on the glass we will be more than fine. Defensively we could run into some trouble against super athletic frontcourts, but mostly I don't forsee big problems.

[OneBadMutha]

It's not an efficient use of talent. What I mean by that is Moose can be very good and Drummond can be very good but together they do not compliment each other well. Moose has the most upside if he gains strength and stays at center. At the 5, his lack of mobility would be less of an issue if he gets stronger. He can use his skill-set to his advantage more against 5's than athletic 4's.

Drummond needs spacing to be effective on offense setting screen and rolls and crashing to the basket. Moose and Drummond on the court at the same time allows defenses to sag and both defending bigs can help each other guard Drummond/Moose and it clogs up the paint reducing offensive rebound opportunities (on top of making it difficult to pick and roll or slash to the basket in general).

People like to point out the bad defenders Howard had next to him without also acknowledging that at least there was some pay-back offensively. Moose doesn't really compliment Drummond on either end. Since I believe Drummond has the most upside, I think the focus should be how to best compliment his game.

Moose should be a great trade chip to a team looking for a young center. I believe he can be a top 5 center eventually if he gets stronger but not a top 5 power forward. I'd look to sign Josh Smith to play the 4 and trade Moose for a better fit on the wing.

[mercury]

It can work for most matchups... the mobile PFs will always be difficult... I think it's important to acquire a defensive specialist to insert when match ups dictate... we tend to forget the advantages Greg provides vs most PF's... which PFs are going to be able to step out on the perimeter and stop his face up moves?
I'm pulling out from wanting to trade him for a true PF based on his intelligence and rapid improvement... the fact that he can step in as a center when needed gives him a leg up on most.

[mercury]

It's not an efficient use of talent. What I mean by that is Moose can be very good and Drummond can be very good but together they do not compliment each other well. Moose has the most upside if he gains strength and stays at center. At the 5, his lack of mobility would be less of an issue if he gets stronger. He can use his skill-set to his advantage more against 5's than athletic 4's.

Drummond needs spacing to be effective on offense setting screen and rolls and crashing to the basket. Moose and Drummond on the court at the same time allows defenses to sag and both defending bigs can help each other guard Drummond/Moose and it clogs up the paint reducing offensive rebound opportunities (on top of making it difficult to pick and roll or slash to the basket in general).

People like to point out the bad defenders Howard had next to him without also acknowledging that at least there was some pay-back offensively. Moose doesn't really compliment Drummond on either end. Since I believe Drummond has the most upside, I think the focus should be how to best compliment his game.

Moose should be a great trade chip to a team looking for a young center. I believe he can be a top 5 center eventually if he gets stronger but not a top 5 power forward. I'd look to sign Josh Smith to play the 4 and trade Moose for a better fit on the wing.

I'll buy you a beer if Greg doesn't become much better from range... let's make sure we're not thinking this is the final product.

[OneBadMutha]

If Monroe is a power forward, even if he develops a mid range shot, I believe you're capping his upside value to be Boozer-esque. Good offensive player/rebounder...but doesn't have the physical tools to dominate consistently and will be a defensive liability. We saw Boozer subbed out for defensive specialist in the 4th quarter of playoff games. It's hard to live full time with a major defensive liability up front...unless it's Amare in his prime...and Amare didn't win anything.

Keep Monroe at the 5 and he may not be such a sub par defender long term. That's why I don't think you're getting full value from him in Detroit. He's definitely going to hurt with a max contract at the 4. He's going to get a max contract because he's going to be worth that to someone who wants him at center...and Detroit is going to have to match and then play him out of position.

Trade him while the stock is high.

[princeofpalace]

Prime Boozer ( or Bosh, or Amare, or Zbo, etc) paired with a defensive anchor is a championship caliber frontcourt. It seems like ppl are creating a problem where there isn't one.

I also think it's interesting that in 2010 people cried when we ended up with Monroe because he was a pure PF, not even 3 years later, he's a pure center.

Any problem that Greg will have with faceup 4 will be cancelled out by the problems that those same undersized PF will have guarding Greg on the block

[DetroitSho]

Prime Boozer ( or Bosh, or Amare, or Zbo, etc) paired with a defensive anchor is a championship caliber frontcourt. It seems like ppl are creating a problem where there isn't one.

I also think it's interesting that in 2010 people cried when we ended up with Monroe because he was a pure PF, not even 3 years later, he's a pure center.

Any problem that Greg will have with faceup 4 will be cancelled out by the problems that those same undersized PF will have guarding Greg on the block

Great post. And people kill me saying trade Greg for a Ryan Anderson because he fits better with Drummond, just completellay glossing over the fact he has worse defensive potential than Greg. The thought is Greg can't keep up with the Ryan Anderson's of the world on the perimeter. Ryan Anderson can't keep up with the Ryan Andersons on the world. At least Greg can rebound and create shots for himself and others.