So is Ainge going to possibly try to go after Greg Monroe?

[AB_Celtic]

I do think that on a team that can space the floor around him Greg Monroe could be an elite offensive center. I think that with the right Serge Ibaka clone next to him, you could hide him defensively. But I don't think the Celtics are that team, and I don't think Danny Ainge thinks so either.

Serge Ibaka
Kerge Olaka
Kergy Olyny
Kelly Olynyk

My god... how did we not see it before?

[D.o.s.]

[MSceltic]

The fact that he has stayed consistent actually gives me reason to argue he's improved. If your rebounds stay the same from rookie year to a year where you play with Drummond and Smith I'm ecstatic. Drummond is a metal detector when it comes to rebounds, and Smith is a 4 who thinks he's a 3 on offense and he rebounds well. Oh and as far as his PPG average, the dude played with Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith, if those guys don't shoot 75% of a teams shots then they go home and take their ball with them.

[indeedproceed]

[fantankerous]

I'm also curious about what people's definition of defense is and if the majority of what defense entails (especially at the center position) is shot blocking.  I see the term thrown around a lot.  Despite being really good at all other areas including defense, not being a "shot blocker" automatically disqualifies someone as a good defensive player.  I don't get it.  Why is it a necessity with the celtics fans?

Regardless of how you define defense, Greg Monroe is not good at it.

I would take you more seriously if you actually take time to explain instead of blatantly spewing your dislike for the guy.

Just because he has a dislike of the guy doesn't mean he's wrong. Monroe, by every defensive metric, is simply horrible at defense. His combine numbers in agility, the 3/4 court sprint and his vertical were all near or at the bottom of his class. He's dead weight in the middle and opposing guys blow by him with ease. By all accounts he's a hard worker, but he's probably one of the worst interior defenders in the league.

All of the above.  Also re:Clench123, I don't dislike Monroe. (You should bear in mind the old adage about making assumptions and what it makes you.)  I quite enjoy watching him offensively, but I don't let that blind me to his obvious and enormous defensive deficiencies. 

[LooseCannon]

Monroe is just a more experienced, already hit his ceiling, Jared Sullinger. Only player I would want from the Pistons is Josh Smith. The Josh Smith who will not take a 3 pointer the entire year.

So you mean the Josh Smith that doesn't exist then...

There was a season where Josh Smith took only seven three-point attempts in Atlanta.  The Hawks had 53 wins, the most during Smith's tenure there.  J-Smoove showed what he had learned by choosing to set a career high in 3PA the following season.

That, in a nutshell, is why I don't want Josh Smith on the Celtics.

[ManUp]

Get Monroe find the guy to stretch the floor and defend later.

IMO, Monroe is a 20/10 guy waiting for the touches and minutes.

Rondo would love a guy who could catch and finish like him.

[Granath]

Get Monroe find the guy to stretch the floor and defend later.

IMO, Monroe is a 20/10 guy waiting for the touches and minutes.

Rondo would love a guy who could catch and finish like him.

Minutes? What, 33 per game isn't enough? 

[D.o.s.]

Get Monroe find the guy to stretch the floor and defend later.

IMO, Monroe is a 20/10 guy waiting for the touches and minutes.

Rondo would love a guy who could catch and finish like him.

Minutes? What, 33 per game isn't enough?

You could argue that the minutes he needs are at center, not at the 4, and especially not with Josh Smith at the 3.

[arctic 3.0]

The fact that he has stayed consistent actually gives me reason to argue he's improved. If your rebounds stay the same from rookie year to a year where you play with Drummond and Smith I'm ecstatic. Drummond is a metal detector when it comes to rebounds, and Smith is a 4 who thinks he's a 3 on offense and he rebounds well. Oh and as far as his PPG average, the dude played with Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith, if those guys don't shoot 75% of a teams shots then they go home and take their ball with them.

This.
Thanks for saving me the time to write the exact same thing.

[D.o.s.]

Monroe is just a more experienced, already hit his ceiling, Jared Sullinger. Only player I would want from the Pistons is Josh Smith. The Josh Smith who will not take a 3 pointer the entire year.

So you mean the Josh Smith that doesn't exist then...

There was a season where Josh Smith took only seven three-point attempts in Atlanta.  The Hawks had 53 wins, the most during Smith's tenure there.  J-Smoove showed what he had learned by choosing to set a career high in 3PA the following season.

That, in a nutshell, is why I don't want Josh Smith on the Celtics.

Hahahahahaha

[Granath]

Get Monroe find the guy to stretch the floor and defend later.

IMO, Monroe is a 20/10 guy waiting for the touches and minutes.

Rondo would love a guy who could catch and finish like him.

Minutes? What, 33 per game isn't enough?

You could argue that the minutes he needs are at center, not at the 4, and especially not with Josh Smith at the 3.

Josh Smith was with Detroit only last year. Monroe has posted essentially the same statistics the last 3 years. What's the excuse for the other two years?

I'm not that anti Greg Monroe, except when it comes to his lack of defense. But you can't blame one year of Smith when Monroe's game - statistically and by watching games - hasn't progressed over the last 3 years. As for him being a Center, I'm not sure I'll trade his 17/10 line when he's giving up 25/15 because he moves like Lurch on the defense.

Monroe is a nice player, but he's not the answer at the max (or near max). At that price he's a liability.

[indeedproceed]

Get Monroe find the guy to stretch the floor and defend later.

IMO, Monroe is a 20/10 guy waiting for the touches and minutes.

Rondo would love a guy who could catch and finish like him.

Minutes? What, 33 per game isn't enough?

You could argue that the minutes he needs are at center, not at the 4, and especially not with Josh Smith at the 3.

Josh Smith was with Detroit only last year. Monroe has posted essentially the same statistics the last 3 years. What's the excuse for the other two years?

I'm not that anti Greg Monroe, except when it comes to his lack of defense. But you can't blame one year of Smith when Monroe's game - statistically and by watching games - hasn't progressed over the last 3 years. As for him being a Center, I'm not sure I'll trade his 17/10 line when he's giving up 25/15 because he moves like Lurch on the defense.

Monroe is a nice player, but he's not the answer at the max (or near max). At that price he's a liability.

Again, this is misleading. Monroe's advanced statistics were hampered by Andre Drummond. They were murdered by Josh Smith.

I don't think there is much validity to this. Monroe had a .151 WS/48 his sophomore season, the only season, not coincidentally where he played the entire season at the center position. That .151 number this season puts him just behind Dwight Howard and ahead of Marcin Gortat, Al Jefferson, Marc Gasol and Roy Hibbert.

Since then he's been pushed in and out of position by the addition of Andre Drummond, had multiple coaches, and seen major roster turnover. I think the notion that 'he is what he is' is pretty off-base.

[Mr October]

Get Monroe find the guy to stretch the floor and defend later.

IMO, Monroe is a 20/10 guy waiting for the touches and minutes.

Rondo would love a guy who could catch and finish like him.

He can catch and finish very nicely. He runs the floor really well. But you cant rely on throwing the ball to him in the post and having him operate. He's not center strong when it comes to holding his post position on offense or defense.

He also cant shoot the ball well from mid range. And if offense is his forte he better shoot well, or dominate in the post. He doesn't do either.

I see him as a good numbers on a bad team player. If he is one of your 3 best players and you want to contend for a title, your other 2 guys would have to be all timers like Kobe, Lebron, Shaq.

His lateral foot speed and general laziness on defense is horrible as well.

Bottom line. I do not want this guy on the Celtics making 17 million per year. That would be a fast track to mediocrity if there ever was one.

[HomerSapien]

I'm wondering if the plan is to throw a huge offer at DeAndre Jordan next offseason. Seems like a defensive difference maker, and Rondo can turn Boston into lob city with Deandre.