David Thorpe Accurately Assesses Sophomore Class

#2: Greg Monroe - How good has Monroe been this year? Not good enough to get Detroit out of the bottom five of the league, unfortunately, but I'll tell you this: If Detroit was a better team, then Blake Griffin would have some competition for "best of class."

Monroe is top 12 in the NBA in PER and offensive rebound rate and top 20 in overall rebound rate. And while Detroit is an awful defensive team, only Ben Wallace is playing better defense than Monroe, who has to carry an offensive burden far more than Wallace does.

There are still questions about how Monroe would perform on a better team, or if he's good enough to be a top-three player on a good team. But all things considered, no one in this class besides Griffin can touch Monroe right now.

#14 Jonas Jerebko - Jerebko is proof that tall guys who compete really hard can find their way on an NBA roster and even get playing time on bad teams. JJ hustles everywhere, even when he shouldn't sometimes, like when he catches in space and tries to dribble attack. As a decent midrange shooter and an adequate defender, his energy is what ultimately gets him on the court.

Jerebko is officially in his 2nd season after missing the entire previous regular season due to injury (just like Blake Griffin did in the year that he was drafted)

4 months ago The Boourns 13 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Certainly deserved - Monroe has been great!

by revken on Feb 3, 2012 11:42 PM EST reply actions

There are questions about if "he's good enough to be a top three player on a good team"?

That’s rediculous. I’d understand questions about being the best player on a good team, but he’s definitely good enough to be second best, not to mention top three.
Also, I could tell him how he’d perform on a better team. He’d have guys to take some of the offensive pressure off him and get him the ball in good position. He’d also would get more assists.

Anybody can happen!

by Tom Y. on Feb 4, 2012 5:10 AM EST reply actions

Yeah...can you imagine putting him alongside Bynum?

with Kobe to pass to?

Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.

Love Beer? Me too! http://jimbobsbeerblog.wordpress.com/
Follow me on twitter: #JimBobsBeerBlog

by The Boourns on Feb 4, 2012 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

He’d average 3 shots per game.

I wrote a book about time travel. Buy it and/or die. http://www.thetimetravelguide.com

by heWizard on Feb 4, 2012 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

but think of all the handsome looks he'd have!

Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.

Love Beer? Me too! http://jimbobsbeerblog.wordpress.com/
Follow me on twitter: #JimBobsBeerBlog

by The Boourns on Feb 4, 2012 10:24 PM EST up reply actions

We all know how good Monroe is.

But how about JJ? Don’t get me wrong, I love Jonas. But I haven’t been super impressed to often this season by him. I’d like to see more than “hustle” out of him.

The Distorted Waltz-NEW SONGS
@madpoopz

by madpoopz on Feb 5, 2012 11:35 PM EST reply actions

he's quietly been mediocre

Mediocre, but not bad. Mediocre, and played out-of-position.

He’s one of the few Pistons that are actually helping the team. Statistically, only he, Rodney, Ben, Jason and Greg have had a positive impact on the team. But individually, Jonas’ numbers don’t inspire much excitement.

The guy needs to play the 3. There’s no way to sugarcoat that, in my epinion. We loved him during his rookie season when he earned the 3 spot and held it down. We had a better record with Jerebko at the 3 than we’ve had with Prince since. And Jerebko’s rookie season was a horrible time in Detroit. If we paid Jerebko to be a power forward going, uh, forward, it’s another sign that Joe Dumars is a fucking idiot.

by Mike Payne on Feb 6, 2012 1:56 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

This. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt more than most due to coming off a season-long injury. I think he’s a fringe starter that’s struggled to play PF and everything else MP already said.

"With logic he attacks. With statistics he defends."

@brgulker

by brgulker on Feb 6, 2012 2:56 PM EST up reply actions

You say "quietly mediocre"

but statistically, he hasn’t been any worse than he was his rookie year despite playing all of his minutes out of position this year while playing a significant % of his minutes from the SF position his rookie year. Per 36, he’s averaging 1 more point per, but the exact same for rebounds, assists, blocks, and turnovers. He’s fouling at a slightly higher rate and stealing at a slightly lower rate.

His 3PT% has fallen off from a respectable high 30% range to 33% but his TS% and eFG% are almost exactly the same.

Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.

Love Beer? Me too! http://jimbobsbeerblog.wordpress.com/
Follow me on twitter: #JimBobsBeerBlog

by The Boourns on Feb 6, 2012 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

Not sure what you’re saying BooBoo.

by Mike Payne on Feb 6, 2012 6:21 PM EST up reply actions

I guess I just mean he's not any worse than he was his rookie year but the team around is arguably worse...

so I guess unless you thought he was mediocre his rookie season, then how would he be mediocre this one. THAT’S WHAT I’M SAYIN’!

Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.

Love Beer? Me too! http://jimbobsbeerblog.wordpress.com/
Follow me on twitter: #JimBobsBeerBlog

by The Boourns on Feb 6, 2012 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

unless you thought he was mediocre his rookie season, then how would he be mediocre this one

Because my belief in Jonas has less to do with box score stats (and the resulting advanced metrics) than most players. What made Jonas special as a rookie was his defensive ability at small forward, and the hustle/energy he brought to the wing where most focus on finesse. Jonas was mediocre on offense during his rookie season. He’s still mediocre on offense, but he’s now also mediocre on defense. This isn’t Jonas’s fault, it’s Jod’s fault. If Jonas were starting at the three, his physical advantages would continue the way they did in 2009-10.

Also, “mediocre” isn’t really a bad thing. Being middle-of-the-road in the NBA is to be one of the 200 or so best players in the world. I’m not suggesting he’s bad, he’s a positive for a team with, like, six positive players out of 14. If someone were to ask me how Jonas is doing, I think “mediocre” is a fair response, and I think if he was used properly, “solid” would be just as fair.

by Mike Payne on Feb 6, 2012 11:56 PM EST up reply actions