Comments on: Greg Monroe on US Select Team: ‘I should have been invited’ http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/ Your Go-To Source For Pistons Coverage Tue, 21 May 2013 02:27:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: oats http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/comment-page-1/#comment-77495 oats Mon, 09 Jul 2012 23:06:05 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/#comment-77495 But we're not worried about everyone. We're worried about Spain. Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, and Serge Ibaka. If I'm not mistaken, they have one of those short, thick guys on the roster too. Felipe Reyes I think his name is. I would use Greg as the Pau counterpart, but Spain is a really athletic team with some solid defenders up front, and they will try to push people around. It kind of makes sense to focus on more physical players for the select team and be prepared for that while trusting the players to know that Pau is the one finesse big on the roster. That's my best guess though, Greg was left off to train for the athletic Spanish team that is clearly the biggest competition for the US team.   By the way, Greg actually doesn't play his man well. That's kind of the worst thing he does defensively. He has quick hands and gets steals, especially with sloppy inlet passes. He is smart enough to play vaguely acceptable help defense, but once his man gets the ball in his hands Greg is pretty terrible. That's also probably part of why Monroe didn't make the cut, he gets carved up by guys like Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love. But we’re not worried about everyone. We’re worried about Spain. Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, and Serge Ibaka. If I’m not mistaken, they have one of those short, thick guys on the roster too. Felipe Reyes I think his name is. I would use Greg as the Pau counterpart, but Spain is a really athletic team with some solid defenders up front, and they will try to push people around. It kind of makes sense to focus on more physical players for the select team and be prepared for that while trusting the players to know that Pau is the one finesse big on the roster. That’s my best guess though, Greg was left off to train for the athletic Spanish team that is clearly the biggest competition for the US team.
 
By the way, Greg actually doesn’t play his man well. That’s kind of the worst thing he does defensively. He has quick hands and gets steals, especially with sloppy inlet passes. He is smart enough to play vaguely acceptable help defense, but once his man gets the ball in his hands Greg is pretty terrible. That’s also probably part of why Monroe didn’t make the cut, he gets carved up by guys like Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love.

]]> By: Ray http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/comment-page-1/#comment-77385 Ray Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:31:13 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/#comment-77385 I thought the same thing...but in reality....MORE EURO BIGS have Greg type of game...can dribble drive, face up or back to the basket and shoot..... defensively, in one on one in the post its more about footwork and positioning to force tough shots Never claimed that Greg is a great defender, but he plays his man well... I thought the same thing…but in reality….MORE EURO BIGS have Greg type of game…can dribble drive, face up or back to the basket and shoot….. defensively, in one on one in the post its more about footwork and positioning to force tough shots

Never claimed that Greg is a great defender, but he plays his man well…

]]> By: Alejandro http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/comment-page-1/#comment-77374 Alejandro Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:01:51 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/#comment-77374 Vince & Pat, thanks for the explanations fellas. I guess we just have to look at the positive in the situation and hope Moose continues to let it fuel him tha the was left off. On a side note, can't wait until I get off work and can go home & hit my DVR and watch our first summer league game today! Vince & Pat, thanks for the explanations fellas. I guess we just have to look at the positive in the situation and hope Moose continues to let it fuel him tha the was left off.
On a side note, can’t wait until I get off work and can go home & hit my DVR and watch our first summer league game today!

]]> By: Patrick Hayes http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/comment-page-1/#comment-77373 Patrick Hayes Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:51:25 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/#comment-77373 <p>The explanation I heard that makes the most sense is basically, the select team is not them picking the best team of young prospects in the league. Basically, it's USA basketball picking a roster of guys that they feel will prepare the Olympic team for what they'll see in competition -- maybe they want to practice against a good shot blocker, hence Stiemsma would have the edge over Monroe or they would want to practice vs an undersized big man like Blair since there are a lot of undersized big men in international play or a guy like Favors to see someone who is elite athletically. Basically, they pick the select team based on a collection of specialized skills, not 'OK the top 12 players in the U.S. are the Olympic team and the next 12 best are the select team.' That's really the only scenario that would make sense. As you said, on no planet would anyone consider Stiemsma or Blair or Favors better than Monroe.</p> The explanation I heard that makes the most sense is basically, the select team is not them picking the best team of young prospects in the league.

Basically, it’s USA basketball picking a roster of guys that they feel will prepare the Olympic team for what they’ll see in competition — maybe they want to practice against a good shot blocker, hence Stiemsma would have the edge over Monroe or they would want to practice vs an undersized big man like Blair since there are a lot of undersized big men in international play or a guy like Favors to see someone who is elite athletically. Basically, they pick the select team based on a collection of specialized skills, not ‘OK the top 12 players in the U.S. are the Olympic team and the next 12 best are the select team.’

That’s really the only scenario that would make sense. As you said, on no planet would anyone consider Stiemsma or Blair or Favors better than Monroe.

]]> By: Vince http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/comment-page-1/#comment-77369 Vince Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:48:11 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/#comment-77369 The SLAM article above explains it all really, its all politics. Popovich helped the selection, he pushed for Blair, Thomas played under Krzyzewski at Duke, Stiemsma was at the Pan Am Games and for some reason everyone hates Moose's agent... Its bloody ridiculous. The SLAM article above explains it all really, its all politics. Popovich helped the selection, he pushed for Blair, Thomas played under Krzyzewski at Duke, Stiemsma was at the Pan Am Games and for some reason everyone hates Moose’s agent… Its bloody ridiculous.

]]> By: Alejandro http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/comment-page-1/#comment-77367 Alejandro Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:40:18 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/#comment-77367 Was there ever an explanation why guys like Stiesma or DeJuan Blair were given bids for the Select Team and not Moose? I'm a hardcore basketball fan, played it through High School, and continue to play weekly so I understand the game. But am I that dumb that I can't figure out why Moose wasn't asked? Did the coaches every give a reason? I am dumbfounded. Was there ever an explanation why guys like Stiesma or DeJuan Blair were given bids for the Select Team and not Moose? I’m a hardcore basketball fan, played it through High School, and continue to play weekly so I understand the game. But am I that dumb that I can’t figure out why Moose wasn’t asked? Did the coaches every give a reason? I am dumbfounded.

]]> By: Vince http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/comment-page-1/#comment-77365 Vince Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:31:21 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/#comment-77365 "USA basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said earlier last week he was committed to bringing Thomas and Stiemsma, who played on the Pan American games that won a bronze medal last summer. Some feel politics are involved, considering Thomas played at Duke and his college coach, Mike Krzyzewski, coaches the Olympic Team. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has been heavily involved in USA basketball and might have pushed for Blair. There’s a feeling in some circles there is a quiet backlash against Monroe’s agent, David Falk, who has been influential in the NBA for the past three decades." SLAM's piece on Monroe's beef was a good read, that excerpt above was pretty enlightening. Full story <a href="http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/07/greg-monroe-thinks-he-was-snubbed-by-usa-basketball/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. “USA basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said earlier last week he was committed to bringing Thomas and Stiemsma, who played on the Pan American games that won a bronze medal last summer. Some feel politics are involved, considering Thomas played at Duke and his college coach, Mike Krzyzewski, coaches the Olympic Team. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has been heavily involved in USA basketball and might have pushed for Blair. There’s a feeling in some circles there is a quiet backlash against Monroe’s agent, David Falk, who has been influential in the NBA for the past three decades.”

SLAM’s piece on Monroe’s beef was a good read, that excerpt above was pretty enlightening. Full story here.

]]> By: Ray http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/comment-page-1/#comment-77363 Ray Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:08:11 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/#comment-77363 Cousin shot 44% last year and shot 45% this year ..... he wants to be a SG....not saying he is soft but he wants to be a SG.... Greg shot 55% last year and 52% this year...and almost hot 5 shots less than Cousins..... would have been very excited on Draft day if Cousin fell to us, but given his problems since he has been in the league and what the pistons went through 2 years ago.... we are very lucky to have Greg...and in just two years we get one the of most gifted athletic big men to ever enter the draft.... Could you imagine Cousins mentor Drummond? assuming that would have been our pick Cousin shot 44% last year and shot 45% this year ….. he wants to be a SG….not saying he is soft but he wants to be a SG…. Greg shot 55% last year and 52% this year…and almost hot 5 shots less than Cousins…..

would have been very excited on Draft day if Cousin fell to us, but given his problems since he has been in the league and what the pistons went through 2 years ago….

we are very lucky to have Greg…and in just two years we get one the of most gifted athletic big men to ever enter the draft….

Could you imagine Cousins mentor Drummond? assuming that would have been our pick

]]> By: Vince http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/comment-page-1/#comment-77326 Vince Mon, 09 Jul 2012 04:44:42 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/#comment-77326 They chose Blake because of his insane flopping abilities. They chose Blake because of his insane flopping abilities.

]]> By: brandow http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/comment-page-1/#comment-77325 brandow Mon, 09 Jul 2012 04:32:18 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/greg-monroe-on-us-select-team-i-should-have-been-invited/#comment-77325 really i think iggy and harden shouldnt be on the team, i respect iggys all around game but we already have that in lebron and as for harden he is the sixth man for okc and they put him in the US squad. obviously he chose griffin not because he plays the game but because he can dunk really i think iggy and harden shouldnt be on the team, i respect iggys all around game but we already have that in lebron and as for harden he is the sixth man for okc and they put him in the US squad. obviously he chose griffin not because he plays the game but because he can dunk

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