The ‘Let’s get the best out of Greg Monroe‘ Lineup
PG – Matthew Dellavedova
SG – Malcolm Brogdon
SF – Khris Middleton
PF – Mirza Teletovic
C – Greg Monroe
Greg Monroe is always put on blast for being a bad fit for the Bucks. There’s no doubting that’s true, but some of the fault lies on the shoulders of the Bucks for not surrounding him with players that maximize his abilities. Many of Milwaukee’s biggest problems last year can be attributed to Monroe, but they are also weaknesses that prevented them from getting the best out of him in the first place.
Moose is really good at scoring down low and passing the ball. A lineup that includes three or four above average three-point shooters and two or three above average passers and ball handlers would be a snug fit for Monroe.
This lineup accomplishes just that. Moose gets to work in an unclogged paint on offense all the time with this group around him. He has Delly and Middleton, and to a lesser extent Brogdon, who can create a little bit off of the dribble and find angles to feed him the ball in the half court. We all know what Monroe can do with only one defender in his way.
Additionally, you have at least three competent three-point shooters, four if Brogdon shoots like many expect him to, around Moose. That allows Greg to punish double teams by kicking out to wide open shooters.
Defensively, this lineup will struggle. But only in the post. Teletovic and Moose are below average defenders. However, Middleton, Dellavedova and Brogdon are all very good defenders. They should be able to handle anything on the perimeter. With the perimeter defended well, Moose and Telly could focus on doing their best down low.
This group wouldn’t always be pretty on defense but would rarely be ugly on offense. If they played together regularly it seems they would probably give up a lot of points. That would leave a reliance on outscoring the opposition, and more often than not this group might just be able to manage that.
Next: Playing Small But Playing Tall