Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from late win over the Indiana Pacers

Greg Monroe is perfectly imperfect

In early August, Greg Monroe was signed by the Raptors for depth. On Wednesday night, with Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka out due to injury, the 11-year veteran was the teams’ lone force down low.

Of the Raptors’ first 13 points, Greg Monroe was responsible for 10 of them, on a perfect 5-5 mark from the field, with each bucket coming at the rim, even by way of multiple pick and rolls:

Dubbed ‘Moose’ for his slow trotting ways, Monroe was a key to the Raptors staying in the game the first 20 minutes, putting up 11 puts and seven boards in the first half alone.

In the game, Monroe finished with 13 points and eight boards on a 66.7-percent mark from the field.

The problem is not what Monroe brought to the floor, but what he didn’t: spacing.

Ibaka has been a constant force in the Raptors starting lineup, posing as a pivotal piece in Nick Nurse’s spread the wealth outside the arc system. In his entire career, Monroe has attempted only 14 3-pointers, making none. His outside prowess is mute.

Outside of the PnR, backdowns or putbacks, Monroe offers little offensive flexibility, slowing the Raptors system. The injured Valanciunas offers a similar skill set but is utilized mainly with the bench unit going against the opposition’s weaker big. When Ibaka suits up, and Monroe can fill Valanciunas’ role, things flow smoothly.

On the other end, he also serves as a hindrance, with little ability to switch on anyone besides a teams’ five.

Monroe, being relied on as a starter in the short-term, can have a positive influence on the Raptors. As a long-term solution, if Ibaka were to suffer a season-ending injury, the Raptors would be forced to look outside their current roster. Monroe is not their answer.