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Milwaukee Bucks Matchup To Watch: Greg Monroe vs. Robin Lopez

By Max Marcilla

Sep 28, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) poses during media day at Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) poses during media day at Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Milwaukee Bucks gave Greg Monroe a three-year, $51 million contract in the offseason and through five games, the center has earned his paycheck. He is averaging 19.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, shooting 59 percent from the field and making a career-high 81 percent of his attempts from the foul line.

In four of the team’s five games, Monroe has shot at least 50 percent. The one game he failed to accomplish that feat was against Robin Lopez and the New York Knicks in the season opener. He’ll have a chance to get revenge on Friday.

Lopez, a seven-footer who the Knicks signed to a hefty four-year, $52 million contract in the offseason, is one of the best interior defenders in the NBA. Opponents are shooting just 47.8 percent on field goals less than six feet away from the hoop while being guarded by Lopez, per NBA.com.

Although he shot just 41 percent in the loss, Monroe was productive against Lopez. He finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds and even blocked a pair of shots.

He will also reap the benefits of having Giannis Antetokounmpo — who was suspended for the season opener — and Jabari Parker in the rotation. Parker will be on a strict minutes-limit that the Bucks are enforcing until he is fully healed from his torn ACL, but Antetokounmpo has been on an offensive tear. In his third professional season, the 20-year-old is averaging 21.3 points per game on 59 percent shooting.

Additionally, Monroe will have opportunities to score on the interior against the Knicks. According to NBA.com, 66.7% percent of his points have come in the paint and 21.2 percent are earned from the free throw line. Furthermore, New York has struggled as a team protecting the inside. They are ranked 25th in the league in points allowed in the paint (45.2 per game).

Although Lopez is not a potent low-post scorer, the Bucks will need to control the paint to defeat the Knicks. In their victory against the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee allowed a whopping 50 points in the paint. Rookie star Jahlil Okafor scored 21 and Nerlens Noel added on 17.

Next: NBA Power Rankings: Week 2

New York does not have a player as dominant as Okafor in the post, but a trio of Lopez, Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony thrive when driving to the basket.

Both teams sit at 2-3 and the team to advance to .500 on Friday will likely be the one that controls the painted area.

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