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Preseason Poll: Can Marcus Morris play the 3 effectively?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by meh, Dec 7, 2011.

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Will Marcus Morris play the 3 effectively for us?

  1. Yes - He will be able to play Small Forward effectively

    104 vote(s)
    75.4%

  2. No - He will show to be a tweener or simply an undersized 4

    34 vote(s)
    24.6%
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  1. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
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    Interesting take and nice first post, Sen89. Welcome to ClutchFans.

    If Morris can't transition to the three in his first few years I have to wonder about the logic of the pick, but then Morey never hides from the fact that he selects best available regardless of position. Kawhi Leonard is definitely a three, but when you hear Morey and McHale tell the draft story about how badly they sweated out those picks 10-13 (before they went 14), they must have really been down on Leonard.

    I'm excited to see what Morris can do this year.
     
    #21 Clutch, Dec 7, 2011
  2. jtr

    jtr Contributing Member

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    Can he guard Kobi or Labron? He unfortunately will be eating dust. Sorry :mad:
     
    #22 jtr, Dec 7, 2011
  3. spdngyns69

    spdngyns69 Member

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    Kobe is a 2. :rolleyes:
     
    #23 spdngyns69, Dec 7, 2011
  4. onreego

    onreego Member

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    Even if he can't, he can probably spell their names correctly.
     
    #24 onreego, Dec 7, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  5. MaxRider

    MaxRider Member

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    who can guard Kobe or LeBron?
     
    #25 MaxRider, Dec 7, 2011
  6. jump shooter

    jump shooter Contributing Member

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    He'll struggle against quicker 3s and bigger 4s on the defensive side of the ball. Like any rookie, it will take time for him to develop. He should have a good NBA career, but the Carmelo Anthony comparisons are a huge reach in IMO.
     
    #26 jump shooter, Dec 7, 2011
  7. Sen89

    Sen89 Member

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    Thanks Clutch.

    Morey seems to value players with some pedigree, or at least it seems to be that way. Leonard had the fantastic physical tools (7-3 wingspan, in comparison to Morris' 6-7), and defensive potential that Morris doesn't seem to have. From what I've seen and read, Leonard had some character concerns. He seemed to have a sense of entitlement as well. But indeed, when it comes to needs on the court, I would have much preferred Leonard to Morris.

    Morey knows his stuff, but I question whether he falls "in love" with certain prospects, and overlooks team needs to acquire them. I have a bad feeling he did that with Morris - and convinced himself he could transition to the SF in order to draft him.
     
    #27 Sen89, Dec 7, 2011
  8. thegary

    thegary Contributing Member

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    best case scenario: charles barkley in his rockets days.
     
    #28 thegary, Dec 7, 2011
  9. spdngyns69

    spdngyns69 Member

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    Exactly. Karate kid Bruce LEE Bowen might've been the closest.


    Morris lateral movement seems a bit slow. If he can adjust the fundamentals on how to create enough space for a good shot over his defender, he can be very good. In his draft express video, I saw him working on his step back fadeaway. So, he seems to concentrate his game in the right areas that would make him excel in the NBA.
     
    #29 spdngyns69, Dec 7, 2011
  10. tierre_brown

    tierre_brown Contributing Member

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    Best case scenario: Kenny Thomas in his Rockets days.
     
    #30 tierre_brown, Dec 7, 2011
  11. FLASH21

    FLASH21 Heart O' Champs

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    Rep.

    The guy isn't a beast athletically or physically but he does have the bulldogish body of a Melo that if he develops any type of quickness would help him get to the paint and the solid jumper from outside to keep defenders honest.

    All I see is that this guy knows how to put in big work, even with the lockout and if he has any type of star potential he has the hunger and drive to tap it.
     
    #31 FLASH21, Dec 7, 2011
  12. AggieDentist

    AggieDentist Member

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    This is like Robert Horry circa 1995 redux.
     
    #32 AggieDentist, Dec 7, 2011
  13. rockbox

    rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

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    Battier wasn't fast and he did OK against Lebron and Kobe. I don't see how we can limit Morris until he gets on the court as a 3. On the offensive end, I can see him like a young(before he was 260 pounds) Ron Ron with better post skills.
     
    #33 rockbox, Dec 7, 2011
  14. AFS

    AFS Member

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    Carmelo still struggles against quicker 3s and bigger 4s...
     
    #34 AFS, Dec 7, 2011
  15. rockbox

    rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

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    There are no 3's in the league that can cover him in the post, so if he is fast enough and shoot well enough to get by 4's from the perimeter, he can be a borderline all star. If he can get past 3's from the perimeter, he will be a perennial all-star.
     
    #35 rockbox, Dec 7, 2011
  16. No Worries

    No Worries Contributing Member

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    IIRC Pierce, when he was drafted, was projected to be a prototypical SF who did not have allstar potential. In retrospect, Pierce should have been a top 3 pick (instead of #10), so the consensus back then got it wrong.

    Morris also does not project to be an allstar. (Morey might disagree though.) He will have a longer road than Pierce, since he did not play the 3 in college (though he did in HS). If Kansas had let Morris play some on the wing, we all might have a different opinion now.

    BTW, you are dead right. Melo has a devastating first step, which can not be taught. No way, no how will Morris ever be in the same league as Melo.
     
    #36 No Worries, Dec 7, 2011
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2011
  17. tierre_brown

    tierre_brown Contributing Member

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    I thought that Pierce was considered a top 3 talent, so went hunting to see what was going on in 1998.

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/draft/news/1998/06/24/draft_final/

    You're right, the question with Pierce (and the reason why he slipped) was because people probably thought he was the best all-around player with a limited ceiling. Still, that's a different situation than with Marcus.

    There are some interesting superficial parallels between Pierce and Morris - both coming into a locked out league as rookies, having similar body types, both coming from KU. I personally don't see it. He'll be a solid contributor, but an all-star? Comparisons to Melo? Comparisons to Pierce? I'd love to be wrong but color me a pessimist from what I've seen.
     
    #37 tierre_brown, Dec 7, 2011
  18. Aruba77

    Aruba77 Contributing Member

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    um ....the kid does not resemble Paul Pierce coming out of college at all. Why all the comparisons? Pierce's shooting and athleticism were far superior to Morris' coming out of college.

    I think the kid is a cross between Larry Johnson, Al Harrington, and Corlis Williamson. He's doomed to struggle defensively against faster, prototypical NBA 3's, but he'll also be able to post up just about anyone at the 3 position too. If he can expand his jumpshot and work on his defense, he should be able to play plenty of minutes at SF. Probably a good idea to play him with some dead-eye 3pt-shooters in the backcourt as to exploit all of the attention he will get in the post.
     
    #38 Aruba77, Dec 7, 2011
  19. Prince

    Prince Member

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    Who? Marcas can gaurd Kobi or Labrun?
     
    #39 Prince, Dec 7, 2011
  20. Rivers

    Rivers Member

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    Well except Motiejunas, whois 7'0 4
     
    #40 Rivers, Dec 7, 2011
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