Marcus Morris - Return of a lottery pick

I just hope that if theres a mix in the players with a trade at the deadline, Morris is still here and theres more minutes for him...

 

From one of the last lines of Solomons article-

"But from Aaron Brooks a few years ago to Patrick Patterson last year, all seemingly benefited from the experience"


-What is the point of Solomon or any other person who follows the Rockets asking the question when they already know the answer. It sucks, but in the end they are better players for going down there and getting some burn in the D-League. Its better than riding the pine doing nothing for 3 months.

-Shut up Solomon. You are trash.

-Marcus, just treat it as if its Summer league and your rookie season has yet to start.

-Clutchfans, relax. Morey didnt waste a lottery pick for nothing.

 

I don't think you can honestly say it benefitted anyone by playing there.

Oh sure they got to play instead of just practice, but overall the Dleague is below Div 1 level, not exactly competition.

I mean would it benefit a 20 something to go play against Jr High kids?

DD

 

Not a good analogy; he's still playing against grown men his age or older in the d-league with something to prove. And you can't argue that when Patterson came up from the d-league he wasn't playing better. I'd say the same for Brooks, but it has been awhile and i can't recall the numbers.

 

But there is no proven corralation that Patterson was playing better because he went to the Dleague - did Twill?

The problem for me with the Dleague is that even though the Rox run the organization, it is not really a minor league system.

The players are all free agents trying to get the attention of ANY big league club and they play "Me" ball at it's worst, it is up and down with barely any defense and a barrage of jumpers and 3pters.....back and forth....

There is just no structure....which is why numbers are inflated there, they are running all game long....lol....track meet of "Look at me" play......YUCK !

DD

 

D-League is a significant step up from any college play, DD. And yeah, I do think it benefited the other players we sent down. They came back up with more polish, better knowledge of the Rockets' system, and more confidence.

 

Would you say that it helps a player that did not get a summer league and proper training camp to get a simulated experience by going to the D-League for a few weeks to get some playing time rather than wearing his butt out on the Rockets bench??

Lets face it, he wont be playing with the Rockets until the March 15th deadline has past. Im not really sure what your problem here in DD other than your need to argue with everything?

Even Solomon wrote that it seemingly benefited other players. If your taking Solomon a step further then this isnt going to end pretty for the Marcus Morris thread.

 

I think he should be playing now, over Parsons, and CBud.....

DD

 

Both of those guys are playing well, and both of them need to prove themselves as assets so we can utilize one or both of them as positive chips in a trade at the deadline. Morey knows they have roleplayer ceilings so I'm sure he is willing to deal them for the right guy. If they wind up riding the bench they lose trade value. Morey views Morris as a long-term, high-ceiling piece for the Rockets, not a trade asset unless for a superstar. That's why he's willing to take it slow with Morris and that's why he's playing Patterson and Bud with their excellent contracts right now.

Get it yet?

 

I'm not so sure about that anymore. Right now I'm thinking the Kentuckys and Dukes of the NCAA could have a .600 record in the D-league. Simply because the D-league plays such sloppy undisciplined basketball.

 

Ok... well that McHale's opinion over yours. I think he is the more talented offensive player, but could end up like Derrick Williams in Minnesota if put on the floor too quick without a defined role he's used to.

I think from what Ive seen, Williams gets a bit confused guarding wings on the perimeter, and gets lost alot on defense from what Ive seen as a SF. Could be similar situation with Morris that we haven't seen in practice but coaches have.

As for Morris, I dont know what the holdup it, but its obvious that there were reasons shown in training camp or earlier in the seasons that gave McHale the inclination to think Parson's was more ready to play heavy minutes as a SF now then Morris.

 

Here's good ole Solomon back in June hacking on Marcus Morris not being ready. Last paragraph:

http://blog.chron.com/jeromesolomon...challenge-for-rockets-mock-drafts-cant-agree/

This year’s NBA Draft isn’t exciting. If you can identify a future Hall of Famer among this crop, your name must be Miss Cleo. Unless you do this full-time, this year’s crop is very difficult to evaluate.

Heck, even the top player, the one the Cavaliers are going to take at No. 1 overall, played only about a dozen college basketball games.

Because of the wide-open nature of this year’s draft, it’s difficult to know who might even be available when the Rockets get on the board.

Rockets GM Daryl Morey says the draft is deeper than most believe.

In the Rockets’ analysis, there are 22 first-four quality players. “Normal range is 15-19,” Morey wrote on Twitter early this morning.

He might be right. My thought is that he is right because there is less separation from the best player to the 20th best player. But that doesn’t make the 20th-best player any good.

This is going to be an interesting draft for the Rockets.

I think it is worth moving up to get the player they most covet, especially if they can get that done without giving up anything significant. No need in settling for a player at No. 14 who can’t make the rotation. Problem is, to get the guy they would most probably covet, they would have to move into the top three. That’s a tough jump.

A European player who might not come over for another year or two, or won’t contribute anytime soon, is an even better option. If you can get a guy who would be a top-five pick is he came out in a year or two, you have to take him.

Picking that guy is the challenge.

If you’re interested in some of the names being floated, NBA.com has a consensus mock draft from top NBA draft experts.

Our Jonathan Feigen has gone with Donatas Motiejunas, a slim 7-foot scorer with excellent outside range. DraftExpress’ scouting report says the best-case scenario for Motiejunas would be Pau Gasol. Its worst-case projection is he could be like Yi Jianlin.

My boy Kris Gardner of Houston Roundball Review has the Rockets leaning toward Nikola Vucevic, a 7-0, 260-pound center from Southern California.

David Aldridge of NBA.com and NBADraft.net have the Rockets taking Motiejunas as well.

My take: It appears he would be an excellent fit in Rick Adelman’s offensive scheme, much of which the Rockets will maintain under Kevin McHale. Motiejunas, a Lithuanian, seems to fit the European big man stereotype: can shoot and score; can’t defend or rebound.

NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper has the Rockets grabbing Kawhi Leonard, a 6-7 small forward from San Diego State, with limited range. DraftExpress lists his upside as Shawn Marion and his worst-case as Luc Richard Mbah A Moute.

My take: Having seen Leonard play a few times on television (never in person), I’m not that impressed. I don’t think he is a great shooter and he is definitely a suspect ballhandler. I like small forwards that are all-around talents, who can run the offense in some sets, take defenders off the dribble and stick open jumpers. If a guy is around 6-7 and his strength is defense and rebounding, those skills need to be off the charts to wow me, and from what I have seen, Leonard is better than average in those areas, but not special. He isn’t terrible, but I doubt he will ever be great.

DraftExpress lists Bismack Biyombo, a 6-9, 243-pound athletic 18-year-old (at least that is what he is telling people) forward from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the Rockets’ choice. DraftExpress’ scouting report says the best-case scenario for Biyombo would be a 6-9 version of Dwight Howard. Its worst-case projection is he could be like Taj Gibson.

My take: Interesting player. I like it that he is young, or at least he may be, and I love it that he is relentless on defense and attacks he boards with a Rodman-like “every rebound is mine” mentality. Those type players can play for me. But raw African players, who can’t shoot, are a major risk. One great thing about European bigs is typically they can shoot the basketball. If you can’t score, you had better be a dominant defensive force to the level of a Ben Wallace. Is Biyombo that? Possibly. He talks about leading the league in rebounds and blocks, as he did in the top Spanish league last year. He might not provide immediate help for the Rockets, but as I have said, immediate help isn’t necessarily on the menu unless the Rockets order up.

ESPN.com’s Chad Ford and Hoops World have the Rockets taking Jonas Valanciunas, a 6-11, 240-pound developing 19-year-old center from Lithuania. DraftExpress says best-case is Andris Biedrins meets Joakim Noah. Worst case: Omer Asik.

My take: I don’t have a lot of info on him, but seems he could be stronger than most international big men, who scores more around the rim than from the outside, though he has a decent enough shot to be a very god free throw shooter. I kind of like it that he might me working to improve from the inside-out, rather than the outside-in, as is the case with most European bigs. He rebounds and isn’t afraid to actually block a shot. He won’t come to the NBA for another season, but if his improvement pace continues on its current track, he might be a steal at 14.

Various other projectors project the Rockets will take one of the Morris twins – Marcus and Markieff – from Kansas.

I don’t really like either one. I have seen these guys in person. I’d be shocked if either ever makes an NBA All-Star team. Doesn’t mean they won’t be serviceable pros, but neither excites me. Of course, it doesn’t help that I saw them do virtually nothing against Virginia Commonwealth in the NCAA Tournament, but more importantly, I never one saw either display enough to make me think he could dominate on the next level. Marcus is the better player, certainly better offensively, but I’m not sure he is quick enough to take NBA wings and his solid back-to-the-basket game might be negated by his size. He is 6-9, but seems undersized at the four. Markieff works hard on the floor, but has a raggedy game. Neither one would help the Rockets immediately. But again, that isn’t likely to happen at 14 anyway.

 

When you compare player size, speed, and play calling, there are more similarities to the NBA in the D-League than the NCAA. Player quality might be slightly better among the elite NCAA teams though I would agree. Give me Kentucky over the Vipers any day of the week.

Kind of off topic here, but you get my point. I dont really understand how people can argue against utilizing the D-League to work on a few things as an extended Summer League style of play instead of riding the pine in the NBA.

 

It doesn't matter. The talent level of the players is much, much higher, and there is much more size as well. The very best NCAA teams might not totally embarrass themselves but there's no way they'd go .600.

 

Playing is always preferrable to sitting around. He can view every video, he can even isolate every play of Chandler, Bud, etc. Doesn't need to be at the games to do that. He needs reps.

 

Agreed. The Rockets view the D-League as an extended summer league/training camp. They can mimick the play calling and defensive rotations to simulate what would happen in the NBA.

As someone who has said himself to have played competitive basketball for a good part of his life, Im surprised DD wouldnt understand the major difference in shifting from a PF/C to a Wing player at that level of play.

The play calling, and defensive rotatons are much more complex at that level, and being put in simulations of the real deal shouldn't be questioned by someone who understands basketball that well.

 

No, not what I'm saying.

The D-league plays mostly helter skelter basketball. It is mostly running up and down and occasionally the PnR. So, defensively, Marcus is not likely to be learning much. Because of the limited possessions where an opponent is actually going to set up and run something more than just PnR.

And offensively, he's simply gunning. He's not really playing within an offensive structure. He's free to gun away.

My point about playing is simply that staying active and running and shooting and getting down in a defensive stance in a game situation is preferrable to riding the pine and watching NBA action. He can get all the video he wants of the big club. From being around the big club, he knows the basic defensive and offensive systems.

Yeah, they supposed to be running a "system" in Rio Grande. But reality is very little that actually happens down there. Watch those games and see for yourself.

 

Nope, no benefit. Just allows a person to work his way into our system. You know build a little confidence with our plays by having success against lower competition. All the while not eating up minutes trying to learn on the NBA team potentially affecting our overall record.

 

Same could be said about the Summer League though, but nobody questions that as a development tool. Just really a bunch of players trying to prove something to try out for an NBA team. Level of play is bad because of it, and there are blown plays all over the court. Its a coaching nightmare, I agree.

The purpose of the Rockets sending players to Rio Grande might get convoluted in the brand of basketball they are playing down there, but I understand why they use it.

Most people on here think of it as punishment or that your a scrub if you go down there. Sending him down there shouldn't be as looked down upon as it is by the fans, media, and players. He can work on a couple things, and treat it as an extended training camp.