What that tells me is Marcus Morris could have played last year if given a better opportunity early on versus sending him to the d league so early. Has his defense on 3's got any better? His transition from 4 to 3 did that factor in when he starts at 4 this year in place of Patrick Patterson? McHale ruins rookies unless their teacher pets like Chandler Parsons who doesn't really do anything great but everything average to sometimes good.
It looks like D MO is a 4 that can shoot threes LOL Just like I hated Scola and Patteron at the 4-5, this is becoming my new pet peeve.
I think people are just wondering if being a rookie prevents them from getting minutes, regardless of their performance or the performance of the players ahead of them. Last game when other players looked gassed for example. As Morey would say, what's the alternative? Get bad players for spots 12-15 on the roster?
What's to say the D-League trips didn't make Morris a much better player? He seems to have gained a lot of humility and has mentioned his different mindset this year. I think his humbling experience in RGV might have been a big positive.
And the obvious answer is draft the best player available that fits a position of weakness on your team. We are weak in backcourt depth, it was obvious that Lowry was going to be traded, draft someone you can use there instead of another PF when even counting the idea of letting Scola go, you would have 5 available not including SFs you play at the position when you go small in every game like Parsons.
Sounds like a great strategy if you want to be terrible. Draft BPA, and let the rest of the chips fall as they may.
Jones was the last PF drafted. Jones looks great. He is fighting to get on the court. He has a very good chance at being a starter for the Rockets next season. If he works on defensive rotations and shooting, he could become a very good starter. Patterson and Morris are good players. He just needs to work hard in practice and he'll get his time. Trades happen. Injuries happen. Having best players is best option as you never know what future brings....Unless you are a contender and then go ahead and get a backup if you need one. Rockets are still swinging for the fences.
Aren't Patterson and Morris both 14th picks? Motie is 20 and Jones/ White 18/16 respectively. Suuure, the rookies had good summer leagues/ pre-season. But that's kind of the point isn't it? To see how they go, get a look at them because they're behind others in the actual playing time rotation! I'm telling ya, it's all fantasy basketball related. Noobs took Jones or Motie or White, and are angry at McHale for costing them "uber stats"....
It was kind of a head scratcher when Morris sucked and was playing in front of TJones who was playing well. But now that Morris is playing well it makes sense. At the same time I hope McHail switches the big men if Pat or Morris start to suck again.
