Is all this talk of taking Terrance Morris in the first round just to please Franchise? The guy has fallen out of the draft on most boards. That should tell us something. ------------------
Which would mean he could be a steal,IMO! I just found out he was 6'9",I thought he was like 6'7" and around 180lbs but his draft profile at CC says hes also 205 lbs,which isnt that much but more than I thought.I wasent sure he could play SF but now I know thats his natural position. He can hit the outside shot very well and all the open looks he will have he could possibly shoot over 40% behind the arc!He also knows how to get to the basket when Cat or Steve is handiling the ball outside,so Francis's assists could possibly go up with his addition. The only thing is we may be able to get a better SF as everyone knows and that would leave him as a backup or possibly 3rd string,and GOD knows my man Langhi wont get time this year either!!! I still think if we keep all three picks,which is unlikely from much of the talks,we should take a chance on him,he could be a really good role player and could have the potential to get better no matter what the scouts say. ------------------ Sam Clancy...Sam Clancy...Sam Clancy...Sam Clancy...Sam Clancy
I only see the Rocks taking TMo if they don't draft a 3 with the 13th pick. He might not even be the best 3 left on the board at either the 18th or 23rd picks, so his future with the Rocks is in question. ------------------
FWIW, I don't know that Morris is any better than Walt Williams. They are similar players, but Walt is proven -- Morris isn't. I'm just really leery of T-Mo as I've heard he played badly at camps and his numbers really weren't too impressive his Sr. year -- this is kindof like the Chris Carr (or was it Cory?) thing from Texas Tech -- he would've been top 5 leaving early, but decided to stay and fell to the middle of the 2nd round. ------------------ blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Your right Walt has proven that he is a huge defensive liability and when he goes cold he usually goes cold for weeks if not months. I don't know how many more 1 for 12 shooting nights with blown defensive coverages that I can take from Walt. ------------------
Morris is a very long, and legit 6'9''. Cut from almost the exact mold of Robert Horry. Both can stick the outside 3, and provide excellent weak side shot blocking. Vengeance-Walt will cost about 5 mill next year. Morris will be under a mill for sure. Don't believe the hype. I will guarantee you that Morris will be drafted. These same mock drafts probably didn't even have Gasol and Radmanovic in the first round a month ago. Why? Let's see, you are the San Antonio Spurs with a solid veteran team. You need just 1-2 more roleplayers to reload against the Lakers. Who are you going to take? Morris, whom you know has the talent to be an NBA player, and will not demand the ball, there is only question over the lack of ability to assert himself when "experts" thought he would step up. Or, you can take your random juco kid, underclassman, underdeveloped body, underdeveloped skills, definitely won't contribute within the next 3 years, maybe has more potential than Morris, but not enough potential to have been drafted before this point. I'll go ahead and assume you're talking about nbadraft.net, but let's look at their Gerald Wallace profile of strengths-Strengths: Unbelievable leaping ability.... Very agile and explosive.... Great motor. Will not be outhustled.... Has a good jumpshot. Offensive game has great potential... Has the potential to be a superstar on the next level. Talking about a guy who played mainly PF, shot 43.8% from the field, and a blistering 17.5% from 3, not to mention under 60% for FT%. Just because Morris isn't going to shock the world with a 40 inch vert doesn't mean he's not going to be a player. ------------------ "I think alot of people find Cato's game to be very offensive." -aelliott, comparing the offensive skills of Kelvin Cato and Michael Olowokandi
Thing is, Morris' shooting wasn't all that great his Sr. year. He went down in every category, and just isn't what he used to be. Add that to his draft camp showings, and I see him as an enigma who can either go late first or drop out of the draft. I think he'll go late 2nd. As far as I'm concerned, It's not that Morris didn't improve, it's that he got worse. And his shooting went down -- that's what bothers me. He could be a player who peaked, and is on his decline, never to be heard from again. Or, he could have been in a funk. He's worth a 2nd rounder, as far as I see it, but not a first. It's basically the same kindof thing that hit Cory Carr. He ended up being drafted at the end of the 2nd round, after being considered a lottery pick the year before. ------------------ blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
I have to put in my support for T. Morris. He is a victim of his own earlier success and the resulting league expectations. When he had Steve playing alongside him, he was a better player. If he had come out two years ago, he would have been a lottery pick. He has a body which is made for playing three in today's NBA. I consistently see folks talking about his numbers being down, but his rebounding and shot blocking were both awesome this year. Check it out. That tells me he is still a very valuable asset, especially on defense, and that he hustles. He isn't anything like Walt Williams, who guards everyone equally badly. Wiz is a shooter and when his shot isn't falling, we might as well have Clutch, the bear mascot, out there. When I see Wiz run, with those socks of his pulled up and his stiff legs, I want to yell "run, Forrest, run!" T. Morris goes in the first round, and I still think he will be Rocket when the dust settles. ------------------
I decided to review T. Morris' numbers the past year to back up some of my statements. He played in the best league in the nation on a team that did very well, so his numbers are more meaningful than many. He played 27.5 minutes a game, producing 12.2 points, 7.7 rebs, 1.9 assists, .9 stls, and 2.2 blocks. He hit 48% of his two point attempts and 80% of his free throws. Admittedly, his trey was down to 29%, and that is cause for some concern. With the exception of his three point shooting, he put up good numbers on a great team in a great league. Some have suggested his poor showing at camps has been to keep his stock lower so the Rockets can get him. I don't know if that is true, but Steve has been very vocal about Morris, and I have to believe Morris would love to reunite with Steve. No one knows better than Morris how good Steve helped him to be. I think he is the sleeper in the draft, much like a two guard out of Rhode Island three seasons ago. On draft day I want to hear Carroll Dawson say "Terence Morris, come on down!" ------------------
Alright, this is where y'all could use me. I have watched just about every last Maryland game for the past few years.(I never catch the late december games when they play weak teams and crush them though cause they dont show them on tv)Maryland has always been my college team, maybe that is because I live in Maryland. Alright well anyway, i do have a feeling Morris will either go #23 to houston or 29 to the Spurs. The Spurs would be a perfect fit for Morris and that is where I'm really hoping he goes. I think he has a great chance to start there. And the thing that declined Terence play the past few years is that plain and simple he is not a leader. When he was a freshman sitting behind Rodney Elliot, he was a monster off the bench. As a sophomore, he played alongside Stevie Franchise and together they may have been the best duo in the whole nation. stevie Francis was the man on that team. T-Mo was his sidekick. He excelled there. He could have went to the draft and him and Francis would have been top 10 picks. He probably would have went, #5 to Indiana/Toronto #7 to Washington or if he didn't go either of those places, i have no doubt Phoenix would have taken him #9 instead of Shawn Marion. But he made maybe the wqorst decision of his basketball career and he returned to college. He was projected as the #1 pick of the next years draft, he was the consensus preseason ACC player of the year, they were expecting him to be national player of the year and lead Maryland to the final 4. The season comes along, Terence had some real good games but he was a little too incosnistent. He just couldn't lead Maryland. Juan and LB took over the team. His stats may have actually been better as a junior but he clearly was a better player as a sophomore. I think he edned up making second team all-acc. He still had a chance of getting picked in the lottery though. Looked like he would have went anywhere between mid-lottery to late teens. so he stays in college another year and man he was pathetic this year. Terence is a good outside shooter but he shot terrible this past season. He got rebounds and blocks only because he is a good jumper. I'm sure he has at least a 38 inch vertical. He has superlong arms too. His defense sucked though, his offense sucked. The problem was he could care less whether he got the ball or not. He was totally out of the game. It was like his mind was totally somewhere else. He never stepped up. I'm surprised he even averaged double digits. He must have been having school trouble or girl problems or something because his game this year was totoally uninspired. I was saying all year long, Gary Williams might as well give Tahj Holden or Chris Wilcox his starting spot because truthfully he didn't deserve that **** one bit. I think if Gary would have did that, terence might have played harder. But regardless of his play his senior year, I know Terence can still be one heck of a player, he just doesn't know how to be a leader. Being around David Robinson, Tim Duncan and a Derek Anderson he can probably be a very very good role player. He would be coming in there not expecting to be the man or anything. He probably would end up exceeding exceptions. iF HE DOESN'T GO IN THE FIRST, rudy t or whoever would be very very smart to take him with their second round pick. ------------------
I don't see any reason to waste a pick on Terrance Morris. From everything I've read he blew chunks at the pre-draft camps and hasn't improved over his four years in college. ------------------
Yeah, I corrected it in a later post . . . I meant Cory Carr. ------------------ blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
I have been watching Terence play basketball since he was 11, when we tried out for the same middle school team (I got cut, he didn't). We played together in high school, and I have watched him closely ever since. Let me clear up what I think are misconceptions. 1. Terence did not improve after his sophomore year. This one is clearly false. Sophomore year he was Wink's sidekick, Junior year he was double and triple teamed consistently. It was much harder for him to score. However, he improved his post game, shooting ability and strength, and consequently his numbers between the two years went UP. 2. The dropoff occurred senior year was very pronounced. Not nearly as pronounced as has been suggested. The beginning of the end was the loss to Duke at home in Feb (?). The first six games of the ACC Terence was averaging over 20ppg in-conference. (note: he is not the type of player to pad his numbers against creampuffs (sometimes he won't even SHOOT in these games), so his overall average was lower. Even against decent teams, if MD gets a big lead Tmo takes a back seat) He may not be a leader, but he will hit big shots. He did so all four years. As I said, the dropoff came after the collapse against Duke. The team had to adjust majorly, but Terence never really made it. Though he still hit some big shots (Stanford, Duke) and had some big games, his confidence after the duke loss never totally recovered. Terence's skills have not changed. His confidence has. He started second-guessing himself. You could see him hesitating before he took threes. That's why the % dropped. But Francis can help him get his confidence back. 3. Terence does not have much potential. Terence has not reached his potential. Watch the games MD played against Duke, and keep an eye on Battier v Morris. When Morris is in the game and not in foul trouble, Battier has difficulty scoring and stopping Terence. Terence was just too quick for him. Battier got the upper hand by playing smarter & getting Terence out of the game. Only then Battier would have a field day. In high school Terence easily outplayed Tim Thomas. He has much potential yet to fill. He is not necessarily an incredible leaper--whoever said he has a 38-in vertical is wrong--or even an explosive leaper, but a quick one, like Antawn Jamison. He's got a good hook shot, his mid-range jumper is consistent, and with confidence he can shoot 40% behind the arc. But he needs to get stronger and work some on his handle and moves facing the basket (Still, his handle is ALREADY better than R. Jefferson's, who will have to play facing basket). His defense--again contrary to what has been posted--is very good, at least one on one. He has long arms, good instincts, and tremendous lateral speed. He could be the second or third-best shot-blocking small forward in the league. But he is weak on help defense and is foul-prone. Now and then he is not aggressive enough. 4. Terence 'bombed' at 'camps'. First, Terence went to 1 camp, the one in Phoenix. He was first team All-Desert Classic, though he did not make the all-tournament team because he was on a bad team and didn't make the finals. He didn't wow anyone, necessarily, but he didn't do bad. People who didn't like him to begin with (George Rodecker of sportsline) said he proved nothing, and the media in general has made him into a popular whipping boy. nbadraft.net gave out false information about him (that he wasn't invited to chicago), and says he won't be drafted. Andy Katz said he might not. That is preposterous. The media is notoriously bad at projecting the draft. Terence skipped Chicago, and the reason is this: he just isn't the kind of player who's going to shine around a bunch of ball hogs. That's all they have at pre-draft camps. Terence has done well in workouts, though, and besides Houston (who has invited him back for a second workout), has or will work out for: New Jersey (twice) San Antonio Charlotte New York Sacramento Atlanta Indiana When all is said and done, Terence will be the second or third best small forward from this year's draft. Two years ago, in a stronger draft, Terence would have been a lottery pick. What has changed since then? Confidence. He is more than worth the risk @23. Barring incredible/awful workouts, my guess is he will go slightly higher or lower than that. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Tmo (edited June 19, 2001).]
Thanks, T-Mo. My feelings/thoughts exactly. I've almost given up trying to convince other posters here that Morris is a quality player and will fit in well, because if he's taken with the #23, too many BBSers will grumble. ------------------
TMo, you and I are on exactly the same page. See my June 14 posts on this thread. No need to repeat them. Thanks for your insights. ------------------
The descriptions sound similar to Derrick McKey when he played for Indiana. Do you think this is an accurate comparison? ------------------
I think Terence has a similar game to McKey's, except he's not as strong and is a better shooter and shot blocker. I imagine Tmo will put on 15-20 pounds in the next three years. (Oh yeah, something I forgot to mention that Tmo could work on is moving without the ball. If he could move like Ray Allen his game would improve greatly.) The player most like Tmo in my opinion is Robert Horry in his Houston days. Other players not unlike Tmo are Tim Thomas and Kevin Garnett (though both of those guys are probably better athletes). ------------------
