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OKC Thunder: The talent and fit of Markieff Morris

By Stephen Dolan

WASHINGTON, DC -  NOVEMBER 16: Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris #5 warms up prior to the game against the Brooklyn Nets on November 16, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  NOVEMBER 16: Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris #5 warms up prior to the game against the Brooklyn Nets on November 16, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Defense

This is that same important, close game that we’ve seen several gifs from already. The Wizards are bad, and hopeless, and depressing, yet still, you’d expect a true competitor to step up and make plays out of a desire to win.

With the clock winding down on regulation, Markieff Morris did.

With the game on the line, Morris fights through a screen from the notoriously-strong Marcus Smart to challenge the notoriously-hard-to-challenge Kyrie Irving at the rim and denying him to send the game to OT.

This is the kind of effort the OKC Thunder will demand from him, and it’s not like he doesn’t have the physical tools. Just look at this:

That’s Dennis Schröder he denies in isolation there. Thunder fans, we know – Dennis Schröder is fast.

He can be a good defender, and with more competent players defending the guards in pick and roll, with a great defensive scheme around him and a culture of caring and trying in place, I think he can pull himself out of these bad habits.

Offense

Okay, here’s where it gets really good – the offensive end. Yes, Patrick Patterson is a slightly better shooter from distance than Keef. Yes, the spacing on the second unit could suffer for it. But Keef’s versatility should more than make up for it.

Remember that period at the beginning of the year where the Thunder tried to make a point of isolating Patterson in the post to take advantage of a mismatch? My goodness… So many bricks off of the backboard.

Here’s the thing, though: Markieff Morris can absolutely do that. He can do that in his sleep. Here his is abusing the actually stout Kyle Lowry.

Easy layup. Then two plays going right at Draymond Green. Try to imagine Patrick Patterson pulling off points against former Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green. That would not go well. Morris, on the other hand? A smooth post-up fade, and a layup right at his chest.

And his shooting is good enough to force a closeout, which Morris is more than capable of attacking. Here, he blows by Damian Lillard and challenges Jusuf Nurkic at the rim, coming away with and and-1.

This seems like a good time to mention that Morris shoots 78 percent from the line in his career, a welcome sight to sore OKC eyes.

And… That’s not all!  Not only can he cut and drive, the dude can pass! Just look at this dump-off to Dwight.

This will be especially important given that he’ll likely be playing with one of Adams or Noel the majority of the time. Morris has played alongside first Marcin Gortat and then Dwight Howard, working well with both. He should be comfortable here.

Patrick Patterson is a decent passer in his own right, but he’s been described as a ball-mover.

Markieff Morris is a play-maker.

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