OKC Thunder: 3 potential playoff X-factors the team needs
Markieff Morris
Brought on to bolster the bench in late February, Markieff Morris has mostly been a bit blah, if we’re being honest. Thus far, Morris’ per game statistics during his stint with OKC are as follows:
| MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.1 | .391 | .339 | .423 | .737 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 6.5 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/13/2019.
None of this is absolutely horrible, but none of it is spectacular, either. Certainly, Morris has not been what teammates and fans were hoping from him, but each new game is a new opportunity to shine throughout the playoffs
Morris is known to prefer mid-range shots over 3-pointers. Furthermore, he often seems to shy away from following up his shot to crash through traffic, secure offensive rebounds, and get second-attempt buckets. The aversion to 3-point shots is something I can live with. The physicality in the paint, however, is an area Morris should improve.
Like I suggested for Nerlens Noel, Morris should take a page out of Steven Adams’ playbook and learn to be a thrasher in traffic. Morris doesn’t even need to be the one to come down with the ball. He just needs to be willing to get more physical and make it less easy for opposing forwards and centers to get the rebound.
Lastly, like I also suggested for Nerlens Noel, Markieff Morris would benefit from increased overlaps and misdirection movement with his fellow big men in Noel, Grant, and Adams. Nobody said a player has to be quick and shifty to get open. It just requires a willingness to hustle through the traffic in the paint to keep the defense off-balance. Maybe then, Morris will start seeing an increase in his favored mid-range shot opportunities along with the potential to heat once he gets a couple to drop.
At this point in the season, Morris is simply the player he is, but a little extra effort to mix it up could do wonders for helping a guy like Markieff find a rhythm that helps him notch another 4-10 points along with a couple extra assists and rebounds. In terms of the reserve lineup players, those extra points could mean the difference between maintaining a lead or losing it.