Markieff Morris is now a SUN

ASUCHRIS

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I see him more as a Shaq/Russell/Chamberlain clone, with Kareem's sky hook. Maybe a little MJ too...
 

Cheesebeef

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I see him more of a Horace Grant. If he rises to that level, I would be thrilled. He's the #13 pick in a horrible draft. Expectations have to be realistic.

but Horace Grant was a good athlete with long arms. i just don't see it. i feel like we just drafted a stiff.
 

SunsTzu

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i feel like we just drafted a stiff.

Given the teams recent track record I'd feel that way about any selection they make, to the point that I'd question myself if they actually took someone I liked.

Edit: For the record those looking to pawn off Nash for late draft picks, these are the types of picks the Suns are making. At least Nash keeps the team watchable.
 
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elindholm

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Outside shot, not much mid-range game, some post ability, rebounder, questionable defense, mediocre athleticism, relatively strong -- sounds like a smaller Troy Murphy to me.
 

Griffin

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It seems to me that this was a draft where you really had to have at least a top 12 pick to get a player with star potential. At 13, five of the guys that I thought might be available were already gone. The 6th guy on my list was Faried. Faried is a more proven rebounder than Markieff Morris, but is one-dimensional and undersized. Singleton could be a great defensive player but he's a small forward. So while I probably wouldn't have taken Markieff, the Suns didn't really get a chance to pass on someone particularly special.

But they did pass on Markieff's twin, and one of the reasons behind it was that they thought that Markieff is more ready to contribute right away. So that begs the question, are the Suns really ready to compete next season? Because it will take a lot more than a rookie to get back in playoff contention imo. You still have to replace Richardson/Carter as right now we have no starting-caliber SG, certainly no one who can create his own shot. And you still have to address the backup PG situation, so that the team doesn't fall apart every time Nash rests. This was the biggest issue last season imo, and it remains unaddressed.
 

JCSunsfan

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It seems to me that this was a draft where you really had to have at least a top 12 pick to get a player with star potential. At 13, five of the guys that I thought might be available were already gone. The 6th guy on my list was Faried. Faried is a more proven rebounder than Markieff Morris, but is one-dimensional and undersized. Singleton could be a great defensive player but he's a small forward. So while I probably wouldn't have taken Markieff, the Suns didn't really get a chance to pass on someone particularly special.

But they did pass on Markieff's twin, and one of the reasons behind it was that they thought that Markieff is more ready to contribute right away. So that begs the question, are the Suns really ready to compete next season? Because it will take a lot more than a rookie to get back in playoff contention imo. You still have to replace Richardson/Carter as right now we have no starting-caliber SG, certainly no one who can create his own shot. And you still have to address the backup PG situation, so that the team doesn't fall apart every time Nash rests. This was the biggest issue last season imo, and it remains unaddressed.

Faried has a one-inch taller standing reach than Markieff and weighs 15 pounds less. He got a full five inches higher in his max vertical reach. He put out 16 reps on the bench press, Markieff only 11. So I would conclude that Faried is longer and stronger than Markieff. The measurement to the top of the head means nothing in the NBA. This is why scouts use the term length.

Markieff was drafted because he is a decent rebounder, defender, AND shooter. Markieff's 40% plus three point shooting makes him more versatile. Faried has no game beyond about 5 feet. But his game inside that mark is phenomenal. He also played against lesser competition than Markieff but did it with significantly less talent around him.

Faried is the higher risk/reward pick. Markieff is the safer pick. I still think I might have preferred Faried. Players can add an arsenal of shots even after entering the NBA. Faried's upside is higher than Markieff. But there sure would have been howling if the Suns had picked Faried at #13
 
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jlove

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um... you see Markieff as a combo of Brand/West who were 20 ppg scorers along with the defensive likes of Dale Davis/Nene? How? There's no way that guy lasts to the 13th pick of the draft in any universe... hell, that guy with that combo doesn't last till the 3rd pick of any draft.

I see him in those molds. An outside in kind of mobile and versatile big. He's got their size and defensive abilities. With Nash and the way the Suns play, he can definitely be a 13-20pt a game scorer.
 

JCSunsfan

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If Markieff could reproduce his college stats on this team, it would be more than I could dream. He seems to be an efficient player that takes good shots.
 

Cheesebeef

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At least Nash keeps the team watchable.

maybe for some, but I was bored stiff last year.

the only games i watched in their entirety last season were when I had jaw surgery and could literally do nothing but lie down and take painkillers. that last 2 games. otherwise, I didn't sit through a single game once.
 

Cheesebeef

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I see him in those molds. An outside in kind of mobile and versatile big. He's got their size and defensive abilities. With Nash and the way the Suns play, he can definitely be a 13-20pt a game scorer.

i don't think he's has near the explosiveness that Davis/Nene have. not even close. and he doesn't have the long arms of Perkins/Brand.
 

JCSunsfan

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maybe for some, but I was bored stiff last year.

the only games i watched in their entirety last season were when I had jaw surgery and could literally do nothing but lie down and take painkillers. that last 2 games. otherwise, I didn't sit through a single game once.

What keeps a team watchable is expectation. The idea that something good is happening and progress is being made. Its why younger players are so interesting. Watching Nash would be a thrill if he was surrounded by promising young players, but not as this team is constructed.

It is time to move Nash.
 

Superbone

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maybe for some, but I was bored stiff last year.

the only games i watched in their entirety last season were when I had jaw surgery and could literally do nothing but lie down and take painkillers. that last 2 games. otherwise, I didn't sit through a single game once.

Wow! That puts things in perspective.
 

Divide Et Impera

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Not to mention one hell of a range. It's one thing to say 13-15 ppg, but to say 13-20? Why stop at 20? Why not suggest that he could be a 13-50 point per game player? If you're going to use a ridiculous range, have fun with it at least....
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

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What keeps a team watchable is expectation. The idea that something good is happening and progress is being made. Its why younger players are so interesting. Watching Nash would be a thrill if he was surrounded by promising young players, but not as this team is constructed.

It is time to move Nash.

agreed. the only reason i watched last year was to see gortat's evolution. there was no other young player to watch develop and the rest of the team was just mediocre, and who wants to watch mediocre for mediocrity's sake???
 

jagu

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I hope Markieff surprises us. I'm all for adding toughness, now I want to see that toughness show up. Being pushed around sucks, and the Suns have been doing that for a while now. Maybe we found someone who won't get abused by a guy like Hilario who the Suns have no answer for. Having size and strength with Gortat and Morris might not be so bad. Who knows.. Just trying to be optimistic.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

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lol, the video that was touting his athleticism had him dunking from a foot away each time, one time MISSING a dunk, and never getting high above the rim. that's not athleticism, that's being 6'9!

and bleacherreport? bleacher report states that it "caters to citizen journalism" - do you know what that means? your authority is just a fan like you, me, or cheese. that's not citable authority imo.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

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First, let me thank you for taking the time to do the research. i actually appreciation your time here. makes what i'm about to do make feel like a bad guy, but you really need to do a little research before you hold out those quotes as being anything other than meaningless. see below in PURPLE

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/705328-2011-nba-mock-draft-best-picks-and-biggest-fails-from-chad-fords-latest-mock/entry/84277-2011-nba-mock-draft-ford-picks-markieff-morris-to-the-philadelphia-76ers-at-16

Morris has a rep as a good defender, shot-blocker and rebounder

THE BLEACHER REPORT TOUTS ITSELF AS BEING "CITIZEN JOURNALISTS" - THAT MEANS IT'S WRITTEN BY FANS. COULD BE ME, YOU, OR HELL, EVEN SLIN. THAT'S NOT A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS WRITER OR SCOUT. SO I'LL DISMISS THIS REPORT AS MEANINGLESS.


http://www.mockdraftmania.com/20110616-markieff-morris-scouting-report/

Physical Ability: Markieff Morris has good physical ability as a defender.

"GOOD PHYSICAL ABILITY" DOES NOT MEAN "GOOD DEFENDER." IT MEANS THE GUY HAS THE ABILITY TO BE GOOD. IT DOESN'T MEAN HE IS GOOD. THIS IS ALSO FROM A MOCK DRAFT WEBSITE. NOT A REAL SCOUT OR WRITER WHOSE BUSINESS IT IS TO KNOW THESE PLAYERS INSIDE AND OUT.

http://www.mynbadraft.com/NBA-Draft-Profiles-2011/Markieff-Morris

Markieff was more of the defensive anchor down low


TOM PATTERSON IS ALSO NOT A SCOUT/SPORTS WRITER. ANOTHER FAN. MEANINGLESS.


http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/markieff_morris_scouting_report/5085640

Markieff Morris has good physical ability as a defender.


THIS CAME FROM YARD BARKER ON FOX. THAT'S A SITE THAT PULLS FROM BLOGS. IN THIS CASE IT CAME FROM CHRIS RANSOM. WATCH THE VIDEO AT THE END, CHRIS RANSOM IS . . . A FREAKING KID! ALSO MEANINGLESS.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...morris-a-better-draft-option-than-his-brother

Markieff has been a great defender and rebounder for the Kansas Jayhawks during their NCAA Championship run.

MORE BLEACHER REPORT. MORE FAN MAIL. MEANINGLESS.

http://www.usasportsbettingguide.com/scouting-report-markieff-morris.html

Morris a solid post defender uses his lower body and force the players out of the blocks and he has decent footwork he has to the awareness of the players he guarded and their tendencies


UH, DID YOU READ THIS ENTIRE THING? HERE'S THE QUOTE:

Defense
Post Defense – Morris a solid post defender uses his lower body and force the players out of the blocks and he has decent footwork he has to the awareness of the players he guarded and their tendencies -. He is now simply too often by poor post player because he played it wrong Another important issue is its tendency to not put his arms on defense -. not only is it the players a good shot on him, but he / she is in danger, called for cheap fouls in REACH, he can not afford to get. I want to see how he try to fronting post players as well as work and force teams and beat him over the top. He shows good awareness off the ball and is a good help defender, although he needs to work on his foot speed.

Rebounding / block – In principle, Morris is a very good rebounder. He boxes well, using his body to force out players, and goes after the ball strongly. A small problem is that I want him to go faster after the miss out to the field, but he uses his body so well, it is not always necessary. With his size and strength, I see no problem with Morris an effective NBA rebounder. Shot-blocking is something else. One, the problem I discussed above about not having his arms up on defense makes it difficult for him after shots go quickly, and two, his timing is good but not great. He gets in good position to block shots, but he doesn t have only “that explosion on a legit shot blocker.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE THAT'S ENGLISH MUCH LESS A GLOWING REPORT. BUT IT'S SO POORLY WRITTEN I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT SAYS. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A 7 YEAR OLD WROTE IT.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?sl...7_nba-draft-profile-markieff-morris-pf-kansas


Scouts know that if they are looking for a pure post player who can rebound or play stellar defense, that Markieff might be the best NBA-ready option.


THIS IS LITERALLY THE ONLY SITE THAT YOU GAVE THAT HAS A LEGIT, CREDIBLE, SOURCE. DAVE TE' THOMAS. SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT AT LEAST ONE PUNDIT SEEMS TO THINK HE PLAYS DEFENSE (AND "STELLAR" AT THAT).

ps, the ALL CAPS was not meant to be shouting, just to differentiate it within the quote cuz i wasn't certain how the purple would work.
 
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Covert Rain

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First, let me thank you for taking the time to do the research. i actually appreciation your time here. makes what i'm about to do make feel like a bad guy, but you really need to do a little research before you hold out those quotes as being anything other than meaningless. see below in PURPLE

ps, the ALL CAPS was not meant to be shouting, just to differentiate it within the quote cuz i wasn't certain how the purple would work.

I put together just a quick "google" in about 10 minutes and didn't do much "research" like I normally would. LOL. I admittedly was in a hurry and didn't do my normal dilegence as you can see by the "kiddie post". LMAO. I thought that was hilarious.

I did find a bunch more sites but don't recall who wrote those either. To be honest though many of these guys are no less qualified then the idiots sitting in from of the camera for whatever that is worth. :)

Also, the two draft shows I watched (I think ESPN and NBATV) both called him a good defender. I think that is the general consensus and his college numbers seem to back that up. On the flip side I didn't see anybody call him a bad defender on any site I read either.

Two more (and yes these are legit comments, lol):

Draft Grades Not Bad from Chad Ford :Morris is a solid rebounder and defender and he's tough. B-

Via Yahoo Sports (Marc Spears). This was form NBA scout:

“One of the most undervalued guys in the draft. His brother gets all the headlines. He’s a legitimate power forward cut from Dale Davis cloth who can defend, rebound and can make passes from the post. A winner.”

Two more additional comments about his defense.
 
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Cheesebeef

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"THIS CAME FROM YARD BARKER ON FOX. THAT'S A SITE THAT PULLS FROM BLOGS. IN THIS CASE IT CAME FROM CHRIS RANSOM. WATCH THE VIDEO AT THE END, CHRIS RANSOM IS . . . A FREAKING KID! ALSO MEANINGLESS."

I love this board. that right there is pretty freaking funny.
 

Covert Rain

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"THIS CAME FROM YARD BARKER ON FOX. THAT'S A SITE THAT PULLS FROM BLOGS. IN THIS CASE IT CAME FROM CHRIS RANSOM. WATCH THE VIDEO AT THE END, CHRIS RANSOM IS . . . A FREAKING KID! ALSO MEANINGLESS."

I love this board. that right there is pretty freaking funny.

That is what I get for doing a quick google cut and paste versus doing my own research like I usually do. I was in a hurry. What can I say.
 
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