MARKIEFF MORRIS
Info: 6-10, 245 pounds, 24 years old
NBA seasons: 3 (3 with Suns)
2013-14 numbers: 26.6 mpg, 13.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 48.6 FG%
BEST GAME OF THE SEASON
Nov. 8 vs. Denver. Coming off a stellar individual performance (23 points, 12 rebounds) in a loss at San Antonio, Morris proved this season would be one of consistency. The third-year forward poured in 28 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists against the Nuggets, whose reserves simply couldn’t match that production as Phoenix went on to win 114-103.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
OFFSEASON GOAL
Further diversify his isolation/post-up moves while getting more comfortable in pick-and-rolls.
Morris was lethal in the latter option, shooting 56.5 percent as the roll man in pick-and-rolls (per Synergy Sports) and ranking in the top 20 in the league in that role. His post-up results were decent (he scored 48.6 percent of the time), but he shot just 38.2 percent in face-up isolation situations.
HEARD FROM HORNACEK
“We need Markieff’s energy, scoring in the post on guys. It keeps us from shooting nothing but jump shots. The other guys can post up some, but consistently, we can go to him five, six, seven times and then they have to start figuring out what to do with him. he kicks it out and we get good stuff. He allows us to play that inside-out game that not a lot of our other guys give us.”
PHOTO OF THE SEASON
