Yes he can shoot the 3, 45% for a year is valuable. But, now I see why he was a D Leaguer, he does not know how to do much else. He's too small to guard the 3 and is too slow to be a guard. Most importantly, he's awful with the ball, absolutely awful. He ran the worst 3 on 1 last night that led to zero points and then a layup at the other end. He stopped on the wing midway to the hoop and gave it up to Maggette with the defender right there in the lane. Cardinal rule is you go past the FT line, you either pass or go all the way, but at least attack then drop it off. Do not stop, ever, midway. If he keeps shooting, okay you keep him, but once it starts falling off, he's got to go. He just is not an NBA player in any other aspect of the game; most importantly basketball IQ. Looking at a guy like Cartier Martin, he's got a real 3 body and can move. He hit a 3 too, in his first game.
I agree. His deficiencies are really hurting the team and his attributes are not exposed because he's on a bad team. He would be great on any elite team looking for a 3-point threat.
I sort of agree with you, but remember he's only making $700K this year and $1M next year, which is quite a bargain despite his limitations. For that price you absolutely hold onto him, I just wouldn't be starting him or playing him 30+ minutes a night. Off the bench for 10-15 minutes in the right spots and I still like him, assuming he remembers how to shoot. I also don't think the Warriors have done a good job getting him the ball. I know he's trying to expand his game by learning how to drive, pull up, etc., but I'd rather have the old Morrow back, a deadeye 3 point specialist, just get him the ball by running some screens.
Morrow does not fit the run and gun, but would be a good pairing with Stephen Curry to run the pick and roll and come off the bench. Maybe Monta could play some SF as well as SG. I dunno. There's so many things we don't know about the Warriors.
I do know that if Morrow is not a decent ball handler and cannot create by now....he's never going to be one. For example, just look at a couple of Martin moves last night, even though he went 2-5, he shot the ball in rhythm and looked smooth doing it. The only decent offensive move Morrow has is a catch and shoot. He's hit a couple of pull ups but those are few and far between. I just want Nellie to play Curry more (see what he did last night) and that means Morrow and/or Watson sit during crunch time. I don't care if the Warriors go 3-30 while Curry plays, he's the 7th freaking pick overall with great smarts, play the guy!!!
I disagree. Morrow actually has solid interior moves, pump-fakes crossovers, spin moves, and little floaters. I like his dribble game, actually. He's no point guard, obviously, and he's not very good in the open floor, or on the break. He's much more of a SF than a SG in that regard. But, if you look at his 1-on-1 moves, he's had some nice dribble-finishes. I mean, how about that baseline drive and dunk on Brandon Roy: [video=youtube;rhcpzLF91n0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhcpzLF91n0&feature=youtube_gdata"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhcpzLF91n0&feature=youtube_gdata[/video] That looked pretty fluid to me. And there's a few sweet moves on this one: [video=youtube;zmEYExm40k4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmEYExm40k4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmEYExm40k4[/video] His game will come, he's still young and developing. Yes, he's been in a slump. But you don't lead the league in 3-pt shooting over a full year in less you can torch it. His stroke will come back. I think the reason why he's struggling seems to be the team style and system right now. Of course, if you're a shooter, and you play with Corey "Brain Fart" Maggette, who takes 20 shots a night, and botches another 7 or 8 possessions a night, that's 25+ possessions right there where a player on the floor won't ever even think about finding you. When it's "Maggette time," Morrow might as well go get some popcorn, because he won't be getting the ball. He's just not playing with very good passers right now. Only Curry. And Curry and Morrow have developed some chemistry, I said that early on in the year. I like that tandem. But most everyone else isn't finding the open man very well. The main penetration we're getting is from Monta, but he's looking to score a 1-on-3 three every time, lately. He's lost vision of the greater role, it seems. If Curry had Monta's physical tools... man, watch out! But he doesn't. Imagine if Morrow played with Steve Nash. He'd benefit so much, just like Jason Richardson and Channing Frye are, heck even Jared Dudly is torching it at 49%, and he's shot 119, so it's no fluke. Those guys can stand out there all day, and with Amare sucking the defense in, and Nash dribbling circles around everybody and ALWAYS finding the open man, well, it's target practice for those guys. Put Morrow on the Suns, and I bet he'd shoot 60% from three... oh yeah, don't forget this: [video=youtube;GcMEoGoTMWo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcMEoGoTMWo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcMEoGoTMWo[/video]
Also, those fastbreaks weren't really his fault. It was a 2 on 1, but Maggette wanted to score so bad that he came into the wrong spot which made Morrow look bad.
As much as his struggles have been a small sample size, his success has been also. I think his success last year has a lot to do with other teams not knowing him. There were no scouting reports on him. Not this year. Teams are zeroing in on him and pretty easily too. Not only are his handles ineffective, he continually is unable to use screens to get open - or maybe its his teammates that are not setting good screens. Either way, he needs to take page out of Reggie Miller's book out and start being more effective WITHOUT the ball. Maybe it's a team thing, but if he's that good as AO claims he is, he should be able to get out of this slump, but I don't see much progress in the things he needs to be working on. Also, why does he continue to fake himself out? He's got one of the quickest releases in the NBA yet he hesitates at least half the time he receives the ball. It's frustrating. He's got a killer instinct and I like his competitiveness, so I really hope he finds a way to get better.
Yeah, I think that, more than anything, is what has killed his shot. But I have to think the reason is he's trying to expand his game (whether on his own or told to by the coaching staff), so he's trying to look for alternatives when he gets the ball, deciding whether to drive, or pass off, or whatever. But that split second of indecision is killing him, half the time it allows his defender to close on him, and when he does shoot, the overthinking takes him out of his natural rhythm. I'm hoping that in time he learns to make those decisions faster, or better yet, instinctively. But I don't know, I haven't seen much progress since he started doing that. That's why I say I long for the old Morrow who just fires away before his hands can even warm up the ball.
I see the effort in trying to expand his game, but as you say it's hurting him more than helping. Hopefully something will click inside of him.
