From NCAAs to NBA: Morris practices with Knicks

Discussion in 'Other Sports' started by DevinHester23, Mar 25, 2007.

  1. DevinHester23

    DevinHester23 NFLC nflcentral.net Member

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  2. AdropOFvenom

    AdropOFvenom BBW Member

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    I thought it was an interesting pickup by the Knicks, suprised he was even available. I don't think itll make much of a difference though as he wont be anything more then a backup at this point.
     
  3. Jon_Vilma

    Jon_Vilma NFLC nflcentral.net Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Randolph Morris lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and still might get to play in big games in late March.A week after playing in his final college game for Kentucky, Morris went through his first NBA practice Sunday, two days after signing with the New York Knicks."That's the best situation ever," Knicks guard Stephon Marbury said. "We were talking about that when we were stretching this morning, how he just went right from playing a game into playing in the NBA. That's definitely a unique situation."According to the Knicks, Morris is the first player to go from playing in the NCAA Tournament to being on an NBA roster in the same week. He could even see his first action as early as Monday night, when the Knicks host the Orlando Magic in a huge game for New York's playoff hopes.With New York severely limited by injuries, the 21-year-old Morris may even be thrown into the game against Magic All-Star Dwight Howard, a teammate of Morris' on an AAU championship team from Atlanta in 2003."Hey, you never know," Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said.Morris scored 22 points on March 18 in Kentucky's 88-76 loss to Kansas. On Sunday, he was wearing a No. 5 practice jersey for the Knicks, who began the day 1? games back of three teams, including Orlando, for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference."It's a weird feeling," Morris said. "They showed the most interest in me and I feel like they have my best interests at heart."The 6-foot-11, 260-pound Morris originally declared for the 2005 draft but was not taken. He returned to school and played two more seasons as a free agent who was ineligible to be drafted.Morris said the Knicks had contacted his parents, and he decided to make the jump after Tubby Smith left the Wildcats to coach the University of Minnesota earlier this week."It was basically the final factor that made me comfortable leaving because I was teetering back and forth," Morris said. "It just happened that he left and that's basically made me more comfortable making my decision. It would have been a tougher decision for me, because obviously I was comfortable with his system and I had a great season."Morris averaged 16.1 points and shot 59 percent from the field this season.Thomas said bringing Morris in now was "almost like having two picks again this year." But even if the Knicks consider Morris a player of the future, he will fill a role now, even if it's just as a practice player. New York is woefully short on bodies, with Quentin Richardson, Jamal Crawford and David Lee all either out or doubtful for Monday's game because of injuries.Also, starters Eddy Curry and Steve Francis didn't practice Sunday because of flu-like symptoms. So Thomas didn't hesitate when asked if he would feel comfortable putting Morris in a game this season."If he can help us win, yes," Thomas said.</div>
     
  4. CrimsonClown

    CrimsonClown BBW Member

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    It won't make a differnece. The Knicks are hopeless. They need to completely overhaul the team and start from scratch. But they're screwed since they traded basically all there draft picks away for ego-maniacs.
     

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