I don’t think that was on Brad. Morris generally has bad shot selection. Even as a starter, if he catches the ball, it generally sticks. He doesn’t have enough court awareness to be a playmaker.
Thankfully, he’s not handling the ball a lot so he’s a recipient of a bunch of catch and shoot opportunities which helps his shooting %
That's his game though. You guys are always trying to make a shooter a passer, and a passer a shooter and are never happy with anyone unless it's pampering Gordon all the time even though his weaknesses are what you criticize everyone else for.
And not only that, the man has a passive nature on the court, and is fragile. The fact yall think he's like the most important piece on this team is laughable.
If and when we do get bounced out of the playoffs, it's gonna be because no one could see how much tougher this team would've been with Smart, Morris, and Crowder.
Hayward is just an ok piece and will always be just that.
Also when the intensity picks up in a game and teams go on runs, the team that gets the most loose balls always wins out.
Gordon and other slow people will always hurt a team in that regard. Don't matter how much you love the man.
Lastly...the lowly Knicks didn't seem to think Porzingis gave them all that much besides shooting...and yall loved him too.
I wish yall would stop being so blinded by...whatever it is.
Yall shoulda loved Olynik because that's the type of player you love. Can shoot and pass a lil bit, but weak as hell everywhere else. We don't need anymore players that learned how to shoot in their driveway and got nothing else after that.
Lol WTH did I just read? I talk about MM’s shot selection and were suddenly talking about Hayward, Porzingis, etc. etc.?
But since you bring him up, Hayward is definitely a way more important piece than what you give him credit for. I’ll bet TPs he will not always be just a bench player.
Secondly, you think the Knicks gave up on Porzingis because they thought he was some one dimensional player? No, KP wanted out and NY got value for him when they could. Better than losing him to FA. You’re sleeping on Porzingis if all you think he can do is shoot.
Thirdly, Smart Morris and Crowder? They’re the difference makers? Granted, Smart makes a ton of impact on the game but cmon. You think Crowder would’ve righted this ship? Crowder is the difference between a Finals berth and a 2nd rd or ECF loss??
Lastly, I like how you completely sidestepped MM’s bad shot selection. Yes, that’s his game. So what? Iso bully ball is Melo’s game. Is that how he should be playing? Just because a player likes to play a certain way doesn’t mean it’s best for the team.
For a contending team that needs bench scoring, his game is a perfect fit. I know he's not Posey but still.
And if you had him, Smart, Crowder, Terry and a center coming off the bench, I doubt other 2nd units want to see them.
But I just used your post to vent a lil bit. It wasn't really all about your post, but what I generally read in here.
I will say though...Hayward fits this team about as well as Eric montross would have fit Pitino's system.
They can fill that spot better with less money too
Unfortunately, Marcus Morris is not a bench player right now.
And I think we can put the whole BWA concept to rest. Rozier-Smart-Morris-Theis/Baynes (center) isn’t scaring anyone. Even if you add Crowder to that. Besides, a supposedly strong bench isn’t winning you a chip as you had implied in your post (the whole “when we get bounced, it’s because we’re not tough without Crowder/Morris/etc.”)
And it’s no secret Hayward isn’t earning his contract right now. 30m is a lot of money. Can he get to that level? Well, he’s shown it before. Unlike, say, Morris or Crowder.
Toughness isn't all about scaring people, it's about not being fragile and most importantly not afraid to let someone feel your presence. Put a body on someone, let them know you're out there. If you have to foul then foul, and stop counting them. Make them go around you, hold your ground. Angle them off.
It changes things and makes people do different things. Being a matador waving a red cape is embarrassing. Even though Crowder wasn't the fastest guy, people had to work to get around him the same way they do Smart.
Alot of times stats are not telling any stories.
And Crowder will definitely jump in someone's face when they get disrespectful, and has enough respect to keep people in check. Those things MATTER, man...and gives the whole team confidence and fires them up.
There's so much more than hitting a jumper at a certain %...and even then Crowder shot it pretty well.
This team alot of times embarrasses me with lack of toughness and intelligence.
And not only that but the 3 of them together would feed off each other and the whole culture of the team would change.
It should be eye-opening that a team led by IT who constantly gave up his body on drives was backed by a mucher tougher team with a different mentality, but actually had less talent.
Little things make a big difference, and sadly Danny is completely oblivious to those type of things.
And I forgot...all those little things slow people down for the next man on the switch...and THAT'S why they get burned so badly. Then lack of communication.