CLEAN SLATE
Markieff Morris looking to leave behind defensive days with Wizards
The question was raised and Markieff Morris was determined to distinguish himself from his former employers. The question was about defense.
Here was Morris, his first time in front of the Oklahoma City media on Thursday, making it clear that any usage of the word “y'all” in regard to his involvement with the Wizards, was not going to work. The stains of Washington's 112.4 points allowed per 100 possessions — 26th in the NBA prior to the All-Star break — were washed clean and were not transferable to his new Thunder threads.
“Y'all?” Morris replied calmly, yet confused by the question which implicated him in the Wizards' defensive doldrums.
“I'm in OKC now.” The biggest question facing Morris in his arrival to Oklahoma City is what the Thunder's newest pickup will bring to the rotation— or just as important, what has he left behind in Washington D.C.
The 6-foot-10, 245pound Morris was dealt by the sinking Wizards to New Orleans two weeks ago at the trade deadline. The Pelicans waived him the same day and last week Morris was courted by the Thunder as a free agent with the potential to help them across multiple frontcourt positions.
“Kieff is battle-tested,” Thunder forward Paul
George said Thursday. “He has that toughness and that experience coming towards the playoffs.
“Our job is to get him comfortable with us, get him used to the swing of things, our offense, our defense, because we're going to need him.”
If the Thunder's plan is to lean on Morris as part of its frontcourt rotation, he'll have to be able to guard multiple positions in a system where switching assignments defensively is commonplace, and where big men are required to play aggressively away from the basket in pick-and-roll situations.
Morris, who said he had similar calls defensively in Washington, said he's up for it. His 115 defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions), the worst on the Wizards in his 34 games played, would suggest otherwise.
“If we need to switch, if we need to play up high, whatever makes a team better,” Morris said. “I can show up (on guards), I can blitz a pick-and-roll, I can switch, whatever's comfortable for the team.”
The 29-year-old spoke Thursday like a player ready for a change of scenery. Washington is certainly not Oklahoma City, 10 games under .500 with its star player (John Wall) sidelined for the season to OKC's 17 games above .500 with multiple All-Stars in a loaded Western Conference.
Then, there was that clear line drawn. Morris made sure to separate himself from the Wizards' woes when he was categorized as part of a unit which gave up 112.5 points per 100 possessions until he was sidelined with a neck injury in late December.
“They had their …,” Morris corrected again about Washington's defensive issues. “… it was a tough year, man.
“I enjoyed my time there. I really do have a lot of love for that organization. It was an upand-down year and there was a lot of stuff going on.”
Thunder coach Billy Donovan never puts the onus of defensive stability on one person. Each component makes for a stronger collective, though, and lessens the likelihood that offenses will hunt out mismatches via switches (see: Carmelo Anthony). Morris has had the advantage of two days of film and practice to prepare for the Thunder's aggressive schemes.
“I think Markieff has always looked at himself as a defensive-orientated player that can guard a lot of different positions,” Donovan said. “He's got the ability to move his feet and play people on the perimeter and I think he's got the size, the strength and the physicality to play guys from the low post.
“He can play in (pick-androll) coverage and he can also switch. Our front court— even when we've got Paul out there at (power forward) some — those guys all give you flexibility.”
Never shy to throw a newlyacquired player into the fire, Donovan will certainly break Morris in against Utah on Friday. Morris was able to don the Thunder jersey before that.
When he wrapped up his first media session, Morris went into the back of the team's practice facility. He changed from his gray sweats into his new uniform for a photo shoot.
As Morris dribbled and posed, his Thunder threads stood out against the green screen backdrop. His face soon to be on the front of Chesapeake Energy Arena — his last days in Washington an afterthought — Morris was wearing the Thunder's white jersey/shorts combo. It was pristine.