Clippers’ Marcus Morris Sr. happy to be back

2 years ago 239

LOS ANGELES — Mook is back, and nary excessively soon.

The Clippers — 10-8 entering Friday’s day-after-Thanksgiving matinee against the 4-14 Detroit Pistons astatine Staples Center — person been short-handed each season. By Spotrac’s count, they’ve had players miss a combined 80 games, 3rd astir successful the NBA down the Orlando Magic (93) and Lakers (83).

They’ve been without their prima Kawhi Leonard (ACL) for the duration, but they’ve besides played without several different cardinal players, including Marcus Morris Sr., who appeared successful 2 games and past missed the adjacent 15 getting his near genu right.

“Just fundamentally training, grooming my knee,” Morris explained Tuesday aft helium logged 31 minutes and had 10 points and 5 rebounds successful his instrumentality to action.

“It wasn’t similar thing serious, aforesaid happening I was dealing with truthful they conscionable gave maine immoderate clip to similar conscionable bid it and get it acceptable for a afloat play and I deliberation I utilized the clip truly good and I consciousness great.”

Morris’ instrumentality serves arsenic a timely reinforcement for a Clippers squad that is expected to beryllium without their go-to glue feline Nicolas Batum for astatine slightest 10 days and the adjacent 3 games successful accordance with the league’s COVID-19 wellness and information protocols.

“It’ll astir apt beryllium a batch amended erstwhile Nico gets back,” Coach Tyronn Lue said earlier Tuesday’s overtime nonaccomplishment to the Dallas Mavericks, erstwhile Morris logged 31 minutes and had 10 points and 5 rebounds successful his instrumentality to action.

“For now, it’s kinda gonna beryllium similar the aforesaid relation arsenic Nico played, with a infinitesimal regularisation and not being capable to play him brainsick minutes.”

God bless! Happy to beryllium backmost to doing what I love.

— Marcus Morris (@MookMorris2) November 22, 2021

After Tuesday’s game, his manager and teammates said helium looked bully and, much importantly, Morris said helium felt that way, too.

“Felt good,” said the 32-year-old, who changeable 4 for 12 and 2 for 7 from 3-point scope against the Mavs. “Couple of shots didn’t go, but it’s a portion of the game. I felt similar I defended good — instrumentality a period off, I deliberation I looked bully myself. Shots volition come, bushed volition come, I’m a veteran. Just felt large to beryllium retired there.”

Morris said he’s anxious to lend to what the Clippers — particularly Paul George, who is averaging 26.4 points per game, fourth-most successful the NBA, and besides career-highs successful tract extremity percent (46.7%) and assists (5.3) — person had going aboriginal on, contempt everyone who’s had to miss time.

“The squad is precise resilient, man,” Morris said. “Having guys being retired and a batch of traveling, a batch of games backmost to backmost … it’s brutal, schedule’s been brutal. But it’s the NBA and I deliberation guys did a large job. PG’s playing astatine an MVP level and Reggie (Jackson) is playing his (butt) disconnected and guys astir him are coming successful and doing what they’re expected to do, putting our champion ft forward.

“Just bring my voice, bring my toughness,” helium added, successful notation to the Clippers’ antiaircraft occurrence truthful acold — their 102.5 antiaircraft standing is second-best successful the league arsenic they’re allowing conscionable 102.9 points per game, fourth-fewest.

“The squad is doing truly good paying attraction to item and rotations and the manager is putting them successful large spots and a batch of guys that person been unneurotic truthful it’s benignant of casual to pass with guys and guys cognize wherever to beryllium and we’re doing what we’re expected to do.”

And connected offensive, wherever the Clippers haven’t been astir arsenic productive? (They’re averaging 105.9 points per game, which is 21st overall, with an violative standing of 105.3, 25th successful the NBA. What’s more, a play aft shooting a league-leading 41.1% from 3-point scope — led by Morris’ career-best 47.3% — they’re present hitting a much-more-modest 35.3% of their shots from agelong range.)

“It volition come,” promised Morris, who is connected the 2nd play of a four-year, $64 cardinal deal. “And erstwhile it goes, it’s going to flow. Me coming back, I’ll decidedly beryllium capable to adhd to it. Get the shot successful my spots and sound down 3s.”

The 6-foot-8 guardant from Philadelphia said helium doesn’t expect to person to miss immoderate much clip connected relationship of his knee, which apt wasn’t helped by consecutive abbreviated offseasons.

“It is what it is,” Morris said. “I’m a pro. I’ll fig it out. I’m blessed the Clippers gave maine immoderate clip to get myself together. And I’m acceptable to go.”

Just successful the nick of time.