GT: Pacers vs Wizards Feb 10, 2:00 AM

[J-Ves]

Something about putting on a Wizards jersey seems to bring out the best in some players. Ariza/Webster/Butler/Sessions and now Morris.

Morris is all the way up to 15th in RPM. When i first checked a few weeks ago he wasn't even top 40.

http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/RPM/position/6

The Wall effect is real. He even makes his starting PF rebound better

[TGW]

I mostly agree. I think it's fair to say the verdict is still out on the trade. But I really like how Kieff has played the last few weeks and his role in helping the Zards win games.

Oh i agree with you. If he plays like this for the rest of his contract, then it's an undeniable win by Grunfled. As long as he keeps off the weed, I think he'll play at a pretty solid level.

I still would have prefered resigning Booker, and then drafting a young big (like Chriss, who I think will be a stud in the future), but I can live with Kieff if he continues to play this way.

[80sballboy]

ESPN was riding Ernie for the Morris trade, saying it was an amazing move. Let's see how that rookie class does in a few years, Marquese Chriss is already looking good.

If that's the standard we're using to judge the Morris trade then I'm sure players like Wall and Gortat, and much of the Zards fan base, already consider the trade a success.

I'm sure they prefer what the Zards are getting from Kieff this season to what a rookie MIGHT give the team 2-3 years from now. I know I do.

What Kieff gives them now is mediocre basketball overall. All the numbers suggest that Morris is not even average in certain respects. He's on a good streak now...he has to be consistent before that trade is considered a success. He's been about 40% good and about 60% suck as a member of the Wizards.

So are you one of those who just watches the numbers and not the games? I would say Morris has been terrific over the last 15 games. No, maybe that trade isn't a great one due to recent success. But the most important stat is wins. If we had Morris against Brooklyn, we win in regulation in double digits. That's how important his play is to the team. We don't have a true power forward when he sits. Not Otto. Not Oubre. Not Jason Smith.

But you're right, you can't take away the 25 or so games, where he was ordinary. The passionless Kieff who rarely hustles and doesn't help much on D. Supposedly he has been playing with foot and calf problems all year. But everybody has some issue. Brad has ankle/shins, Otto has the hip and John has the right hand/wrist issue.

Last 10 games?
Morris is averaging 19.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, shooting 47% FG. He's now shooting a respectable 34.3% from 3pt. I think he's been a huge part of our success at home and lately on the road.

[80sballboy]

Something about putting on a Wizards jersey seems to bring out the best in some players. Ariza/Webster/Butler/Sessions and now Morris.

Morris is all the way up to 15th in RPM. When i first checked a few weeks ago he wasn't even top 40.

http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/RPM/position/6

The Wall effect is real. He even makes his starting PF rebound better

Agree that John helps and maybe that list of leaving him out of the top 30 power forward or whatever motivated him. Or maybe Brooks or somebody on his staff just got on him and told him to rebound more. He's also passing well, which is something that good teams do. F-ck the short arm theory and all that other BS. It's about heart and when he shows it, he can be a pretty good player.

[Mojo Amok]

Something about putting on a Wizards jersey seems to bring out the best in some players. Ariza/Webster/Butler/Sessions and now Morris.

Morris is all the way up to 15th in RPM. When i first checked a few weeks ago he wasn't even top 40.

http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/RPM/position/6

And then David West - who's ahead of him - only plays 11 minutes a game and you've got Dieng, Cousins and Jokic there who are either more centers in todays game within a twin tower scheme or just outright mislabeled as a PF (notable that they're all starters on poor defensive teams too). PF is a position with poor talent overall, so a middle of the pack starter here isn't as good as the equivalent at PG or SF, but it's still noteworthy.

Almost everyone in the NBA could improve their efficiency with improved 3PT shooting, and so it is with Kief too, but he could make a big jump if he reads plays unfolding and times his flashes to the basket off the ball like he did against Indiana here. He's got the best tools on the team to finish those plays (though not the feel for it that Gortat does). Even just one more of those per game with one less contested 17 footer would do a lot for his efficiency.