After being used mostly as a floor-spacing big man with the Lakers over the last couple seasons, Markieff Morris is happy he’s getting more opportunities to operate inside the three-point arc with the Heat this season, says Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
“I’m finally back to basically where I had success at in the league early in my career,” Morris said this week. “For me personally, the game has changed a lot from when I first came in to now. Over here, these guys are doing a great job of letting me just play my game, and they’re playing to my strengths.”
Morris, who said he played a bit of a “one-dimensional” role in Los Angeles, averaged 3.4 three-point attempts and 2.8 two-pointers per game last season. So far this season, he’s attempting 2.3 threes and 5.3 two-pointers per contest.
Here’s more on the Heat:
- With G League training camps underway, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said the plan is for Marcus Garrett to spend plenty of time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s NBAGL affiliate, this season, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. However, the team’s other two-way player, Caleb Martin, is less likely to be sent on assignments to Sioux Falls, since Spoelstra views him as a “plug-and-play guy” for the Heat.
- Asked why he decided to re-sign with the Heat again this summer, Udonis Haslem told Tyler R. Tynes of GQ that he believes he can inspire young players fighting to earn their place in the NBA. “I coulda quit a long time ago. But there’s (always) been another guy that comes in that reminds me of me: that wants an opportunity, that needs an opportunity, that deserves an opportunity,” Haslem said. “Every year I can find another Udonis Haslem that walks in that locker room. And I’m re-inspired and re-energized. I still have game to give. I still have my passion. I see those guys walk in the locker room and I’m just reborn again. It goes to the Bam Adebayos and Tyler Johnsons and the habits we create in this organization.”
- Within an extensive conversation with Tynes, Haslem discussed “Heat Culture,” the team’s Big Three era, and the evolution of his role in the locker room over the years. The veteran big man, who is in his 19th season, also suggested that he’d like to play one more season beyond 2021/22: “If I can get 20 years, it’ll be an amazing career for a kid that no one thought would play in the league. All my sacrifices, everything I’ve given, the only thing I’ve asked for is to try to get to 20. I wanna give that to myself, and I wanted to give it to my father (who recently passed away).”
Haslem keeps re signing with the heat because a vet min contract pays more than an NBA assistant coach does lol
Since Haslem gave up million to form the Big 3 Riley and Arison happy to continue paying him the vet min as a “player/coach” as compensation but also bc UD embodies Heat Culture.
Wouldn’t expect you to understand “lol”
The ironic thing in Haslem’s statement is that HE’S TAKING A ROSTER SPOT one of those guys he wants to help/inspire could have.
If you want to mentor/train these young guys be a coach and give up your roster spot
Haslem does not need the money. He’s made over 65 million in his career. Btw have you seen his house? I think he just does it for the love of the game. If he didn’t care about playing, then like he said, he could’ve quit a long time ago.
I get why he would like more shot creation opportunities but the fact is you don’t want him or especially Marcus trying to do anything off the dribble or the post ! The only purpose they serve is to catch and shoot 3s ! Wouldn’t want my team to have to rely on a Morris twin but at least the heats Morris twin isn’t getting big bucks
Well Marcus Morris is better with the ball. He’s proven that. Still not a #1 or #2 dude obviously, but much better than markieff.
His iso game is garbage both brothers dribble the ball like high school centers !
Can’t wait until the Heat get swept again in the first round so everyone can dunk on them for shoving HEAT CULTURE down everyone’s throats the past two years
Hardest working, best conditioned, most professional, most unselfish, toughest, meanest, nastiest, most disliked team in the NBA. HEAT CULTURE
Both Garrett and Martin should be in the rotation…
Markieff Morris has been surprisingly ok defensively, but he is probably the weakest spot on the team, besides the issues on the wing behind Butler. He is more useful as a small 5 in certain matchups, rather than at the 4, where he just isnt a good option most of the time. Heat needed size at that position for a long time, and he does give them that, but that’s pretty much it. I do wonder how long other teams are going to keep biting on pump fakes from outside the 3 point line, considering he cant make that shot, and never has in his entire career. I prefer Okpala at the 4 over him, since they dodnt get a better option that was/is available in free agency