Checking in on how Markieff Morris is adjusting in Washington

The overwhelming response to any discussion of Markieff Morris as a player was that he’s not really the guy Suns fans saw in the 2015-16 season.

As it turns out, a slow start has his stats saying he is for the Washington Wizards exactly what he was for the Phoenix Suns.

In his first seven games with Washington, Morris is shooting only 37 percent from the field and is 0-of-11 from three-point range.

While the stats are rough, let’s take a look at the way Morris has been used in Washington before fully assessing the damage.

First of all, Morris is extremely involved in the offense with the amount of screens he sets.

The Wizards and head coach Randy Wittman are using Morris as a screener for the player with the ball in a large chunk of the sets Morris is involved in. They then proceed to have him pop somewhere between 14-26 feet from the basket.

Wittman must use Morris like this in a good percentage of possessions because their best player – John Wall – is a terrific attacker and wonderful playmaker.

Teams will look to completely shut down Wall and that’s where good looks come for Morris. The problem is, he’s not making them.

This is the best case scenario for this particular action and Morris has to make the shot. This is his first shot of the game and he couldn’t ask for a better look to get going, even being on his preferred baseline. It just doesn’t go in.

Different set, but the same result and Morris misses again.

The biggest issue that presents Morris in Washington is that it looks like the Wizards want him to shoot three-pointers and it’s going to be a critical part of the offense.

The difference between the three-pointers Morris took in Phoenix and the ones he’s taking now is the amount of space he has when he takes these shots. He even has enough to create his own offense, but it’s been a struggle early on.

Look at how much the Sixers defense commits to Wall. He makes a terrific play and sets up Morris, but he misses. That’s a shot he has to make.

Here’s the space and this time Morris is even able to take a full dribble in and still get a great look. No good.

The Wizards, of course, acquired Morris knowing the type of player he is and that shows with some of the looks he’s received.

His bread and butter is from the midrange in the post and that’s where Washington will see his production rise.

He also has enough strength to bully smaller players in the post and the combination of a good enough handle, a quick first step and being a threat as a passer to attack off the dribble.

Morris has showed this off already in his brief time with the Wizards.

This is the type of play that helps make sense of why a team gets Morris. Great fake, quick take to the rim and a great adjustment at the rim to finish.

A similar type of set that Earl Watson ran for Morris. He buries the jumper with a hand in his face, something Suns fans have seen him do since he was drafted by Phoenix in 2011.

Morris is a smart player and he’s going to get far more acclimated to what the Wizards are running for him. Here are a couple of examples of him doing just that.

This is much better recognition from Morris on the amount of space he has. Instead of waiting one step inside the three-point line, he does the hybrid of a roll and a pop, floating near the elbow. He’s ready to catch and shoot and his quick release is good.

Same set we saw above and Morris does a great job of being aggressive immediately and gets close enough to the basket for an easy make.

That growth suggests Morris will be just fine in Washington. His recent 16-point, 13-rebound performance against the Sixers on Monday looked like a player who is starting to find his rhythm.

Whatever way this deal turns out for the Wizards is a win for the Suns. The way events unfolded in Phoenix — which some think the Suns are partially responsible for — were never going to result in Morris sticking around and being the player he was in 2014-15. The return of a potential lottery pick is terrific.

As for the Wizards, they took a huge gamble in not only taking on Morris, but giving up a legitimate asset for him. Washington, however, is 5-2 with Morris and he continues to look more comfortable with their team. The deal could wind up being an even bigger win for them.

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