Start Darius Morris

kray28 wrote:

TIME wrote:

viktorkain wrote:
He is also however the biggest detriment to his teams chemistry and he has never learned one thing that MJ did. How to make his team mates better. This is by no means a Kobe rant my station is entirely to high to rant on a player on my favorite team but I will point out facts... Like the fact you obviously are overlooking... Yes Kobe shot us out of a hole in the clippers game. He shot us out of the same Hole he shot us into. Facts First good sir.

You can insist it's not a Kobe rant, but if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck...

So, Kobe has never learned how to make his teammates better? And you are calling for others to learn how basketball works before commenting? Kobe has always made his teammates better. It's one of the biggest Kobe myths people continue to parrot. Here's a name for example: Smush Parker. Compare Smush's career playing next to Kobe vs. playing next to anyone else.

I'm also curious what you mean by "my station is entirely too high".

TIME wrote:

kray28 wrote:


kray, viktorkain did bait you with his comment, but he is new to the forum while you are a longtime member. You know this post of yours is a violation of site rules.

I did not consider Saying someone should learn how basketball works as a bait if it was taken as such then I apologize. Seeing as we all know how basketball works if you are playing at the top of the key and have two defenders on you this would in turn mean that someone is open, Correct? Would it not be prudent and in the best interest of the team to get the ball to the person who has an unobstructed view of the basket? I will not address Kobe Bryant because I really do not want to take the time to defend being a Laker fan and having an opinion of Kobe Bryant that is Unbiased.I have been a Laker fan since the Mid 70's well before Mr Bryant was Born much less on the team. There seem to be two distinct types of Laker fans.

@Time, then it is a duck I see your point and you are correct. As per the My Station Comment, Simply Stating that due to my life circumstances I do not have the time to "Rant" on the best player in the game seeing as I cannot sway his game play or decisions in the slightest therefore it would be a waste of my time and energy when I could be eating this delicious red velvet cheesecake.

Side Note seeing as I am new here. I am Overly critical and analytical its a character flaw. I watch my kids games 10+ times before coming up with a gameplan and I watch every lakers and orlando game about 6 times before breaking it down I run a lot of Orlando's Offense seeing as we have one of the bigger kids in the district playing center,We also have 2 really good perimeter guys.

viktorkain wrote:

Rooscooter wrote:
Every offense is predictable in the half court set in this league. OKC for example.... guard Durant and Westbrook and it's over.... the problem is you can't guard Durant and Westbrook......

We are the same IMO. Our execution hasn't been good nor do we have much diversity in schemes to this point but we are trying to get the ball to Kobe, Drew and Pau...... the manner in which we do it may vary in complexity and success but these are the guys on this team that need the ball in a position to score.

What I see lacking in comfort in the system and a true initiator that is reading and reacting. Morris isn't that guy now or even in a year IMHO. He needs to be able to have the respect of the veterans. We saw his looping passes almost out of bounds to Kobe while being double covered.... is that what true initiator does? There was nobody in the middle of the floor at all and he could have easily broke down his man and provided an easy hoop or two for someone else. The next time down after doing that I'll bet Kobe would't be double covered prior to having the ball.

He has some ability but this is a team on the verge of a championship not the Timberwolves..... we can't afford on the job training of a position as important as Point Guard.

Finally, our biggest problem has been time to install an offense. To me, this resembles an "intramural team" in that we have a few basic plays and a variation or two off of them because of the unfamiliarity and lack of practice time.

I agree with you on everything but two points. Darius Morris could not pass the ball to anyone but Kobe even though he was double defended. He threw those moon passes knowing they would be in an area that Kobe could get to them but it would be difficult for the defender to do so. Imagine the rookie breaking down his man off the dribble and penetrating then passing the ball to Bynum for an easy two do you have any idea how pissed off Kobe would be? No? Ok watch the Clippers game again in the 4th Quarter on the fast break where Morris tosses the Bounce pass to Gasol through two defenders. After that score Kobe was yelling at the kid for not kicking the ball to him as he stood at the top of the key, Dont believe it just watch the 4th quarter again.

Now at the end of quarter 2 or 3 cannot remember will have to go check for clarity. Kobe was on the bench and Darius Broke his man down off the dribble and drove to the hole for a lay up which he scored on due to goal tending. This was done in the preseason as well as in the Jazz and Clippers game. He can drive easily but it is obvious he does not have the green light to go.

The other thing I disagree with is the fact that you said the Lakers are "On the Verge of a championship." Not without some major adjustments on the Offensive end and probably not without a few personnel changes. Body language says a lot and there are several people not liking how this is going that are wearing Purple and Gold Jerseys.

To your first point.... looping passes to Kobe 12 feet behind the 3 point line while being double covered isn't a smart decision regardless of whether Kobe was making those shots or not. That's my point. Break down your man and get an easy two and the next time down Kobe won't be double covered prior to having the ball. After 16 years I think Kobe can understand that as can the coach. The whole purpose of a point guard in a traditional offense is to run the team and make the decisions on the floor. A good one thinks a possession or two in advance of the current one.... setting up the defense.... Put it this way.... do you think Chris Paul would have done that if he were on our team...... me either....

The whole post, as are most of the others I've made in this thread, are indicating that Morris isn't the answer if we are serious about a championship. Neither is Fisher or Blake. In fact my post was demonstrating that fact.

Kobe isn't getting any younger and our window is still open if we can get an adequate point guard and some time to actually install the offense we will be in good shape...... you can't "adjust" what hasn't been fully installed yet....

Rooscooter wrote:To your first point.... looping passes to Kobe 12 feet behind the 3 point line while being double covered isn't a smart decision regardless of whether Kobe was making those shots or not. That's my point. Break down your man and get an easy two and the next time down Kobe won't be double covered prior to having the ball. After 16 years I think Kobe can understand that as can the coach. The whole purpose of a point guard in a traditional offense is to run the team and make the decisions on the floor. A good one thinks a possession or two in advance of the current one.... setting up the defense.... Put it this way.... do you think Chris Paul would have done that if he were on our team...... me either....

The whole post, as are most of the others I've made in this thread, are indicating that Morris isn't the answer if we are serious about a championship. Neither is Fisher or Blake. In fact my post was demonstrating that fact.

Kobe isn't getting any younger and our window is still open if we can get an adequate point guard and some time to actually install the offense...... you can't "adjust" what hasn't been fully installed yet....

I completely agree with everything you said and you are right ... at this point in time Darius Morris is not our best choice if we are serious about a championship and neither are Fish or Blake. I cannot argue that at all. Also no I do not think Chris Paul would have made those passes but I also will say if he were a rookie he just might. It is very intimidating to be a rookie on a Star Studded team especially when you are playing alongside the biggest star of them all. As for the window still being open you are right and the rumor is they are trying to get Andre Miller which even at his age and with his busted Jump shot is a better and more serviceable PG than either Blake or Fisher.

viktorkain wrote:

Rooscooter wrote:To your first point.... looping passes to Kobe 12 feet behind the 3 point line while being double covered isn't a smart decision regardless of whether Kobe was making those shots or not. That's my point. Break down your man and get an easy two and the next time down Kobe won't be double covered prior to having the ball. After 16 years I think Kobe can understand that as can the coach. The whole purpose of a point guard in a traditional offense is to run the team and make the decisions on the floor. A good one thinks a possession or two in advance of the current one.... setting up the defense.... Put it this way.... do you think Chris Paul would have done that if he were on our team...... me either....

The whole post, as are most of the others I've made in this thread, are indicating that Morris isn't the answer if we are serious about a championship. Neither is Fisher or Blake. In fact my post was demonstrating that fact.

Kobe isn't getting any younger and our window is still open if we can get an adequate point guard and some time to actually install the offense...... you can't "adjust" what hasn't been fully installed yet....

I completely agree with everything you said and you are right ... at this point in time Darius Morris is not our best choice if we are serious about a championship and neither are Fish or Blake. I cannot argue that at all. Also no I do not think Chris Paul would have made those passes but I also will say if he were a rookie he just might. It is very intimidating to be a rookie on a Star Studded team especially when you are playing alongside the biggest star of them all. As for the window still being open you are right and the rumor is they are trying to get Andre Miller which even at his age and with his busted Jump shot is a better and more serviceable PG than either Blake or Fisher.

Good.... glad we settled the most important point.... I'm right..... Just kidding....

In reading your analysis of the Clipper game I would point out that "Mike Brown's" defense had no solution whatsoever for the Pick-n-roll and this is precisely why we lost the game.... not the hiccups on the offensive end. We scored enough based on our previous wins..... we didn't defend well and especially the defensive boards and penetration.

As Kray pointed out we were out rebounded badly on the defensive end in the first half. These rebounds were, in large part, because Bynum and Pau were rotating into the center of the key to cover Paul leaving their men un blocked out for the rebounds. The Clips missed a lot of contested shots initially but made the second chances.

In my opinion the rebounding discrepancy had a couple origins..... The lack of point guard defense, the scheme itself and the fact our bigs had dead legs. I discount the latter a little as Bynum ended up with 16 rebounds and was fairly dominant on the boards throughout the second half.

The Clippers have some talent where we don't and they took advantage of it. We have some where they don't We need a floor general that can, first identify where we have advantages and second take advantage of it. To me this isn't about whether or not Kobe gets 40 and the Kobe faction vs the non-Kobe faction. A well balanced attack on out team should include 20 to 24 shots for Kobe.... when those shots take place and the difficulty of those shots are not entirely up to Kobe.... he needs some assistance getting into his kill zone.


Oh.... and welcome to the site as well.....

@RooScooter Thank you good Sir and our rebounding was horrible but I think the reason behind that was neither Pau nor Bynum boxed out. I was yelling at them to at least put a body on their man. If only they could hear me through the television.

This kid needs to learn how to make a post entry pass without looking absolutely petrified doing it. He swung the ball in favor of post entry passes at least 5 times tonight.

Pau makes a cleaner post entry pass right now.

nope.

stop dribbling so much. and keep your head up.

Waldo Faldo isn't ready!

Doc Brown wrote:His defense is there. He was on Terry all night and his only mistake was going under a screen in the 1st half, other than that he was all over him and forced him into contested shots. Impressed with his defense so far.

His offense is bad. If everyone else didn't look like absolute crap on the offensive end, I would be way more harsh on him, but since everyone looked awful running the "offense", I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. He's just dribbling the ball way too much. Make a play or pass it.

His D is pretty good..... Best on ball D by a point guard in a while. Struggles on screens and when to help but not too shabby in the open court.

Offense is another story however...

^I think the offense has more to do with the fact that Mike Brown really hasn't implemented the offense yet.

There has been very little practice time to implement the offense completely.

like I said the 1st day I saw him, he reminds me of Anthony Carter really. Very good defender, can run your offensive sets if you have one, outside of that I dont see much from him

revgen wrote:^I think the offense has more to do with the fact that Mike Brown really hasn't implemented the offense yet.

There has been very little practice time to implement the offense completely.

I hope you're right..... He rotated away from a posted big a few times and didn't show a lot on his few drive attempts.

Morris doesn't back down from anything and anyone... Good trait to have. In hindsight, nothing better than putting his feet to the fire in a big time game such as tonight. Morris doesn't panic but his over dribbling is stunting the offense. Defensively, I agree that he has repped himself well. Morris is quick enough to stay with other guards at 6-5 plus with that long wingspan can smother them.

RE: the OP, let's not and say we did. But I was glad to at least see him get some burn out there tonight. He wasn't great, but he's what we've got.

he needs a real PG to be his mentor. fishers a great guy but that wont help darius much.

His D is okay for a rookie. But if you can't make a basic entry pass to the post and you shoot like Ron Artest, you're not gonna be around long.

We need a real PG. I REALLY hope Mitch doesn't think we can go the whole year like this.

For my money, I think Trey Johnson was/is a better point guard.

We're not going to win a lot of games with Morris playing as the backup PG.
a 5-7/6-7 record in the next 12/13 games is a probable scenario .. with Blake coming back after that stretch

Alleyhoops wrote:For my money, I think Trey Johnson was/is a better point guard.

Agree. Whatever happened to him?

John3:16 wrote:

Alleyhoops wrote:For my money, I think Trey Johnson was/is a better point guard.

Agree. Whatever happened to him?

seriously though that guy was pretty decent for a vet. minimum. He could hit a shot at least.

This kid is a D-League player right now.

LakerFan1235 wrote:

John3:16 wrote:

Alleyhoops wrote:For my money, I think Trey Johnson was/is a better point guard.

Agree. Whatever happened to him?

seriously though that guy was pretty decent for a vet. minimum. He could hit a shot at least.

he's warming the bench with New Orleans. I imagine he'll get even less than his current 5mpg once eric gordon is back