Phoenix Suns: 5 Reasons To Stop Being Depressed

2. The Offensive Brilliance Of Markieff Morris

“Offensive” is probably the most fitting word for Markieff Morris, not only because it describes his game, but also because he’s been a tough guy for fans to love this year. Even before he called out the fan support at US Airways Center, his rebounding abilities were a point of criticism, as was his defense — despite the fact that he’s often battling much bigger power forwards.

However, Keef’s brilliance on the offensive end, particularly in clutch situations, cannot and should not be ignored.

In that overtime win over the Thunder that kept Phoenix’s playoff hopes alive, the focus was on Bledsoe’s epic night going toe-to-toe with Russell Westbrook, and rightfully so. But Keef also finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds, not to mention a massively important three-point play with 20 seconds to go in regulation:

Westbrook’s three-point play seven seconds later sent the game to overtime, but had it not been for that clutch play from Keef, the Suns might have added another heartbreaking loss at the end of regulation to their resume.

Against the Magic last night, Chief Keef stepped up big once again with 23 points on 11-of-17 shooting. He also knocked down another clutch mid-range jumper with 35 seconds remaining to extend Phoenix’s lead to three:

According to NBA.com, Morris’ 49.2 field goal percentage in clutch situations is the third-best mark in the entire NBA (among players who have attempted 45 such shots this season). His 85 points in those crunch-time situations also ranks 12th in the league.

Between the technicals, the lack of rebounding presence and directly calling out fans after a smack down from the San Antonio Spurs, Markieff Morris isn’t exactly a fan favorite. But don’t let those gripes overshadow his development as one of the most dangerous and underrated offensive power forwards in the league.

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