Valley of the Suns
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NBA 2K15: What’s Wrong With The Suns?

By Scott Chasen

Mar 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and center Alex Len (21) and forward P.J. Tucker (17) and forward Marcus Morris (15) and head coach Jeff Hornacek and guard Eric Bledsoe (2) look on during the final moments of the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Trail Blazers won the game 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and center Alex Len (21) and forward P.J. Tucker (17) and forward Marcus Morris (15) and head coach Jeff Hornacek and guard Eric Bledsoe (2) look on during the final moments of the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Trail Blazers won the game 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) shoots over Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Suns 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) shoots over Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Suns 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 — Markieff Morris And The Closer Badge

Markieff Morris is clutch.

It’s basically a fact at this point. I know there are a lot of Suns fans that don’t like the Morris Twins, and many would like to see them traded (myself included if the right deal came forward).

But that doesn’t change the fact that Markieff Morris is very, very clutch.

In fact, Zach Harper of CBSSports.com actually wrote about the NBA’s five best and worst clutch shooters from this season and there was no surprise at the top: Markieff Morris was the first player listed.

However, according to the game, Eric Bledsoe is the only Suns player worthy of the Closer Badge. And in another twist of fate, three of the five players identified as the WORST clutch shooters by Harper earned the Closer Badge, despite shooting a combined 103-of-288 (35.8 percent) from the field in the last five minutes of games this year, when the margin was within five points.

"Chris Paul (has Closer Badge): 26-of-77 – 33.8 percent Damian Lillard (has Closer Badge): 31-of-91 – 34.1 percent Markieff Morris (does not have Closer Badge): 35-of-76 – 46.1 percent Russell Westbrook (has Closer Badge): 46-of-120 – 38.3 percent"

When you shrink that to just the last two minutes of games, Morris’ field goal percentage went up above 51 percent. In the last minute, it was above 53 percent.

Meanwhile, others with the Closer Badge struggled late in games. Russell Westbrook, shot 28.1 percent from the field in the last two minutes of games with a margin of five points or fewer. Paul shot 28.9 percent. Lillard shot 27.7 percent.

And in the last minute, none of those three players shot better than 35 percent frm the field. They still all got clutch badges.

And Morris didn’t.

Next: No. 2 -- His Name Is Earl

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