Boston Celtics: The importance of Marcus Morris

Marcus Morris is having a fantastic season for the Boston Celtics. Here’s a look at how big he’s been for this team throughout the year.

Marcus Morris has always been a good player, but this season he’s really found his stride. The Boston Celtics have had a lot of up-and-downs this year, but the one constant has been Morris.

The 29-year-old forward has been so good and that’s allowed Boston to stay competitive each night.

Morris is set to become a free agent this summer and by the way he’s playing, it would be hard to see the Celtics’ being able to find cap space to re-sign him. It would be a dream scenario if he took a pay cut to remain in Boston.

Morris was inserted into the starting lineup when the team was going through a moot point. Thus far, he’s started in 24 of the 41 games he’s suited up in. He’s currently averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Not only has he been averaging a career best in points and rebounds, but this is the best he’s ever shot the ball. He’s shooting a ridiculous 48.6 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from 3-point range. It’s not like he’s attempting one or two 3’s per game, he’s attempting on average 5.1 shots.

Morris is 10th in the NBA in 3-point percentage and by the way he’s been slinging it, it’s almost safe to say that he won’t cool off anytime soon. He also owns a 3.4 win share this season, which comes as no surprise since he has played a large role in Boston’s wins.

These are the shots that have come so regular for him – shooting it with absolute confidence. Morris should and most likely will remain in the starting lineup based off how good he’s been this season.

What separates him from a lot of other players, is his passion and intensity he brings each and every night. The latest scuffle with Jaylen Brown is just a perfect example of the intensity he expects from himself and his teammates.

Since his addition to the starting lineup, he and a few others have helped this team get back in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference race. Morris has had a lot of good games this season, but the game against the New Orleans Pelicans was easily his best one.

The Celtics were without Aron Baynes, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving and Guerschon Yabusele. Yet, despite having five players out, Morris’ big game allowed Boston to upset the Pelicans.

In that game he scored 31 points and added four rebounds and assists. Not only did he score the ball but he went 10-of-15 from the field and 5-for-8 from 3. His performance and the amount he had to step up in this game is a perfect example of what he’s done the entire season.

Morris is a key reason the Celtics have started to look like the team the NBA saw last season.

There’s still a lot of growing to do for this group, but behind Morris, Boston can get there. Irving gets a lot of talk for how well he’s played this season and rightfully so, but Morris has been a close second, even if his stats aren’t as eye-popping as Irving’s.

Morris has been a key reason to the Celtics success this season and he must continue to bring that energy and intensity if he wants to bring Boston far in the playoffs.