LA Clippers Best Performers #1. Marcus Morris Sr. – small forward
There is no doubt that before the matchup against the Heat, the Clippers were in serious trouble with four starters out. This would be a game where coach Lue would need other impact scorers and role players to step up their productivity to keep the Clippers in the game. One of those players, who has been solid throughout the season, is forward Marcus Morris Sr.
Morris has been the most consistent scorer coming off the bench since returning from a knee injury that kept him out for the first eight games of the season. On Monday night, Morris was asked to carry the offense of the Clippers much like Leonard and George do when healthy. Morris was on fire throughout the night against the defense of the Heat.
Morris led both teams in points scored with 32 points as he shot 11-for-15 from the field, including 6-for-8 from the three-point arc. In the first half, Morris scored 26 points by shooting 9-for-11 on field-goals and 6-for-7 from the three-point arc. He was nearly perfect on the offensive side of the court as he was highly aggressive in his shot selections. Morris took over the game and never looked back.
As the Heat started to focus on him more, he unselfishly shared the ball with offensive playmakers like Williams, Zubac, Terance Mann, and Coffey. Morris is a player that wants to win more than being the main star of a sub-.500% team. Morris re-signed to the Clippers to be a productive member of a potential NBA championship-caliber team. The team player mentality of Morris came out even in this dominant performance against the Heat because he wants to win more than anything else.