Tag: Marcus Morris Sr.

Sixers’ Nick Nurse talks Kelly Oubre Jr. starting, new guys getting time

Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse discusses Kelly Oubre Jr. continuing to start as well as the new guys possibly joining the rotation.

PHILADELPHIA — As the Philadelphia 76ers move forward sans James Harden, questions about the starting lineup and playing rotation surround the Sixers.

The big pieces in the Harden deal are the picks acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers. However, the Sixers received four players from LA who can help them on the floor: Nic Batum, Robert Covington, Marcus Morris Sr. and KJ Martin.

Coach Nick Nurse has also found a lineup that works with Kelly Oubre Jr. stepping into the lineup to join Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid. Nurse recently said he’d like to have Oubre Jr. move back to the bench due to his offensive production for the second unit, but it looks like this will be a game-by-game evaluation for him.

“I’ve gotten some new information since I said that,” he said with a smile. “So I think I’ll just continue to evaluate it. I think that we were bringing him off the bench and I liked him there, and now we’re starting him and we like him there, too so I think we’re gonna have to see how it goes as we move forward.”

Then there’s the playing rotation. With Oubre Jr. starting and Nurse trying to integrate the new guys, he has to find ways to get them on the floor and into games.

“When you’re looking at this and trying to make these decisions, I always say I can only go off of what I see,” he explained. “Kelly, for example. Furk (Korkmaz), for example. We’ve given Furk a shot and he’s played good in both games, so that’s kind of our current information and Kelly’s started and played well. It’s kind of probably silly to make changes or use somebody else or change the rotation if the information’s good. On we go with evaluating it.”

In terms of the new guys, Nurse hinted Batum, Covington and possibly Morris could join the rotation as soon as Monday against the Washington Wizards.

“I think we’ll certainly play Covington and Batum tonight (Monday) and Marcus, probably,” he added. “We’ll see how it goes.”

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Tyrese Maxey, new Sixers additions attend Eagles-Cowboys matchup

Tyrese Maxey and the new Philadelphia 76ers additions attend the big Eagles-Cowboys matchup.

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, days on the sports calendar in Philadelphia is when the Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys matchup. The two franchises have an historic rivalry and there is no love lost between the two teams.

With the Philadelphia 76ers on an off day, some players decided to attend the contest at Lincoln Financial Field.

Tyrese Maxey attended the game along with Philly native Marcus Morris Sr., Robert Covington and KJ Martin. Morris, obviously, understand the importance of the Eagles-Cowboys matchup. Maxey and Covington have played in Philly long enough to understand it. For Martin, it was his first taste of the rivalry in Philly.

The Sixers are on a four-game winning streak and they look to keep the momentum going on Monday when they play host to the Washington Wizards. Maxey has done a terrific job stepping in as the team’s point guard, and he looks to keep things rolling.

Nick Nurse gives update on status of Nic Batum, other Sixers additions

Nick Nurse provides an update on Nic Batum and the other additions for the Philadelphia 76ers.

CAMDEN, N.J. — As the Philadelphia 76ers move forward following the James Harden trade, the attention shifts to what happens with the team’s new additions.

While potential moves are in the hands of President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey, the Sixers are looking to work in their new additions into the rotation.

Nic Batum, Marcus Morris Sr., Robert Covington and KJ Martin did not play major minutes in Thursday’s win over the Toronto Raptors. Batum is away from the team due to personal reasons. Morris is looking to ramp up activity before getting into a game. Covington and Martin played 1:15 of garbage time on Thursday.

At Friday’s practice, the new additions, other than Batum, played in a scrimmage to get ready for game action.

“Just trying to check general conditioning and rhythm of where they’re at and then just what they can pick up,” Nurse said of his expectations for them. “How much stuff they’ve got under their belt. They’ve spent a good two or three sessions now learning some of the sets and stuff. Just seeing their fit, but it’s good for them.”

As for Batum, it remains to be seen when he will return to the team. That is something Nurse is trying to find out.

“He’s not back, but I think — I’m not totally clear on that,” he said. “So I better not answer it right now. So I guess I need to check right after this. I have some meetings this afternoon to see where we’re at.”

As for Morris, he hasn’t played in a game since April 25 against the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs. Nurse is looking to ramp him up a bit before throwing him out in any live action.

“He hasn’t played at all in any — I don’t even think he played a preseason game or regular season games,” he explained. “So he’s more in the ramp-up phase of trying to get him going like you guys can see over there. He’s playing 5-on-5 full-court right now trying to get him going. He looks good individually working out. Looks pretty good in the scrimmage here today, so he shouldn’t be too far away.”

As the Sixers prepare to take on the Phoenix Suns on Saturday at home, Nurse isn’t sure if any of those players will be ready to go, but Nurse also acknowledges they have to play at some point.

“Maybe,” he pondered. “I think that probably still kind of don’t mind the rotation where it’s at right now and just probably don’t want to disrupt the rhythm and things like that, but we’ll see. I gotta think about that, discuss it with the staff a little bit. We got to work them in. It isn’t like the schedule is going to ease (up) like there’s a big break coming or something. So we got to get them in there sometime.”

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Philly native Marcus Morris Sr. focused on surprising people with Sixers

Philly native Marcus Morris Sr. is focused on surprising people while with the Philadelphia 76ers.

CAMDEN, N.J. — New Philadelphia 76ers forward Marcus Morris Sr. is from the city. He went to Prep Charter High School before playing his college ball at Kansas, so he is completely familiar with what is expected in the City of Brotherly Love.

After being acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in the James Harden trade, Morris is ready for a fresh start in his hometown. His minutes and his production began to decline toward the end of this time with Los Angeles, and the Sixers offer up a needed change of scenery.

“Wherever they need me,” Morris said of the Sixers. “I think it’s gonna be a big surprise to a lot of you of what I’m gonna bring to this team, what I’m gonna bring to this city. I’m excited and wherever they need me at, that’s what I’ll do.”

What will contribute to being a surprise for Morris on the floor?

“I just think the way the team I was on in previous years, I didn’t feel like I was myself,” he explained. “I was on the West Coast. I think y’all know it’s a big difference of being on East and West. I just don’t think — I know I wasn’t myself. I know I wasn’t half like half myself.”

The 34-year-old still has something left in the tank, and he wants to prove it. He clearly was feeling off while in LA. Now that he’s back in Philly, he’s ready to get after it.

“So being able to come home and being able to play in front of different fans and embracing the fans and embracing the fan base and being able to see my family a lot, it’s gonna be a different atmosphere for me,” Morris continued. “A different turnout.”

Playing next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey should also prove helpful for the veteran out of Kansas. He believes he can make their lives easier on the floor.

“Easily,” he said. “Joel’s the best big man in the league. Maxey’s an up-and-coming star in this league. Just playing off them, finding my spots, and making it easier. I’m a veteran, I’m a high-character guy, I’m a leader, so I think it’ll be a piece of cake. Honestly.”

At the end of the day, being from Philadelphia, Morris knows the best way to earn the respect of the city is to win.

“I’m from Philadelphia,” he said. “So I know there’s always expectations to win.”

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Marcus Morris, Robert Covington react to being traded to Sixers

Marcus Morris Sr. and Robert Covington react on Instagram to being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Clippers agreed to a deal in the wee hours of Halloween morning to send James Harden, PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev to LA.

In return, the Sixers received Marcus Morris Sr., Robert Covington, Nic Batum, KJ Martin and a handful of draft picks. Morris, Covington, Batum and Martin are on expiring deals that could prove to be valuable trade pieces when the trade deadline rolls around in February.

Morris is a Philadelphia native who went to Prep Charter High School before playing his college ball at Kansas. He posted on his Instagram story a picture of himself and set it to Meek Mill’s “Left Hollywood.”

As for Covington, he spent four full seasons and 13 games of a fifth season in Philadelphia before he was sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Jimmy Butler deal early in 2018. He posted on his Instagram story as well to react to the trade.

The Sixers look to continue to build their roster around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of a title.

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