Marcus Morris: The Unsung Hero of the Boston Celtics’ Second-Half Stretch

As inconsistency in the lineup persisted, it overshadowed one consistent offensive threat and fiery competitor that carried the Celtics to the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference

In the midst of an injury-plagued season, the Boston Celtics were still able to put together an impressive résumé. Already facing skepticism going into the season with only four returning players, the Celtics proved the public wrong with wins over essentially every top team in the league on the way to a top two finish in the East. They were led by star point guard Kyrie Irving and a primarily young core behind him.

But a week in mid-March altered its course when Irving, Marcus Smart, and Daniel Theis all went down with injuries. Uncertainty grew for the team, and fans who hoped for the return of Gordon Hayward were silenced when coach Brad Stevens clarified that Hayward would not be returning for the 2017-2018 season. There was still a month to play in the regular season, and the city of Boston prepared for a period of devastating losses and a first-round playoff exit.

Yet it was Marcus Morris who stepped up to the plate when the Celtics needed a leader the most. When healthy, the offense was led by Morris’ impressive repertoire of pull-up jumpers and aggressive drives to the hoop. Morris averaged around 19 points per game after the injuries to Irving, Smart, and Theis, while finishing the second half of the season averaging about 16 points per game.

In the month of March, he shot near 49% from the field, around 47% from three-point land, and about 83% from the free throw line. He also pulled down a great number of rebounds, once tying a season-high of 11 boards on March 16th against the Magic.

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His most notable highlight came on a difficult three-pointer to win a tough battle against the Thunder. When the Celtics needed someone to step up, Morris undoubtedly took the incentive and provided a much-needed spark for the team offensively.

Players like Smart are real glue-guys; they play an up-tempo style of game that electrifies their teammates on the court and encourages them to play with a fiery type of energy. Smart had been powering the NBA’s top-ranked defense, and was always be seen making the extra play.

Morris truly stepped into Smart’s energizing role in the second-half of the season. Not only did he contribute consistent scoring and rebounding, but his energy ignited his teammates and the city of Boston. Through two ejections late in the season, he brought his passion to the court every night. While on paper these ejections may appear to be costly both for the rest of the team and his wallet, they made his teammates want to play for him, and caused Celtics fans to rally behind him.

Boston simply loves a player with a real intensity to him. Another example would be Isaiah Thomas, who was ejected in his first game with the Boston Celtics in 2015. Boston’s fan base was electric from then on, and grew to love “the little guy” with his competitive, fervent attitude.

The real question for Celtics fans going into the season was, “who won the Avery Bradley trade with Detroit Pistons?” Bradley was a beloved player in Boston, who, like Morris, is often prevented from reaching his full potential due to injuries. On defense, Bradley was the leader and often was referred to as the best on-ball defender in the NBA. He was the quintessential player for Stevens’ defensive system.

Yet all good things must come to an end, and as Bradley was swapped for Morris and a 2019 second-round pick, fans pondered whether this was the right decision for the Celtics’ future. However, in the 2017-2018 season, the injury-prone Bradley played in only 46 games for two non-playoff organizations, and six of those games were with the Clippers with whom he finished the season after a trade-deadline deal.

While Morris only played in 54 games, he played solely for one team, that being a playoff contender. His contributions down the stretch were so crucial, and his charismatic demeanor has made him a fan-favorite in Boston. In other words, the Celtics likely won the deal with Detroit.

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Morris ensured Celtics fans that the Celtics would have a passionate leader come playoff time. And thankfully, he got his wish of not playing his twin brother, Markieff, in the first round of the playoffs. Boston can only hope Morris brings his energy and prolific scoring to the playoffs next week. And under coach Stevens, this team can accomplish anything.