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  4. title => "30 Celtics Questions in 30 Days: What to expect from Marcus Morris?"
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  6. article_body => "<p>BOSTON \u2013 A year ago this time, the Celtics had no idea what they were going to get out of Marcus Morris.<\/p>\n<p>The 6-foot-9 forward arrived late to camp after he and his twin brother Markieff were both acquitted of assault charges stemming from an incident in Phoenix in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>And soon after he showed up, Marcus was bothered by knee soreness that would limit his availability and in doing so, his overall effectiveness.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>MORE CELTICS -&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/celtics\/blakely-jayson-tatum-next-kevin-durant-not-yet-hes-trending-there?int\" target=\"_blank\">BLAKELY: Tatum the next Kevin Durant?&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That's in the past now.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Marcus Morris that will step on the court for the team\u2019s first practice on Sept. 25 is in a much better place than he was a year ago this time.<\/p>\n<p>But what\u2019s a realistic expectation from the veteran forward, who, like a number of his teammates, will be a free agent in the summer of 2019?<\/p>\n<p><strong>GOOD HEALTH<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"media media-element-container media-default\"><div id=\"file-1275666--2\" class=\"file file-image file-image-jpeg\">\r\n\r\n <h2 class=\"element-invisible\"><a href=\"\/files\/boston-celtics-marcus-morris-kyle-korver-cavs-game6-52518jpg\">boston-celtics-marcus-morris-kyle-korver-cavs-game6-52518.jpg<\/a><\/h2>\r\n \r\n \r\n <div class=\"content\">\r\n <img alt=\"Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris looks to pass or shoot against the Cleveland Cavaliers&#039; Kyle Korver.\" class=\"media-element file-default\" data-delta=\"1\" src=\"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/boston\/boston-celtics-marcus-morris-kyle-korver-cavs-game6-52518.jpg\" width=\"753\" height=\"456\" \/> <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><br>To see Marcus Morris begin last season out with an injury was unusual. Morris missed 28 games last season for the Celtics. In the previous four seasons, Morris missed a total of just six games. That\u2019s why fans shouldn\u2019t be overly concerned about his health heading into this season. His track record makes it quite obvious that what he experienced last season was out of the ordinary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BEHIND-THE-SCENES LEADERSHIP<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"media media-element-container media-default\"><div id=\"file-1267096\" class=\"file file-image file-image-jpeg\">\r\n\r\n <h2 class=\"element-invisible\"><a href=\"\/files\/morris-nance\">morris nance<\/a><\/h2>\r\n \r\n \r\n <div class=\"content\">\r\n <img style=\"height: 438px; width: 753px;\" class=\"media-element file-default\" data-delta=\"2\" src=\"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/boston\/2018\/09\/09\/usatsi_10849906_0.jpg\" width=\"2868\" height=\"1670\" alt=\"\" \/> <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><br>When it comes to having a voice in the locker room, Morris\u2019 role along those lines was very underrated last season. The time he spent with rookie Jayson Tatum would prove invaluable to the rookie withstanding the ups and downs that come about with that first season in the league. He was a voice of reason for others, but the bond he formed with Tatum alone said volumes about his impact in what was a very low-key manner.<\/p>\n<p><strong>PLAY WITH PACE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"media media-element-container media-default\"><div id=\"file-1101516--2\" class=\"file file-image file-image-jpeg\">\r\n\r\n <h2 class=\"element-invisible\"><a href=\"\/files\/morrisjpg-2\">morris.jpg<\/a><\/h2>\r\n \r\n \r\n <div class=\"content\">\r\n <img style=\"height: 505px; width: 753px;\" class=\"media-element file-default\" data-delta=\"3\" src=\"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/boston\/morris.jpg\" width=\"3259\" height=\"2184\" alt=\"\" \/> <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><br>When you think about good pacesetters on this team, Marcus Morris probably isn\u2019t one of the first names that come to mind. And yet the pace that he played with, was really good relative to the rest of the Celtics. NBA.com\/stats shows Morris\u2019 pace was 99.31 which was tops among all Celtics players who logged at least 20 minutes of action per game. It was also a career-high in terms of pace for the 29-year-old. With most of the guys back from last season, there\u2019s a greater familiarity among the players from Day One. You can count Morris among those who should benefit from this.<\/p>\n<p><strong>REBOUND<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"media media-element-container media-default\"><div id=\"file-1091406--2\" class=\"file file-image file-image-jpeg\">\r\n\r\n <h2 class=\"element-invisible\"><a href=\"\/files\/boston-celtics-marcus-morris-21118jpg\">boston-celtics-marcus-morris-21118.jpg<\/a><\/h2>\r\n \r\n \r\n <div class=\"content\">\r\n <img alt=\"Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris. \" class=\"media-element file-default\" data-delta=\"4\" src=\"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/boston\/boston-celtics-marcus-morris-21118.jpg\" width=\"777\" height=\"420\" \/> <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><br>With his size, strength and toughness, it\u2019s no surprise that Morris was one of the team\u2019s better rebounders when you crunch the numbers. Morris had a defensive rebounding percentage of .189 which among regulars on the roster, trailed Aron Baynes (.217), Daniel Theis (.216) and Al Horford (.197). While his role may be more limited in terms of playing time, he can still make his mark on the game by continuing to do some of the things he did well last season \u2013 rebounding the ball for example.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>MORE C'S QUESTIONS - <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/celtics\/30-celtics-questions-30-days-wholl-be-most-improved-player?int\" target=\"_blank\">Who'll be their most improved player?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><div class=\"field-item even\" style=\"max-width: 753px; width: 100%;\">\r\n <h3 class=\"media-card__title\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:753px;\">NBC SPORTS BOSTON SCHEDULE<\/h3>\r\n <div class=\"stanzacal\" data-width=\"100%\" data-height=\"250px\"><\/div>\r\n <script src=\"https:\/\/dff2h0hbfv6w4.cloudfront.net\/scripts\/embed-stanzacal-v1.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script>\r\n <\/div><\/p>\n"
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Celtics

Celtics

BOSTON – A year ago this time, the Celtics had no idea what they were going to get out of Marcus Morris.

The 6-foot-9 forward arrived late to camp after he and his twin brother Markieff were both acquitted of assault charges stemming from an incident in Phoenix in 2015.

And soon after he showed up, Marcus was bothered by knee soreness that would limit his availability and in doing so, his overall effectiveness.

That's in the past now. 

The Marcus Morris that will step on the court for the team’s first practice on Sept. 25 is in a much better place than he was a year ago this time.

But what’s a realistic expectation from the veteran forward, who, like a number of his teammates, will be a free agent in the summer of 2019?

GOOD HEALTH

boston-celtics-marcus-morris-kyle-korver-cavs-game6-52518.jpg

Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris looks to pass or shoot against the Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyle Korver.

To see Marcus Morris begin last season out with an injury was unusual. Morris missed 28 games last season for the Celtics. In the previous four seasons, Morris missed a total of just six games. That’s why fans shouldn’t be overly concerned about his health heading into this season. His track record makes it quite obvious that what he experienced last season was out of the ordinary.
 

BEHIND-THE-SCENES LEADERSHIP


When it comes to having a voice in the locker room, Morris’ role along those lines was very underrated last season. The time he spent with rookie Jayson Tatum would prove invaluable to the rookie withstanding the ups and downs that come about with that first season in the league. He was a voice of reason for others, but the bond he formed with Tatum alone said volumes about his impact in what was a very low-key manner.

PLAY WITH PACE

morris.jpg


When you think about good pacesetters on this team, Marcus Morris probably isn’t one of the first names that come to mind. And yet the pace that he played with, was really good relative to the rest of the Celtics. NBA.com/stats shows Morris’ pace was 99.31 which was tops among all Celtics players who logged at least 20 minutes of action per game. It was also a career-high in terms of pace for the 29-year-old. With most of the guys back from last season, there’s a greater familiarity among the players from Day One. You can count Morris among those who should benefit from this.

REBOUND

boston-celtics-marcus-morris-21118.jpg

Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris.

With his size, strength and toughness, it’s no surprise that Morris was one of the team’s better rebounders when you crunch the numbers. Morris had a defensive rebounding percentage of .189 which among regulars on the roster, trailed Aron Baynes (.217), Daniel Theis (.216) and Al Horford (.197). While his role may be more limited in terms of playing time, he can still make his mark on the game by continuing to do some of the things he did well last season – rebounding the ball for example.

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