The last time the Lakers got destroyed like this from a dominant scorer, his name was Kevin Durant.
On Thursday, July 19th the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 75-69 in their final summer league game despite the Clippers' best player going 8-13 (including 3-4 from the 3-point line) for 22 points and four rebounds.
His name? Adam Morrison.
Yes, that Adam Morrison.
The No. 3 pick by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2006 is all too familiar to Lakers fans like me. After spending three poor seasons in Charlotte, Morrison joined the Lakers for the 2009 and 2010 seasons as the Lakers hoped they could turn around the talented but disappointing shooter.
While the Lakers won the NBA title during both seasons Adam Morrison donned the purple and gold with Kobe & Company, his individual play had little to do with the team's success.
Adam Morrison's Laker Career
During the 2009 season, Adam Morrison only appeared in eight games with the Lakers and averaged just 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds on 33.3% shooting in five minutes per game.
In 2010 he played in 31 games and recorded 2.4 points and 1.0 rebounds on 37.6% shooting in just over seven minutes per contest.
After 39 games and two championship rings, the Lakers ended the Adam Morrison experiment.
As a Lakers fan I was disappointed Morrison was unable to resurrect his career in Los Angeles. I was hoping against hope that the Lakers could somehow tap the talent that made Morrison a legend at Gonzaga and propelled him to the top of his draft class.
But it didn't happen in Los Angeles.
Or did it?
Adam Morrison's Scorching 2012 Summer League Play
On second thoughts, perhaps Adam Morrison has turned his fortunes around in Los Angeles after all.
Only now it looks like it is with the Clippers, not the Lakers.
After being waived by the Lakers in 2010, Morrison spent 2011 playing in the Serbian Adriatic League (good article from SI can be read here) and was invited to join the Clippers' 2012 summer league team.
In three games with the Clippers this summer, Adam Morrison has once again found his rhythm, averaging 18.7 points and 4.7 rebounds on a scorching 56% FG (22-39) and 60% 3-PT (6-10).
Morrison's solid summer league play served as a reminder to his former team, the Lakers, of his offensive potential. Morrison's 22 points against the Lakers came on a barrage of sweet jumpers and deep shots (box score and video highlights here.)
And against the Lakers, Morrison also delivered when his team needed him most.
The Lakers-Clippers game was played in Las Vegas. With the Lakers leading 71-66 with just :54 seconds remaining in the game, Adam Morrison pulled up from approximately The Bellagio hotel and nailed a clutch 3-pointer from deep, cutting the Lakers' lead to 71-69.
But despite Morrison's individual dominance, his Clippers went down in defeat, 75-69.
While Adam Morrison has never lived up to the hype in his professional career, including his time with the Lakers, it is weirdly entertaining to see him play well once again.
It still remains to be seen if he will make the Clippers' regular season roster alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, but at least for a few nights in July, Adam Morrison was once again the most dominant scorer in the building.
Andrew Sweat is a die-hard Lakers fan. For more from this author, visit Andrew's archive or check these out articles:
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