Nick Nurse explains why Marcus Morris Sr. has yet to play for Sixers
DETROIT–The Philadelphia 76ers made a big trade on Halloween when they sent James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal that netted them a big draft haul and four new players to work into the rotation.
Thus far, only Nic Batum and Robert Covington have received real minutes. Marcus Morris Sr. is another veteran that was acquired in the deal, but hasn’t received minutes just yet as coach Nick Nurse wants to see more out of him.
Morris Sr. did not play in the preseason or in any regular season games with the Clippers before the trade. So that has played a part in Nurse not playing him just yet.
“I wanna see him definitely,” said Nurse on Friday. “I still think he’s got a spot in the rotation. He of all the people has played the least, right? So it’s just a little trickier with him so I’m just waiting for my moment here to give him a chance to give him a chance to see how he looks out there.”
Nurse’s system and style are unique and it takes time to pick up on. When considering the fact that Morris Sr. has yet to really play in any games and has only been working through practices and shootarounds, it takes time to get on the floor.
It also helps that Batum and Covington were playing in games before the trade to Philadelphia.
“They fit in there just really well,” Nurse said. “Obviously, they were playing in great rhythm. Again, Marcus hadn’t played at all. That’s just a little tricker thing to maneuver. We were kind of in a rotation thing already with the other guys so we kinda stay in there as well, but I think I’m pretty happy with how they’ve been worked in so far. I think faster than I expected a bit, but we certainly do want to get Marcus a look as well and see where he fits in.”
