It’ll take a miracle for Marcus Morris Sr. to not be suspended after further laborious foul on Ja Morant
The NBA has accomplished an important job of eliminating the tough play the league was identified for within the Nineteen Eighties and ’90s. The function of “staff enforcer” was as soon as as typical round The Affiliation as passing up an open layup for a three-point shot is as we speak.
However from time to time, one of many few enforcers left within the NBA pops up with a questionable play that warrants an instantaneous ejection or, as a minimum, a flagrant 1 foul. This was the case on Tuesday night time when Clippers ahead Marcus Morris Sr. practically decapitated the Grizzlies’ Ja Morant with a clothesline from hell.
Whatever the intent, that play may have resulted in way over only a laborious thud onto the courtroom for Morant. Upon viewing the replay, you possibly can see Morris, who had already obtained a technical foul within the first half, tried to seize Morant’s arm to assist break his fall, however the harm had been accomplished by then.
Morris by no means even went for the ball. He selected a hand to the face of a participant driving to the ring at full pace. Within the third quarter, when the play occurred, Memphis was beating the breaks off Los Angeles by 22 factors. So, this was clearly a frustration foul and an try at slowing down one of many hottest younger stars within the league.
Morris was ejected after this play, and the Grizz went on to win, 135-109. However this in all probability isn’t the final we’ll hear about this play. Sure, Morris was ejected, however this warrants at the very least a one-game suspension, if not two, from Commissioner Adam Silver and the league workplace. Bear in mind the Malice on the Palace? That began with a tough foul in a sport that had been type of a blowout. Completely different circumstances, sure, and there was a rivalry concerned, however the league doesn’t care about any of that. The NBA nearly has no alternative however to punish Morris with a purpose to ship the message that these performs are nonetheless unacceptable. Basketball will be bodily, however the league doesn’t need the sort of physicality to grow to be the norm.
If the foul on Morant isn’t sufficient, Morris’ historical past will put it excessive. The foul Morris dedicated on Luka Dončić (above) through the 2020 Orlando Bubble first-round playoff collection will possible come into play right here. Alongside along with his status as a staff enforcer. Metta World Peace’s (Ron Artest on the time) sordid historical past certainly got here into play along with his punishment after the Palace brawl. Once more, not apples to apples, however all I’m saying is that this isn’t Morris’ first time being concerned in the sort of incident. So, I can nearly assure that this received’t finish with simply an ejection from that sport. I’d be shocked if commissioner Silver presents Morris with something lower than a one-game suspension.
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