Morrow provides stability in Thunder win over Minnesota
Anthony Morrow points more than an auctioneer.
At teammates after a big play or a nice pass. At the sky after a 3-pointer. Or a 2-pointer. Or a free throw. Or just because.
Morrow gestures wildly and pounds his chest regularly. Only daytime television stars are more overtly dramatic.
"I've toned it down, too," Morrow said with a smile. Suppose we have to take his word on that, because to the casual fan and even the serious one, Morrow makes sure everyone knows just how much he enjoys every minute he's playing.
Too bad we don't all love our jobs as much as Morrow does. We'd probably get better service at the post office and get our coffee quicker at Starbucks.
"I've been like that since I was a kid," he said. "Just blessed to be able to play the game at the highest level. It's not always people get the opportunity. I've been here seven years and now to be part of this organization. I'm just thankful for it. I just try to bring it emotionally on and off the court every day and be that spark."
And all this from Morrow in what's been a season dangerously close to disaster.
Injuries have taken the Thunder from title contender to playoff outsider. The set-up was to have Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook lead the team and Morrow shoot open jumpers game after game. It hasn't exactly worked out that way.
Friday night in Oklahoma City was just another example. A 113-99 victory over the Timberwolves where your eyes watched Russell Westbrook get another triple-double and you wondered when or if Kevin Durant would ever shake out of his sport coat and put on a uniform.
You probably didn't notice Morrow's line in the boxscore, either. Just 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting, three-of-six on 3-pointers in less than 20 minutes of action.
Morrow didn't start. Dion Waiters got the call there. Morrow didn't dominate. That's more of a Westbrook kind of thing. Instead, Morrow just shows up and he's the only player in the rotation whose name isn't followed by a, "Yeah, but."
You love Westbrook, but then there's the turnovers and the wildness. KD is the MVP, but when will ever play? Serge Ibaka is great some days, but what about the next game? Dion Waiters, Steven Adams, Andre Roberson, the list goes on. Full of promise and potential and plenty of questions, too.
Not with Morrow. You know what you're getting – a celebration fit for a lottery winner and the humility of a rotation, glue guy.
"That's a huge compliment if someone was saying that," Morrow said after Saturday's game. "I'm just trying to do what I need to do on both ends, no matter how many minutes I play."
Coach Scott Brooks chose Waiters to start Saturday. It's a good move. Waiters gives you flash and moments of excitement. He can create shots off the dribble and free up Westbrook to do the same. Waiters went 3-for-12 for 12 points. You start Waiters and bring in Morrow. The opposite doesn't work because Waiters isn't a consistent enough personality to depend on. Morrow is in his seventh year in the NBA. He's been a starter and he's been a bench player. He's played a number of roles from leading man to bit-part actor.
"It's whatever," Morrow said. "Whatever my job is, whatever I need to do. It's part of being a professional. I've started. I've come off the bench. It's the same mentality."
Morrow's game doesn't have to be consistent, because his personality is. Still, though, Morrow is shooting 44.8 percent this season. He's a career 45 percent shooter. This season, he's 39.7 percent on 3-pointers and playing 23.5 minutes per game.
The stats don't overwhelm. The celebration does. We've seen him hit some big shots in big situations, but there has been no game-winner. Not yet, not this year, anyway.
"Who knows,' Morrow said of what might happen. "It could be something epic. I don't have al lthe energy for that stuff like I did at the beginning of the season."
Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK