Nets' Morrow honored by Howard's praise

Share on twitter Share on facebook Share on myspace Share on stumbleupon Share on digg Share on fark Share on reddit Share on email|More Sharing ServicesMore

4:31 PM, December 11, 2011 ι By FRED KERBER

During a summer tour in Russia, Dwight Howard did a sit-down interview with a Russian TV outfit. He was asked to name the players he would most like to have as teammates.

“Chris Paul, Stephen Jackson. What’s his name, Deron Williams. And Anthony Morrow,” Howard said. “I got five, Monta Ellis, I really like him.”

Obviously, though, two are Nets. Williams and Howard are friends (despite the “what’s his name?” pause). And then there is Morrow.

“That was an honor. For the group of guys he named, for me to be in that group? An honor,” Morrow said. “I’ve known Dwight for a long time…we came out of high school the same year. It was an honor for him to name me with that group of guys.”

Howard is all that matters at this point. Deron Williams calling David Stern “a bully” and standing by his comment was by far the most interesting element after Sunday’s morning practice session for the Nets. But some folks actually talked about other things. Honest.

There’s Brook Lopez’s head for example. The young center does not live under a rock so he has heard or read virtually everywhere that he may be headed out the door. That has to affect him somehow, perhaps making him feel unappreciated. He insists coach Avery Johnson still has the welcome mat out.

“There hasn’t been anything like that (feeling unwanted) just because I think we’ve had very good camaraderie,” Lopez said, again insisting he has no real comment on all the rumors. “Coach has been talking to me like I’m sticking around for a while. I have nothing. I’ll have something if something different happens. The three first days have been very routine. When something drastically different happens I’ll tell you.”

There was a lot of talk regarding the two failed Lakers attempts to get Chris Paul – that led to Williams’ “bully” charge against the Commissioner – and the subsequent move that apparently will send Lamar Odom to Dallas (be honest, wouldn’t you rather see him traded to the Timberwolves so at least one Kardashian would live in Minnesota?).

“All the guys that were involved in the trade, pretty much thinking they’re going, having to go back to teams and, I don’t know, it’s just a weird situation,” said Williams, who said the Nets have remained calm amid all their swirling rumors. “It hasn’t been a distraction yet. I think it’s more the media pumps up stuff like that. When you get on the court, you’re not even thinking, haven’t thought anything about a trade or anything since we’ve been on the court. We’ve been out here practicing, trying to get better.”

Rookie MarShon Brooks continues to impress with his offensive skill level. Johnson referred to him a “the young kid who is very creative with the ball, can score, can play above the rim, really can get out and run.”

But Johnson is first and foremost a lover of all things defensive.

“We’re asking him to get more involved defensively, get some more steals, take more chances – be a rookie,” Johnson said emphatically. “He’s more of a rookie on offense, and too much of a veteran on defense.”

Johnson likes the way his team is setting up at the two guard with Morrow and Brooks. Johnson did not only stack his praise on Brooks. He had lots for Morrow.

“Anthony now is real sure about himself. He knows where he is in the system. We’re asking him to do a few more things offensively, but Anthony is getting to his spots, we think his shot is going in every time he shoots it,” said Johnson, who went right back to the defensive stuff with Morrow, too. “Defensively is where he’s making his strides, being more in the right position at the right time, getting his body involved.”

And Morrow credits his offseason work where he focused on improving lateral movement and conditioning designed to specifically help his defense.

“In the offseason making a lot of strides to work on things laterally to get quicker laterally, a lot of explosion stuff,” Morrow said. “I know my focus is always going to be there but I wanted to match my focus with the offseason work. I’ve never put in that much work in the offseason. I work with a group called ‘Accelerate’ in North Carolina and I’m still working on that…Doing a lot of resistance work, cone touches, slides. Enough to keep your body into doing it so when the season comes it’s not that hard of a transition.”