Sore leg forces Harris to benchDoctors advise time off; Johnson won't call situation a setbackBy RACHEL COHEN / The Dallas Morning NewsThe Mavericks had a strategy for easing guard Devin Harris back into the lineup after he missed 17 straight games with a strained left quadriceps.But that plan took what coach Avery Johnson called a detour, when Thursday's game and the ensuing practice left Harris sore and doctors recommended that he sit out Sunday night's meeting with the Utah Jazz."You're concerned any time a guy is injured and you have a timetable and are not able to hit those kind of goals," Johnson said.Johnson declined to call it a setback, saying it would only be one if Harris is unavailable for the playoffs.The new plan calls for Harris to rest again today, then go through a light practice Tuesday and try to play in the season finale against the Clippers on Wednesday.After Harris returned to the lineup for the first time in more than a month with seven first-half minutes at Phoenix, Johnson had hoped to use him for seven minutes in each half Sunday.Johnson said he is optimistic that Harris will be ready for the playoffs, but he's not sure how many minutes he will be able to play."We've taken the most conservative approach I've ever seen with that type of injury, trying to give us the best chance to have him 100 percent," Johnson said."But injuries and the way the body responds ? nobody has a patent on that. ... His body is different from Josh Howard's and Dirk's and my body."Losing never an option for Johnson: Johnson is relieved he doesn't face the dilemma confronting the Clippers and Grizzlies, where losing could prove beneficial because they would host the Nuggets in the playoffs as the No. 6 seed instead of being the road team against the Mavericks as the No. 5."You just play it out, because you're just trying to win as many games as you can," Johnson said. "Wherever you land in the playoffs, you've got to go out and play anyway. I just couldn't see myself doing anything but giving 1,000 percent on the sideline."Briefly: Marquis Daniels did not play in the second half because of a sore left hamstring. ... Utah rookie guard Deron Williams of The Colony had 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting and nine assists.
I hate guys who get injured too much, but if the Mavs lose in the playoffs, don't say it was on the hands of Harris.
I can say though that the mavs need Harris to have a successful playoff run. Terry is a liability on defense at the point guard. Though Armstrong can play good defense his offense is a liability. So Terry is all offense and Armstrong is all defense. Also having Harris allows Terry to play more shooting guard which is a big weakness for Dallas. Hopefully Dallas can get production from Griffin, Stackhouse, and Daniels in the playoffs but I feel that is our weakness.
I disagree. We can't beat the spurs without Harris or anyone in this list. Nowitzki, Howard, Terry, Harris, Diop, and Dampier. We might be able to afford someone else hurt like Daniels or Stackhouse but Harris is crucial to our success.
I hope harris can return in time for the 2nd round. We can beat memphis or LA without him but it will be hard to beat the spurs in a 7 game series.
My guess would be he would be back by the second round. Just put him in the hydro pool and rest him for a week and he should be fine.Joshhowardfan, I doubt Mavs play Lakers. Lakers are like 2 or 3 games behind Clippers and Grizlies. Lakers have 1 game left, even if they win that, they cant catch Clips or Griz
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lazy @ Apr 18 2006, 12:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>My guess would be he would be back by the second round. Just put him in the hydro pool and rest him for a week and he should be fine.Joshhowardfan, I doubt Mavs play Lakers. Lakers are like 2 or 3 games behind Clippers and Grizlies. Lakers have 1 game left, even if they win that, they cant catch Clips or Griz</div>Heh, he doesnt mean the LA Lakers, he means the LA clippers. lol
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I disagree. We can't beat the spurs without Harris or anyone in this list. Nowitzki, Howard, Terry, Harris, Diop, and Dampier. We might be able to afford someone else hurt like Daniels or Stackhouse but Harris is crucial to our success.</div>With your attitude, Mavs might as well pack it in and stay home because our backup pg won't be 100%.
Harris is more than a backup point guard. He is the energy off the bench that has been lacking for awhile now. You are in the minority to think he won't be missed and that Dallas can beat San Antonio without him. Dallas relies more on their bench than most teams.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>You are in the minority to think he won't be missed and that Dallas can beat San Antonio without him. Dallas relies more on their bench than most teams.</div>Yea because that's what I said. If Harris is out, don't root for the Mavs during the playoffs then. I will even if the chances are slimmer. I just don't like your attitude, a losing attitude.
Well at least you agree the chances are slimmer which is my point to begin with. Maybe I went too far by saying they have no chance but it doesn't look good. Parker will be a tough matchup for Terry. If Armstrong steps up in the playoffs at his age than Dallas has a chance.
I think we need Harris to really have a good chance of beating the Spurs, but I don't think we're dead without him either.
