Re: Mavs' Harris looks for shot to grow up <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Mavs' Harris looks for shot to grow upMavs point guard can look to Spurs' Parker to see how it's done02:12 AM CST on Tuesday, October 31, 2006By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning NewsSee if you've heard this one before.A young point guard is staggeringly quick and makes his living slicing through NBA defenses. He has to please a demanding coach and needs to work overtime on a jump shot that opponents dare him to shoot.Tony Parker has been there. And he can sympathize with Devin Harris.The San Antonio Spurs' point guard had to prove himself to coach Gregg Popovich, who doesn't tolerate mistakes by his floor general. Parker had a honeymoon that lasted a couple years, then went through a troublesome third season before figuring everything out in his fourth year and becoming an All-Star last season.The Mavericks hope Harris is following the same growth chart, although they could live without that third-year slump, since that's what season Harris is entering.In short, the honeymoon is over."If you want to compare me to Devin, I can see why they do that because of the speed and he's small like me and skinny and goes to the basket well," Parker said last week before the exhibition finale in San Antonio. "And he's got the same kind of coach. Avery Johnson learned a lot from Pop."It's tough when you play point guard for a coach who is very demanding. It's always hard to try to find that balance between scoring and passing. And I had to find that balance to make Pop happy, make my teammates happy and at the same time grow as a player. It takes time. I had some ups and downs."Harris is going through the same sometimes-painful process. He understands that, as the No. 5 overall draft pick in 2004, certain expectations exist.He's waiting for that illuminating moment that brings it all into focus for him."Hopefully, it'll all come together at some point," Harris said. "I'm still searching for it."Harris knows the comparison between him and Parker is inevitable. Both have a game predicated on speed and attacking the basket. Parker and the Spurs will provide the competition Thursday night in the season opener for both teams at American Airlines Center. Harris hopes the results are better than in the preseason finale last week, when Parker slithered around the Mavs for 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting.Even though the outcome didn't count, one sequence in the second quarter illustrated the difference between the two when Harris drove to the rim, but had his layup blocked. Parker got the ball in transition and lofted in a floater at the other end.It was a symbolic moment of where the guards are in their careers."You have to pick your spots," Parker said. "You can't penetrate all the time. You have to choose the right moment."You have a gift of penetrating to the basket and a gift of speed. Use it at the right moment. And you have to work on your shot, because when you get old, you're not going to penetrate like you used to."It's also tougher to do so when defenses know you can't do anything else. There's nothing easier to stop in the NBA than a one-trick pony. For that reason, Harris has worked hard on his shot and is trying to harness his speed and learn how to shift gears."He's a young point guard who's still trying to find his way and what the best fit is for him and how to play," Johnson said of Harris. "He's still on a learning curve. Tony has had an exceptional run and he's an all-star caliber player. Devin has a chance, because he has that kind of quickness. But he's got to continue to improve other areas."Briefly: The coaching staff is staying mum on who will open in the backcourt with Jason Terry. It will either be Harris, Anthony Johnson or Greg Buckner. But whoever starts in the opener might not have the job for more than a game or two if the Mavericks run that position by committee ... Avery Johnson didn't make his players watch all of the preseason finale against San Antonio, but the coaches did. "That was some good movie time," Johnson said. "It was a horror movie."</div>Hopefully Harris gets the start this season. I think the main difference between Parker and Harris is that Parker got to start and learn from his mistakes while Harris is on the bench a lot.
Re: Mavs' Harris looks for shot to grow up <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I think the main difference between Parker and Harris is that Parker got to start and learn from his mistakes while Harris is on the bench a lot.</div> What? Pop gave Parker the same sort of treatment Harris has received. Parker just responded far quicker then Harris is doing. It's not Avery's fault Harris is hurt for the start of training camp. It was clear the position was wide open. As the season goes on, Harris has to win the spot. That's it, if he can't earn the spot, then he won't. When Harris responds, he'll be awarded just like in the playoffs.
Re: Mavs' Harris looks for shot to grow up <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Nov 1 2006, 08:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What? Pop gave Parker the same sort of treatment Harris has received. Parker just responded far quicker then Harris is doing. It's not Avery's fault Harris is hurt for the start of training camp. It was clear the position was wide open. As the season goes on, Harris has to win the spot. That's it, if he can't earn the spot, then he won't. When Harris responds, he'll be awarded just like in the playoffs.</div>Most people know the quickest way to improve is to get consistent minutes. Practices can only take you so far as Josh Powell was a great example of that. Parker was forced to learn the point guard position and wasn't threatened by someone taking his spot. I'm starting to think that bringing in Anthony Johnson could be a negative for Harris's development.
Re: Mavs' Harris looks for shot to grow up <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I'm starting to think that bringing in Anthony Johnson could be a negative for Harris's development.</div> Or a positive. Having someone to push Harris could be a good thing. I for one want to see Harris start but he needs to stay healthy and consistent. I hope his jumper has made an improvement, teams will be playing his drive more often this year then last. Making the jumpshots should increase his chances of starting as the season dwells on. AJ is simply winning the starting spot for now by being healthy.
