Guard combo is workingBy Art GarciaStar-Telegram Staff WriterCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Devin Harris joined Jason Terry to form the Mavericks' starting backcourt two games into the season -- coach Avery Johnson hoped to have them together off the bat -- and they've responded.Terry's shooting stroke is back, and Harris is penetrating like he did during the playoffs last season. The Mavs (6-4) have also turned it up, winning their sixth in a row, 93-85, Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.A hamstring injury during training camp slowed Harris, and Johnson opted to start Greg Buckner at first. The duo didn't click -- Buckner isn't the strongest ballhandler, and Terry works better off the ball.Enter Harris, a third-year pro ready to take the next step."Last year helped out a lot, just going through the playoff experience, the really grueling atmospheres and me and [Terry] being together," Harris said. "I always know where to find him on the court."Off the court, Johnson knows how to find Harris' ear. The coach, however, is trying to show some patience."It's not like he's started 400 games," Johnson said. "There are going to be some growing pains there that I'm just going to have to live with some of them. What I've stopped trying to do is scream at him about every single mistake. I'll just do it 75 percent of the time."Harris appreciates Johnson's approach."He's giving me a chance to figure things out," said Harris, with only 23 career starts coming into the season. "He doesn't have to tell me everything. I can figure it out on my own and won't make the same mistake twice."I'm getting better throughout the game, more and more aggressive. In the fourth quarter, it's looking real good because the mistakes I'm making early I'm picking up on."It's still not perfect. Asked to grade Harris, Johnson opted for a baseball analogy: "He's batting about .260."Continuing the theme, Johnson hinted at Harris' potential."He's that [Alfonso] Soriano-kind of guy that can do a little bit of everything," Johnson said. "His speed, you can't teach it. His quickness on defense, you can't teach it. Quick hands and his court vision is improving. He's a guy that has the potential to bat in the .300s."In the seven games going into Monday, Harris averaged 10.7 points on 54-percent shooting and 4.3 assists. He had 17 points and six assists against Charlotte. He wants to get his assists average in the 7-8 range.His pass to Greg Buckner in the corner led to Buckner's go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:10 remaining."We've been practicing that so much that I knew he would be there," Harris said.After not hitting a 3-pointer in the first two games, Terry has made at least two from beyond the arc in each game since.The big 'O'It actually didn't appear to pain Avery Johnson to admit what's led to the winning streak. Mr. Defense credited the Mavs' old standby, their ability to score, as helping reverse the early season slide."We have some new guys that understand our plays more," Johnson said. "We're getting a better feel for what they can do in our system. We have a better feel on rotations; who's going to play what amount of minutes."As Devean George, Anthony Johnson, Greg Buckner and Austin Croshere have become more comfortable, especially on the offensive end, scoring has been on the upswing. The Mavs averaged 107.4 points on 50.5 percent shooting in the five-game winning streak heading into Monday.That production offset 98.8 points and 46.5 percent shooting from opponents during the same stretch, numbers that Johnson normally couldn't live with."The defense now has somewhat got a little bit better," Johnson said.George outSwelling in Devean George's right knee kept him sidelined Monday. He hyperextended the knee during Saturday's game against Memphis, but remained in the game.The team doesn't believe the injury is serious, though George had hoped the inflammation would have subsided in time to face the Bobcats. George hasn't had much luck so far, having missed the first three games with food poisoning."I hope to get mine out of the way now," George said of the setbacks, "and finish these last 70 games strong."Nowitzki honoredDirk Nowitzki, above, picked up Western Conference player of the week honors for Nov. 13-19.The Mavs were 3-0 last week, with Nowitzki averaging 27 points on 46.2-percent shooting and 11 rebounds.He recorded a double-double and led the team in scoring in each game. Nowitzki also attempted at least 10 free throws in all three games, hitting 31-of-33.BrieflyNorth Carolina natives Josh Howard of Winston-Salem and Jerry Stackhouse of Kinston did their best to fill up Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Howard bought 70 tickets and Stackhouse shelled out for another 42.Josh Howard (sprained ankle) is expected to practice this week, and if all goes well, he could play Friday at San Antonio.kriD is offline Add to kriD's Reputation Report Bad Post Reply With Quote
I really like the starting backcourt of Terry and Harris. Harris may be small, but he is a tough defender and the quickness mixture of Terry/Harris is quite amazing when comparing them to most backcourts. The only concern with this for me, and it's really not even that big of a concern, is that Harris needs to be developed into a PG, not a combo guard. He has loads of potential.
Well tonight it worked really well.Harris penentrated, much like he did in the playoffs last year, and dished out, alot of the times to Terry, who hit some wide open 3's from his more comfortable, at least I think, SG position.
