Atlanta Hawks: Return of Harris gives Hawks flexibility at guard
Vivlamore reporting. Here is my story on Devin Harris that will appear in Wednesday’s print edition of the AJC. The Hawks play at the Pacers tonight (I am not there) and Harris is expected to make his exhibition debut.
The Hawks are just now getting an up-close look at the assets of Devin Harris. However, coach Larry Drew has known for months how he intends to use the versatile guard this season.
Harris, acquired from the Jazz in a trade for Marvin Williams on July 11, reported to the team’s facility by the end of that month to begin workouts. He began having trouble with his knee and eventually required a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) shot. Harris was cleared for full-contact practice last week. He had not appeared in any of the Hawks’ previous three exhibition games prior to Tuesday’s game at the Pacers, where he is expected to debut.
Hawks guard Devin Harris, at a recent workout, has been cleared for full-contact practice and could make his exhibition debut Tuesday at the Pacers. BOB ANDRES BANDRES@AJC.COM
The PRP shot, of Harris’ own blood, was injected to stimulate the healing of bone and soft tissue. Harris said he was limited while the injection could have its full effect.
Harris will be counted on this season, as part of a multiple-guard rotation, to replace Joe Johnson at the shooting guard position.
“At times he’s going to play (point guard),” Drew said. “At times he’s going to play (shooting guard). At times he’s going to be a combination of both.”
Harris said he does not have a preference where he plays. He has been in a similar position with the Mavericks when he played alongside Jason Terry. With the Hawks he will be sharing the court with Jeff Teague and Lou Williams, all capable of bringing the ball up court or playing the wing.
“I’ve seen the way it can work and how it can work so I have a little bit of experience,” Harris said. “It doesn’t matter who brings the ball up as long as you push the ball. A lot of the three guards can do similar things. We all can space the floor. We all can get in the paint and score. We all can get to the free-throw line. If we have two guys out there at the same time who can do that, it’s going to be tough to guard.”
Originally drafted by the Wizards out of Wisconsin in 2004 (fifth overall), Harris was a draft-night trade to the Mavericks, where he played the first three-plus seasons of his career. He was traded to the Nets, where he was named an All-Star in 2008-09. After two-plus seasons he was sent to the Jazz, where he spent the past two seasons before being acquired by the Hawks. Last season Harris played in 63 games, all starts, and averaged 11.3 points, 5.0 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 27.4 minutes. He had a career-best .362 3-point field goal percentage.
“I was excited,” Harris said of the latest trade that caught him by surprise. “Atlanta has always been a good team. They made the playoffs the last five years. I like their style of play and their approach to the game. It is a good fit for me.”
Harris admits to being “a little rusty” as he gets back into full-contact action. He has spent part of his team on the bench working with Teague, showing the younger player the ins and outs of playing on and off the basketball. It’s a role both Harris and Drew want for the veteran.
“I try to give examples of things I’ve done in the past,” Harris said. “I’m constantly talking to Jeff during games about things I see. I encourage guys to do the same because I all have to hold each other accountable.”
Drew said he expects Harris help Teague get comfortable playing without the ball, something he hasn’t done since college.
The coach has been waiting to get Harris back to full health so he can start to see his original plans come to life.
“I know enough about him,” Drew said. “When we first made the acquisition, I knew exactly how I wanted to use him. He’s been on the sideline watching a lot prior to him coming back so I knew exactly how I wanted to use him once he was cleared to go full tilt. It’s just a matter of inserting him in there and utilizing him the way I envisioned.”
- Chris Vivlamore
THE LATEST NEWS
* Harris could make debut Tuesday
* Hawks report: More defense, tweets
* Williams kept eye and ear on Hawks
* Three players vying for two roster spots
* Hawks serve it up at The Varisty
* Practice report: Defense, cuts and tweets
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147 comments Add your comment
paian
October 16th, 2012
9:35 pm
if damion james doesnt make the team i am gonna be peed off
cp
October 16th, 2012
9:40 pm
Harris missed a free throw that would have tied the game up..Tolliver then missed a 3 that would have given them a lead. They lost but it was a good game. Like I said earlier I think Tolliver and James have locked up the last two spots.
Astro Joe
October 16th, 2012
9:49 pm
cp, Hawks need another PG. Especially if Devin may not be able to play in back-to-back games. Maybe they can figure out a way to flip one of the 17 SGs for a 3rd string PG.
Duane Ferrell
October 16th, 2012
10:08 pm
The Hawks needs to sign another center. They have a decision to make about Johan Petro and maybe one of our shooting guards. I do like Anthony Tolliver and Damion James and I hope they both make the team. The Hawks need to sign one more big who can rebound and disrupt some shots.
Harpie
October 16th, 2012
10:14 pm
Tthe Hawks are going nowhere until they get a decent coach. Larry Drew hasn’t a clue!
Buddy Grizzard
October 16th, 2012
10:21 pm
Not much to say on this one since all I caught was radio:
http://repatl.blogspot.com/2012/10/would-you-invite-anthony-tolliver-over.html
Rod from College Park
October 16th, 2012
10:31 pm
Melvin,
” Can’t help but think that Blatche and Childress would’ve been great min vet pickups for the Hawks.”
We both agreed about Blatche earlier in the summer, unlike many on this blog. I would feel a lot better about this team with Blatche starting at the 3 or the 4.
Ken Strickland
October 16th, 2012
10:32 pm
There aren’t many gms left for DStevenson, JAnderson, and CJohnson, and even JPetro, to show they deserve to make the team. I think it’s safe to assume that KKorver, AMorrow, ATolliver, LWilliams, DHarris, IJohnson, JSmith, AHorford, ZPachulia, JTeague, and DJames will be on the 12 man active roster.
It’s hard to say who’ll be the 12th man to make the active roster, with MScott, JJenkins, JAnderson, and JPetro as candidates. With Zaza as our primary backup, and the continued use of Ivan at C, Petro just might end up as one of our inactives. After completing a very difficult season with Ivan as our primary backup center, we can certainly make it with him as our 3rd string backup center.
paian
October 16th, 2012
10:33 pm
harpie coaching in the preseason doesnt really matter… the games dont count
doc
October 16th, 2012
10:37 pm
this guy nailed it on josh:
http://gothicginobili.com/?p=4549
steven a smith
October 16th, 2012
10:42 pm
Johan Petro is an NBA center. He can defend the post better than our current centers, SCRUBS!!!
darrell starks
October 16th, 2012
10:56 pm
Like i have always try to save LD Job, but he will continue to be ignorant and will be coach less at the end of the season.
When will he learn when you have no superstars on your team you must build them defensively, if he continue to starte this smallesh lineup Hawks will not win 35games this year.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Artman
October 16th, 2012
10:59 pm
Why is it that when I really a really ignorant comment, that steven a smith is often the name next to it?
darrell starks
October 16th, 2012
10:59 pm
This Jeff Teague team hand him over the keys and let him become the floor general and run the show.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
October 16th, 2012
11:03 pm
Danny Ferry are there any backup center left that can defend the paint.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
October 16th, 2012
11:07 pm
STARTERS TEAGUE, LOU, JOSH, HORFORD, ZAZA
BENCH DEVIN, MORROW, KORVER, IVAN, ?
RESERVE JENKINS, ?, ?,
GET THIS TEAM A BACK UP CENTER WHO CAN DEFEND THE PAINT
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
steven a smith
October 16th, 2012
11:11 pm
darrell starks
October 16th, 2012
11:03 pm
Danny Ferry are there any backup center left that can defend the paint.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get this team a real center!!!!
steven a smith
October 16th, 2012
11:15 pm
“Lord of the IDIOTS and his Band of Brothers will hopefully join Horford and Marvin in Utah, SOON!!!
Please Danny get us a center asap. ROY HIBBERT had 6 Blocks against uo 2-night…
darrell starks
October 16th, 2012
11:15 pm
2013 steven a smith, wait the patients of the saints.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ken Strickland
October 16th, 2012
11:17 pm
I got to watch the 2nd half of tonights gm and I noticed how easily Williams, Harris and Teague attacked their transition DEF and got into the lane. That was a direct result of us pushing the ball up the floor and attacking before they set their DEF up. We simply missed too many easy shots, but that will come with time.
The new aggressiveness of Teague, along with the addition of Harris and Williams, will definitely benefit the athleticism and excellent hands of Josh and Horford. Can you believe DJames got 8 rebounds in just over 11mins? If he continues his excellent rebounding and DEF into the regular season, which he should, we’ll be solid at SF.
I also noticed that Drew played a lot of combinations of Teague, Harris and Williams together. Their so called lack of size certainly didn’t seem to be an issue in this gm, as they used their speed and quickness to pressure the ball and cause a lot of steals and turnovers.
steven a smith
October 16th, 2012
11:18 pm
Lord of the Idiots aka Sen Ktrickland. This Klan of “Stat Geeks” know nothing about Basketball except that it is round!!!!
steven a smith
October 16th, 2012
11:20 pm
Once again “Geniuses, ROY HIBBERT had 6 Blocks, Hawks Lose, PEROID. End of conversation!!!
Big Ray
October 16th, 2012
11:21 pm
Funny to hear it and agree, but the Hawks DO need a backup PG. But maybe that’s also why LD put Lou at the point a few times to see how he did. He’ll likely be coming off the bench after all. Still, that’s not the best use of him, just as it wasn’t the best use of Jamal Crawford. Why duplicate the same mistake?
Of course, this season won’t have near the meaning as the following seasons after that, so maybe the Hawks organization is willing to live with what they have as far as pg options. One never knows.
As for another big to do the dirty work down low, I don’t really see that coming this season, either. I think Ferry handles that next offseason when he TRULY goes to work on the roster (not that he won’t consider any potentially very good/very solid moves that may or may not come his way during THIS season). Not looking for any splashes at the trade deadline, especially if they compromise next offseason’s salary cap abundance in any significant way.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2012
11:28 pm
Ken S. ,
Well, the “new” aggression of Teague isn’t all that new. We saw him be aggressive as all get out against the Bulls in the 2nd round of the playoffs two years ago.
I’m not arguing with you, but I’m more interested with “consistently aggressive” Teague. I think Jeff sometimes lets the defense dictate his aggression level to the point of where he looks absolutely listless in some games. He has to figure out a way to ALWAYS be on the attack. If he does, he’ll get better results, and so will the team.
Ken Strickland
October 16th, 2012
11:32 pm
ANAL MINDED MORON alert at 10:42pm.
Ken Strickland
October 16th, 2012
11:42 pm
BIG RAY-Teague doesn’t appear to be naturally aggressive by nature. Having a ball and OFF dominating player like JJ, and a HC that allowed him to have his way, probably have a lot to do with how Teague reacted to playing the position. After all, Teague knew full well that Drew was more than ready to make Hinrich his new MBibby and send Teague to the bench if given a chance.
I think we’ll see a far more aggressive JTeague, due to JJs absence and the acquisition of Harris and Williams. I also think that playing a style of OFF that definitely suits his abilities and takes full advantage of his speed, quickness, athleticism and penetrating ability helps. And I wouldn’t overlook the influence that Ferry and his more hands on approach is having on Teague.
I’m also on board with you and ASTRO JOEafter the season
Big Ray
October 16th, 2012
11:48 pm
Yeah, Hibbert had six blocks. He’s lucky he didn’t have to deal with his nemesis Al horford, or with Josh Smith. Horford has literally eaten Hibbert’s lunch dang near every time the Hawks have played them. Hibbert is better than he was a year or two ago, but he’s still too slow to deal with Al, who beat him up on the glass (and scoring) each time. Then there’s Josh Smith, who is even quicker and presents other issues as well. Hibbert can’t help on Josh Smith, much less guard him. And Al’s jumper would pull Hibbert away from the basket if he’s hitting it.
I mean really, who did Hibbert have to contend with? Zaza got his shot blocked 3 times. He plays below the rim, so he’s ALWAYS getting his shot blocked. Mike Scott – twice…a weak rookie. Lou Williams and Jeff Teague…both guys are 6-foot-nothin’…..
Does Hibbert block 6 shots when Smith and Horford are in the game? No, because when one of those lightning quick little guards gets in the lane, he has to worry about leaving Smith (who WILL dunk on him) or Horford (who has ALSO dunked on him).
So in a way, I’m not impressed with Hibbert’s numbers in this game. He had midgets and guys who don’t play above the rim. Now if he does that against our starters…..it’s a different story.
Consider also that we only lost by 4 points.
Maybe I’m a stat geek, but a few things stood out to me in the box score :
1) Hawks shooting less than 39%. Pacers shooting nearly 45%. Not a huge difference, but later we’ll see why…
2) Hibbert dominating without any of our starting bigs. Big whoop…he also didn’t have to deal with Ivan Johnson all that much, because dude stayed in foul trouble (another reason to not have him as the only backup big).
3) Now we get into the meat of things….Pacers shooting 35 free throws and hitting 31 of them. Hawks shooting only 23 free throws, and hitting 17 of them. Paul George destroying us from the line by himself with 11 of 11 free throws on his own. Oddly enough, it was the type of fouls committed…because the Hawks were charged with 25 to the Pacers 24 fouls. Hmm….
4) Pacers shoot 38% from 3 point range, Hawks 37%…ahh, but there’s a huge difference here. Pacers wisely took 13 attempts from the arc…Hawks tried 24 of them.
5) Here’s another good one….Hawks with 10 steals and 9 turnovers. Pacers with only 3 steals and a whopping 18 turnovers. That tells me we weren’t converting for $h!t. So all that speed and defense for almost no reason.
6) The good news…in a way. Despite the Pacers playing all of their rotation guys (starters and what not), we still only lost the battle on the glass 47 to 43. I’d say that ain’t bad at all. Ivan was in foul trouble, so was Zaza, but we still had significant contributors…and not just one or two of them. Mike Scott, Harris, Teague, Tolliver, Damion James…all had 4 or more rebounds.
This isn’t going to happen in every game, especially against the tougher rebounding teams. But we’re going to need a lot of team rebounding just to stay in games…especially when, like tonight, those millions of jumpers just aren’t falling.
cp
October 16th, 2012
11:51 pm
Astro I agree with you. I don’t know who is available to be that 3rd pg. I like Lou Williams but its clear that dude is not a pg but im sure LD will probably have him playing a lot of point anyway. I actually thought they should have kept Farmar and gotten rid of Petro. Dude is hot garbage. Looks like Ivan will play more minutes at center than Petro. Petro didn’t see the floor tonight although the Pacers have Hibbert. Maybe LD has seen enough of Petro already to know dude isn’t a very good basketball player.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2012
11:59 pm
Ken ,
While some will disagree, I actually agree on the coaching influence as far as Teague is concerned, probably more than people think it can influence the situation.
My reasoning? Teague was uber-aggressive in college. He was destroying folks. Dunked a lot, pulled up for jumpers a lot…totally different player.
However, there is being coached by guys who don’t want to really develop rookie players. They want guys to come into the League knowing how to play the PG position in the NBA…and it’s simply different. I mean, either you come with the specific skill set already, or it’s going to be VERY tough.
Did Chauncey Billups come into the League with a specific pg skill set? Nope. He was a scoring guard, period…regardless of whether you called him a PG or a SG. And it took the right kind of coach to mold him…i.e., Larry Brown. Otherwise, where would Billups be now?
Teague didn’t come into the game with that specific pg skill set. He’s one of those guys you can teach to be the kind of pg you need him to be – but you also have to be the right teacher. Mike Woodson wasn’t it. Larry Drew ain’t it. And it’s entirely possible that Teague will never have the specific skill set in its entirety. But he also doesn’t have to. He’s not a “natural” pg, but he can be good enough to be a starter and a significant contributor for an NBA team, and he’s already shown that.
There are natural stars at the spot, there are guys who can do spot duty as PGs, and there are those who can be adequate and even somewhat dynamic. I think Teague falls into that last category. But can you really ever tell that without a credible NBA head coach on your sideline? I don’t think so, because there is another element to being a credible NBA head coach – those kinds of guys know how to pick their sideline specialists. You know – the guys on their staff who are good at working with big men, swingman types, or PGs. Shooting coaches. Things of that nature. LD doens’t know what he’s doing in that area anymore than Mike Woodson did at the time.
I’m inclined to think Woodson knows a lot more now than he did when he was with the Hawks, but that is another story altogether and I’m not a Knicks fan, so I could give a $h!t less.
We’ll see what Teague turns out to be. To me, he’s a solid NBA player who has a good bit of room for improvement. Mental toughness is going to be a major key for him. Especially when a new coach comes in. Sometimes getting yanked from a game is a lot easier to deal with than having somebody on your a$$ 24-7…but the latter will make you better if anything will, while the former is little more than a way of escape.
Big Ray
October 17th, 2012
12:11 am
cp ,
Heh…you know LD will do it. You have only to look at how he used Jamal to figure that one out, LOL.
Then again, part of what Jamal was doing on the floor so much had to do with Marvin, but we need no longer go there…
Still, LD loves a shooter/scorer at PG…problem is he has no safety blanket at SG anymore. Before, he could employ a defensively-challenged gunslinger at pg…because he had JJ to defend on the other end and also to be the other main scoring threat.
Morrow is a SG but won’t present the same passing/scoring dual threat that JJ was…let alone creating his own shot the way JJ could. Nobody on this roster can…period. So while LD might want to put Lou at PG a lot of times, can he realistically do so? I mean, you’re then hitching the wagon to Lou, and Lou alone. Not saying he can’t or won’t pass, but chances are that he’ll be the biggest offensive threat when he’s on the floor. He can create his own shot, but can he create enough for others? Who is on the floor with him when he’s at pg? Whoever plays the SG position will need to be a shooter first, and also be able to play very well without the ball, making it easier for Lou to find him if he draws more than one defender.
Here’s where there is an advantage….once in a half court set, the Hawks have bigs that can really pass the ball in Horford and Smith. Between the two of them, you can just about bank on 5-7 assists per game…and sometimes more.
So that takes some of the pressure off. But that also requires that Smith and Horford be in a position to be offensive threats themselves. Horford has to be a threat either down low or at the top of the key, and Josh has to be a threat to slash to the basket or score from the block. If his positioning keeps him on the far perimeter too much, it limits his effectiveness. Likewise, if Horford is matched up with a bigger/stronger defender down low, there will be no low post scoring from him unless he can take that bigger/slower guy from the short wing off the dribble. Otherwise, he has to step out and hit the jumper….which works if he can draw a bigger/slower defender rather than draw a guy who can get in his chest quickly and not allow him to take the shot OR drive to the basket (few teams can do that the way the Bulls did).
Should be interesting to watch on most nights. Or so I hope.
Grandad
October 17th, 2012
12:13 am
steven a smith
” Lord of the Idiots aka Sen Ktrickland.
This Klan of “Stat Geeks” know nothing about Basketball
…except that it is round…!!!! ”
Actually;
Mr `steven a ‘ a basketball is spherical; not round ! ! !
a sphere is an object, such as a ball,
where every point is equidistant from it`s center.
Therefore a basketball is spherical, not round.
Score one for this “idiot” within our Klan of Geeks ! ! !
____________________________________________
Ken S
The above, disbursed with pleasure.
Grandad
October 17th, 2012
12:21 am
I think it should be noted that DJames had 8 boards in 11 min.
Strong Rebounding from the [3] is something of a luxury.
Big Ray
October 17th, 2012
12:32 am
Grandad ,
Good to know you did that for Ken’s sake or I’d admonish you for casting pearls before swine….
Big Ray
October 17th, 2012
12:34 am
Damion James’ rebounding alone should be enough to get him more than a roster spot…I’d start him at the 3 many a night…
Now how well does he defend?
Whew
October 17th, 2012
12:34 am
who is that looooog winded writer. Get to the freaking point. Does any body read that sh !t?
On blog is a f-ck-in book and the dude keep on sch-itt-in out of his mouth. Man you hogging a whole page. Let some body else say something .Your farts are longer than C.V’s stories. Shut up. This is Chris V’s show.
Nobody wants to read that book of trash. Crawl back in your hole.
Whew
October 17th, 2012
12:36 am
One – blog is a f-ck-in book and this yahoo has 3 or 4 novels ….. Dude. shut up.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 17th, 2012
1:56 am
Damn, Zaza had a crazy over the head pass to start a fast break in that game.
vava74
October 17th, 2012
2:55 am
Big Ray
October 16th, 2012
11:59 pm
Violently co-signing!
Rusty
October 17th, 2012
4:34 am
Isn’t. It getting to the time that JS & AH start logging serious min so the new team can get used to playing together or are we going to waste this whole preseason jerking off.
Just Joe
October 17th, 2012
6:04 am
Out rebounded. Shot 38% from the field. 93 official FG attempts compared to the Pacers’ 74, and yet we still lost. Only 16 assists. We were without Josh, DeShawn, and Al. They were without Hill, Granger, and Mahinmi. Didn’t watch the game, but the stats suggest more reckless jump shooting. Can anyone comment on if we appeared to have a clue offensively (in half court sets)?
ntrigue
October 17th, 2012
8:08 am
Damin James should start at sf but I guarantee Drew will not hardly play him unless someone gets hurt just like he did Ivan last yr! Trust me drew will play Kyle Korver way more eventhough he’s a liability on defense.
Buddy Grizzard
October 17th, 2012
8:20 am
“Johan Petro is an NBA center. He can defend the post better than our current centers, SCRUBS!!!”
LOL once a troll, always a troll.
“ROY HIBBERT had 6 Blocks against uo 2-night”
No kidding? With our starting center and power forward sitting out the game, Hibbert had a big night? Wow… heads should roll… or at least eyes.
“Why duplicate the same mistake?”
It would be a mistake if Lou was as bad a point guard as JC1. As it so happens, Lou is the best point guard presently under contract by the Hawks.
Buddy Grizzard
October 17th, 2012
8:28 am
“let alone creating his own shot the way JJ could. Nobody on this roster can…period.”
Um… Lou nearly matched Joe’s offensive output, and he didn’t play starter’s minutes.
kwooden1
October 17th, 2012
8:51 am
This will be an interesting team to watch this year because of the speed of Al and Josh. Very few teams have guys at the C and PF positions that can keep-up with them and only one or two teams have the size to really take advantage. If Josh and Al can last the entire season and we shoot a fair % from 3, we should be able to make the Playoffs as a 7 or 8.
I’m actually disappointed in MIke Scott, I really thought he would attack down low a lot more. Hopefully they can put him in the D-League for a good portion of the season, to help him improve his appropriate to the game. Also, even though Jenkins had a good Summer League, this preseason is showing how difficult it will be for him to get his shot off consistently at this level. He would be more effective with teams like the Spurs or Jazz because of their motion offensives. With DeShawn and Morrow under contract, it doesn’t leave enough minutes for John to develop his game to be effective in the League this year. He might also benefit from some time in the D-League.
kwooden1
October 17th, 2012
8:53 am
“approach” not “appropriate”. slow morning in terms of typing
O'Brien
October 17th, 2012
9:12 am
High-sider,
And y’all thought “Danny Boy” [Dan Ferry] was “doin’ his thing” during the offseason with all those player movements. [smh].
Making the playoffs this season would be great, but I think Danny Ferry really has his eyes on next offseason, when the Hawks will have plenty of salary cap space, and a chance to hire a new HC.
O'Brien
October 17th, 2012
9:13 am
Big Ray,
I won’t be surprised if the Hawks are top 5 in the NBA in terms of 3-pt FGA per game. And I think we will die by the jumpers.