Is Harris really playing that bad?

[UtahJazzV4FTW]

I was looking at some stats this morning and began to wonder if Harris is really closer to the player we thought we were getting (decent starter) in the trade than we want to believe.

Aside from his free throw pct, his shooting is as high as it has been since '07. His minutes are about 80% of last year yet is is taking only around 66% of the shots and less than half of his peak year. With that said there are two conclusions that can be made: A) he has lost a step and can't be as aggressive/gets shut down a lot. B) he doesn't feel like he can play the way he is comfortable, feels like he has to run our post-up-Al-offense and doesn't get the touches he "needs."

As for his defensive game, no question he is getting beat off the dribble a lot. Again, if "A," he is slower than he used to be. If "B," maybe he is the type that doesn't put forth a lot of effort if he doesn't feel involved.

Aside from Bell, this year, a drive-and-kick Harris doesn't have a lot of options so is his limited production a product of our coaching staff's decision? If so, his production for us last year makes more sense and is something we could see again.

In the end I don't know if it truly matters if we alter our offense to suit him better. Whether we run our offense through Al or Devin, we are running it through people who led their teams to some of the worst records in the league (A.K.A. neither can be our go-to option long-term).

[FJS]

In the last few games he is playing better, and Watson playing worse. Still, Corbin is splitting their min, and Devin should play more.

[phrizzo]

He's good when he is playing aggressively and getting out on the break. He just doesn't do that consistently.

[Xsy]

Harris played good for the past few games, but for the most part, he's just dialing it in. His passes are predictable, his shot is crap. For a few games in a row, I swear he would do the opposite of what I considered a 'good idea'.

He has no heart in Utah, and I don't want a guy who only feels like playing once every few games.

[Reckless]

He passes up too many open shots and he doesn't play aggressive not nearly enough. Whatever positive he does he almost always cancels it out with a negative play(turnover, poor defense). Still think he's a crap player.

[Reckless]

We need a PG that can hit a 3. Our bigs get double teamed because the teams know that they won't get in trouble for it since neither Harris(career 30%) or Watson(career 32%) are reliable from distance. Harris will pass up a open 3 far too often because he has 0 confidence in the shot.

[StocktonShorts]

Watson's a better career 3pt shooter than Harris? Ouch, Devin.

[babyjax13]

Watson used to be a pretty good three point shooter until he broke his thumb (2008).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... oea01.html

[Jazzfan12]

Watson used to be a pretty good three point shooter until he broke his thumb (2008).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... oea01.html

His last four years before 2008:

25%
32%
40%
33%


...Huh?

[babyjax13]

Watson used to be a pretty good three point shooter until he broke his thumb (2008).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... oea01.html

His last four years before 2008:

25%
32%
40%
33%


...Huh?

The difference between a 32% three point shooter and an 18% three point shooter is pretty big. Watson at least used to be a threat when open.

[Jazzfan12]

Watson used to be a pretty good three point shooter until he broke his thumb (2008).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... oea01.html

His last four years before 2008:

25%
32%
40%
33%


...Huh?

The difference between a 32% three point shooter and an 18% three point shooter is pretty big. Watson at least used to be a threat when open.

But he shot better last year (a post 2008 year) than three of those four years before his thumb injury.

[babyjax13]

You are right, I counted 05-06 3 times

[Jazz_Man_86]

The problem with Harris, that Utah Jazz style of offense is not fitting him well.

He is not good at slow half court offense that Utah runs. He is up tempo guy.

It's really surprise that he is playing worse compare to the last season games after trade to the Jazz.

[nghedman]

The only positive I see with Harris is he is FAST! but he doesn't use that asset to his advantage enough.

I don't know if it is the Jazz offense or just Harris in particular. He needs to use his speed in the paint, and bring the ball up the court more often. (true his teams aren't running up the court, or throwing in the ball quick enough to the wings so he can run but I wish it would happen. He needs to lead that action.) I hate the fact that as a PG he doesn't get the ball in the paint to an open player. He passes it into the paint but mainly when the player is already covered. And he rarely dribbles through the paint to create an open player.

[outerspacefella]

The problem with Devin is pretty simple: he's just not a point guard, never was. He worked pretty well in Dallas when he was surrounded with consistent shooting wings. Without decent shooting wings with the ability to mantain defenders honest, his point guard, trey and shooting-off-the-dribble abilities are just not enough.
Jazz need a quick and real PG with decent range off the dribble and spot shooting touch. Not an All Star but just a decent point dude. That's not a cheap asset to get, and barring an unusual situation that KOC could use to have some leverage, it will cost the Jazz one of the frontcourt guys and probably a pick or another sort of consideration.
Jazz have to decide which way they want to do it. To go for something now before the trade deadline, or play out the season and get his pick to try to do something draft day and/or free agency.
Just MHO.

[eLo]

Harris when he is doing what he can do best and that is driving to the rim is one of most exciting player to watch in whole league, i dont give a damn if he is your typical pg ore not just let him do his thing