The book on the Mavericks' Devin Harris

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By David DuPree, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...n-harris_N.htm

A look at how Dallas' Devin Harris plays the game:

The particulars: The 6-3, wispy Devin Harris plays both guard spots for the Dallas Mavericks and usually draws the defensive assignment on the opposition's shooting guard, often giving up 3-5 inches. He was an all-conference volleyball player at Wauwatosa East High School in Milwaukee. At 24, he is in the third year of his four-year rookie contract, which pays him $3,153,120 this season.

Road to the Mavericks: Selected by the Washington Wizards after his junior season at Wisconsin with the fifth overall pick of the 2004 draft. His draft rights, along with Jerry Stackhouse and Christian Laettner, were traded immediately thereafter to Dallas in exchange for Antawn Jamison.

Style: He's a blur and uses his speed and quickness wisely most of the time. A vast majority of his points are on layups or short runners. He's most effective when he is controlling the ball on his dribble. He is also an annoying defender, because he uses his quickness to get up in his man's face and stay there, even when matched against much taller opponents. He is also adept at drawing charges.

Go-to move: He is always looking for the slightest opening to break his man down off the dribble to get to the front of the rim.

How to defend him: Overplay him on the right; dare him to go left where he is far less dangerous. Play a step off to offset his quickness and make him a jump shooter instead of a penetrator.

By the numbers: Averaged 12.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds and shot 55.6% while committing 1.0 turnovers in the last two games. For the season, he is averaging 9.9 points and 3.7 assists and shooting 49.2% while committing 1.76 turnovers a game in 26.1 minutes. He has started 54 games and come off the bench in the other 14.

His peers: Harris, Allen Iverson of the Denver Nuggets, Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns, Earl Boykins of the Milwaukee Bucks and Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs are probably the fastest players in the league from one end of the floor to the other with the dribble. He was the third guard picked in the 2004 draft after Ben Gordon and Shaun Livingston, who went third and fourth, respectively. The first two picks were big men Dwight Howard and Emeka Okafor. Kris Humphries from Minnesota (14th overall pick) and Bernard Robinson of Michigan (45th overall pick) were the only other Big Ten players drafted that season.

Former player he is most readily compared to: Spud Webb. Can slither his way inside against giants and will dunk in your face; can lead the fast break and finish it.

Says Harris: "I'm very comfortable with the situation. Obviously, with other teams I would probably get more shots and more minutes. But it's not about that. It's about winning."

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