Before the Coronavirus pandemic shocked the NBA world and forced a suspension of the season until further notice, the NBA and the Denver Nuggets were going about their normal lives. One of the few positives that have come out of the post-All-Star break for the Denver Nuggets has been Gary Harris somewhat re-gaining his form. This is a welcome sign as Harris’ steadying presence has been a welcome sight for Denver’s offense, especially during a concerning time of inconsistencies for the team as a whole. So, which numbers and facts back up that Gary Harris is bouncing back after a tough beginning of the season?
Gary Harris Bouncing Back Post All-Star Break
Gary Harris Pre-All Star Break
Coming into the season, many fans had high expectations for Gary Harris after an injury-riddled season the previous year. One cannot blame them considering Harris was only two seasons removed from when he was a key staple of the core when he tallied 17.5 points, 1.8 steals per game, and a solid 39.6% from three-point territory. With numbers like these, it is easy why some Nuggets fans were hesitant to mention him in trade rumors until this current season started. Gary Harris looked more like a disjointed piece in a well-oiled machine pre-All-Star Break. To Harris’ credit, he was still a great perimeter defender. He has held Devin Booker to only 18 points in four games played, Damian Lillard to 18 points in three games, and Chris Paul to only nine points in two games played to name a few notable players.
To say this has massively helped the Nuggets maintain a top-three seed in the Western Conference all season long would be an understatement. Unfortunately, there have been games where his offensive struggles have outweighed his defensive intangibles. He is averaging only 10.4 points per game and is striking it from the field at a rate of 42% this season. Pre-All-Star break, Harris was shooting an abysmal 40% from the field to pair with an uncharacteristically 29.9% shooting from three-point land. As a result, his name was swirling in trade speculation before the NBA Trade Deadline and there is a good chance the Nuggets did try to trade him for an upgrade at the two-guard spot. Fortunately, the All-Star break has seemed to give the 6’4 shooting guard from Michigan State a much-needed rest.
Harris Post All-Star Break
While the Nuggets have been inconsistent, Harris has been a welcome staple for them, especially as they navigate these concerning and confusing times. Harris’ shot has seemingly returned as he is shooting an incredible 57.7% from three-point territory and 53.2% from the field post-All-Star break. He also has seen an uptick to 11.1 points per game. To put this in perspective, Harris’ career field goal percentage is 45.4% and 36% from deep. As a result, it has given star franchise centerpiece Nikola Jokic another reliable option to pass to when the floor is spread and he is operating down low. Not to mention, Harris seems to be getting some of his confidence back. He is starting to cut and show the explosiveness he showcased two years back.
Remember, he was considered one of the premier cutters in the game a couple of years ago before the injuries. Going forward, it will be interesting to see if Denver keeps Harris as part of their future plans. They could also use his value which has fluctuated upward now to package him in a deal for another star. Regardless, it is nice to see Gary Harris regaining some of his offensive confidence. The Nuggets will now have another weapon on the offensive side of the floor. A weapon which will be key come playoff time.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images