MAVERICKS NOTES
Harris' jump shot falling into place
By JEFF CAPLAN
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
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-->Devin Harris has added a more consistent jump shot to go with his ability to penetrate a defense.
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<!-- END /pubsys/production/story/story_assets.comp -->Devin Harris keeps three words of advice in mind from teammate Jerry Stackhouse every time he goes up for a jumper.
"Rub my rib," Harris said, a reminder to keep his right elbow tucked in for good shooting form.
Harris' jump shot is falling into form just as the fourth-year player is set to run the show as the Mavericks' point guard when the regular season opens Wednesday at Cleveland.
In eight preseason games Harris has, by design, called his own plays to get accustomed to engineering the offense without relying on coach Avery Johnson on the sideline.
"When you get more and more control of the play-calling and what's going on out there on the court, it gives you more confidence," Harris said.
"Obviously, it was [Johnson] giving me a little bit more freedom with the play-calling and with the transition offense. Being able to push the ball in the open spaces is going to give me more confidence."
Johnson has often compared Harris' ability to that of San Antonio's Tony Parker.
Both players have a deadly first step and are among the league's best at penetrating.
Parker's game took off when he began to consistently make 18-foot jump shots.
It forced defenders to play him tighter on the perimeter, which also made them more vulnerable to his quick burst to the basket.
Harris shot a career-high 49.2 percent from the floor last season, but just 28 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (14-of-50).
During the preseason, he shot 50 percent and made 5-of-8 from the 3-point line.
The 3-pointer won't be a significant shot for Harris, but having that threat, as well as a consistent jump shot, is crucial to his overall development.
"It [his shot] looks better because he's more confident," Johnson said. "His body language is better, he's not hesitant about shooting and he knows what his responsibilities are and he knows he can make the defense pay.
"We just want him to concentrate on running the team and getting the ball in the paint."
Terry ready to roll
Jason Terry's sprained left knee limited his playing time in the preseason, but he'll be ready to play in the opener when he'll come off the bench as the team's new sixth man.
"He's great now," Avery Johnson said. "He's pretty much back, in my mind, as close to 100 percent as he's going to be. He ran well, he practiced hard and, boy, he's just flat-out making shots."
Terry was 6-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-2 from the 3-point line in the preseason finale against Chicago.
The Westphal effect
New assistant coach Paul Westphal has revamped the Mavs' offense against the zone, a major trouble spot last season, especially against Golden State in the playoffs.
Westphal has reduced the number of plays the Mavs will run.
"We had like five, six plays last year that we tried to run," Devin Harris said. "Now we're just focusing on one thing, and we're getting really good at it when we see zones that we attack, and it's looking good."
