October 22, 2009

Nets Short Skip Against Sixers

With a preseason game to go, the Nets will finish the preseason much as they've spent most of it: short-handed.

Devin Harris hasn't fully recovered from the strained right groin he suffered last Tuesday, and will miss tomorrow's game against the 76ers at Carnesecca Arena on the St. John's University campus in Queens (Buy Tickets). After going through all non-contract drills and some running (up-and-down as well as side-to-side), the point gaurd won't practice tomorrow – the team's only performing a pregame walk-through – after visiting a pair of specialists this afternoon.

"They’re going to poke at it, stretch it, hammer it," Harris said. "It’ll be sore tonight and feel better tomorrow."

One specializes in acupuncture, the other "yanks," and they combined to contribute to what Harris deemed an "80 percent" midweek improvement. With a Saturday off-day providing a second day of rest, Harris plans to practice Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before traveling with the team to Minnesota for the opener.

Joining him on the sideline Friday will be Jarvis Hayes (doubtful, right shin stress reaction), Eduardo Najera (out, strained left groin) and potentially another member: backup point guard Rafer Alston, who's started the three games Harris has missed. Alston suffered an allergic reaction after eating some shellfish, and will be a gametime decision. Coach Lawrence Frank said that if Alston doesn't play, the point guard duties will be handled by a combination of Terrence Williams, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Trenton Hassell.

Frank acknowledged that Harris' absence has highlighted Alston's value. Though the playoff-tested 10th-year vet has shot only .263 overall (and .092 from three, yikes!), he's racked up five assists in all but one game, averaging 5.7, and efficiently so, turning the ball over less than two times on average (1.83). The catch comes when Alston is off the floor – without Keyon Dooling available as he recovers from hip surgery, the team's best option at point becomes rookie Terrence Williams, who has been inconsistent, though occasionally impressive.

Second quarters have been the bane of the last two games (both against the Knicks), with New York outscoring the Nets by a combined tally of 67-35. Harris' return would bump Alston to the bench, providing a steadying hand for the second unit, and also offer the confidence boost involved in knowing an All-Star is out there for 30-plus minutes.

"I think what I bring to the table will cure a lot of ills that we’re seeing out there as far offensively, some of the sort of indecision," Harris said. "It’s good that those guys go through it, so if I do sprain an ankle, they’re kind of prepared for that. I’m not worried about Brook (Lopez). We’ve got great chemistry and also with the guys who were here before, but building that thing on the fly is going to be tougher to do. (Yet) I’m confident we can do so."

Hayes is also keeping an eye on chemistry, which he hopes to be able to build beginning with the Philly game after acquiring new orthotics that provide fuller support for his flat arches. But he knows there's a chance he'll be held out by the trainers, and then it will come down to the same three practices Harris is likely to participate in as the Nets prime themselves for Wednesday's season opener.

"I think (those practices) are vital," Frank said. "It is what it is, but you’re going to roll out there your first game and it’s an 82-game season. With a lot of parts, I think we’ve had enough time to evaluate, so we’ve started to sit down with individuals. We’ll hit everyone and then we’re right there. (The season) is starting Sunday – guys have to know who’s playing and who’s not."

CD-R and Courtney Cashing In
With Harris out, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Courtney Lee have picked up much of the scoring slack. CD-R is averaging 18.5 PPG on .513 shooting through six games, while Lee has appeared in four games (starting three), dropping 17.0 PPG while shooting a wildly efficent .523 from three and .571 overall.

"Those are both guys that have something to prove and they’re playing like it," Harris said. "CD-R is getting a whole lot of time and guys kind of questioned if he could play in this league; he’s going out there and proving it every night. Courtney is going through the same situation that I kind of went through coming from Dallas: He’s proving he’s better than what he was in Orlando. He can do more on the floor, and you’ll see him turn into the star I think he’s going to be."

Lee showed a flash of amazing at the end of Wednesday's loss to the Knicks, starting by drawing a foul with 5.3 seconds left and the Nets down 94-89. He made the first free throw before intentionally missing the second, corralling the rebound and sinking a layup as he was fouled a second time.

Lee again rebounded his own intentional miss, and the Knicks fouled him with 1.1 seconds to play, Nets trailing 94-92. With two free-throws to actually make if he were to send the game into overtime, Lee's first attempt spun around the rim before flying off to the left.

"That was unbelievable!" Frank exclaimed. "And if he would’ve made that (last) shot, that would’ve been really interesting. It’s great – you think about it, even in a six-game preseason schedule, we’ve had a bunch of end-of-game type situations: up 2 – what don’t you do? Down? Where some people say, ‘Ahhh … preseason’s too long,’ I think there’s great value because there’s some great teaching points there."

Keyon Keeps Working
Keyon Dooling says his recovery from hip surgery is "coming along," but cautions that he's a few weeks away in the best-case scenario and is targeting mid-November to Thanksgiving for his return.

"I’m still recovering from surgery – five months removed – so let’s keep that in mind," Dooling said. "This is something I’ve never been through. But I’m getting better, getting stronger. It’s part of the process."