This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin laughed when asked about new point guard Devin Harris' mastery of Utah's offense.
Harris has only been with the Jazz for 11 days, joining the franchise as part of the Deron Williams trade.
But while Harris has not earned a graduate degree in Utah's complex offensive system, he has made significant strides. Part of the progress can be attributed to Corbin's decision to streamline the Jazz's sets, presenting Harris with less information and allowing him to put his veteran intuition to use. But much of Harris' development simply comes down to the point guard's basketball intelligence.
"The things that we've been running in the games, I think he's in pretty good shape," said Corbin, prior to Utah's 109-102 overtime victory against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday at EnergySolutions Arena. "It's just when we try and tweak it a little bit in different situations … if [an opponent] takes one thing away when we draw it up in the huddle, it kind of stagnates."
He added: "When you get in a crunch situation and the pressure's on, it's a little difficult for him."
The Jazz are 2-3 since Harris joined the team. But the losing record cannot be shouldered on the seventh-year player, who is averaging 17 points, 7.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds during his tenure with the Jazz and has steadily increased his leadership role.
"As I grow more comfortable with [my teammates], they grow more comfortable with me," Harris said.
Back in
Watson (stitched upper lip) and Favors (cold) returned to action against the Kings, while Ronnie Price (sprained right big toe) missed his eighth game during Utah's last nine contests.
Price will travel with the Jazz during their upcoming four-game trip, as will center Mehmet Okur (strained lower back).
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