Brooklyn Nets: 2017-18 player grades for Joe Harris

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Strengths

As most Nets fans know, Harris’ calling card is his twine-ripping. In 2017-18, Harris converted 41.9 percent of his 4.6 3-point attempts per game, good for 17th among all volume shooters in the NBA.

His gravity as a shooter helps the Nets operate from the second he steps on the court; as a result, the Nets scored more efficiently with him in the game than without him. This came despite playing a large chunk of his minutes with guys like Quincy Acy.

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Shooting is more valuable now than it’s ever been, and Harris’ marksmanship is a byproduct of that trend. Sure he had a solid shooting stroke before becoming a Net, but Atkinson put him in the right role to use it effectively.

As mentioned before, he was also more than just a shooter. Harris was an excellent driver who converted on a now-famous 62.1 percent of his drives — better than the likes of LeBron James. Over-extrapolation? Maybe. But being better than LeBron in any non-shooting category is something to behold.

Additionally, Harris is useful as a secondary initiator. When the initial play breaks down, Harris exhibits ability to run a side pick-and-roll with big men. Per NBA.com, Harris’ efficiency in the PNR was better than any other Net at 1.02 points per possession. His sample was not huge, at only a 6.1 percent usage rate, but this skill is now one of the tricks in Harris’ bag.

Harris thrived as a system player in 2017-18, as mentioned before. He is a rock-solid complementary player, which leads to why he’s merely that and not a regular starting-caliber player.

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