In an ideal situation, Joe Harris’s responsibilities entail him hanging around the perimeter, popping off some threes and occasionally cutting to the paint when opposing defenses lose track of him, while covering someone with a similar role on the other end of the floor. But when the Brooklyn Nets take the floor at Disney World for the NBA’s restart, Harris will have far more on his plate.
Because the Nets’ current situation is anything but ideal.
With Kevin Durant (right Achilles), Kyrie Irving (right shoulder), Spencer Dinwiddie (ruled out after testing positive for COVID-19 twice), Wilson Chandler (elected to opt-out), DeAndre Jordan (elected to opt-out after testing positive for COVID-19), Nic Claxton (left shoulder) and Taurean Prince (ruled out after testing positive for COVID-19) all out for the remainder of the season, Harris will have to do more than he’s normally asked to.
Specifically, the absence of Chandler and Prince could have a significant impact on Harris’ defensive responsibilities.
Brooklyn’s sharpshooter told reports on a Zoom call on Sunday he may need to play the role of a stretch four in the bubble, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. Needless to say, that’s not a role Nets fans should ever expect Harris to take on.