Matt Harpring's Might Makes Utah Right

Too often, NBA enthusiasts around the globe are mesmerized by highlights—dunks, hang time, three-pointers, shot blocks, twisting fadeaways, and incredible reverse layups. Of course, the ability to perform those tasks are important, but the current generation of fans only seems concerned by points scored, or plays that would make Sportcenter.

There are other vital tasks NBA players need to perform in order to separate their teams from ordinary ones to talented ones. But while the players whose jobs it is to perform them often go unrecognized by the public at large, they often become subtle determinants in who ultimately wins, and who ultimately loses the game at hand.

Take Utah’s Matt Harpring, who essentially won the game for Utah in their 90-85 victory over the Celtics. How did a role player who only scored eight points and played only 18 minutes win the game? By simply playing tougher and smarter than the Celtics.

Matt Harpring: 4-7 FG, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 TO, 8 PTS

Harpring’s Offense

Harpring’s pet moves are to stand on the weak-side of Utah’s offense and either perform a powerful baseline cut, designed to pin his defender on his back so that he can catch the ball in prime position feet away from the basket, or fake the cut and curl around a down screen for a 16-20 foot mid range jumper.

Harpring also reads his defenders body. Whenever his man turns his head, Harpring cuts mercilessly to the basket and seals, hoping for an easy layup.

While there is nothing inherently special about these moves, they require a tremendous degree of physical strength and toughness both to initiate contact and to use one’s body to create angles to seal defenders. They also require a degree of intelligence and focus to understand what the offense is trying to do, and exactly where the openings in the defense are.

Against the Celtics, Harpring executed his baseline cuts and twice caught the ball feet away from the basket defended by Paul Pierce. The first time, Harpring flashed in from the right baseline to the paint, sealed, and missed a baby hook over Pierce. The second time, Harpring came in from the left side, pumped, then shot a right hook. Though Pierce didn’t buy the fake, and played picture-perfect defense, Harpring was still able to bank in the shot.

Because Harpring doesn’t elevate well, if a defender is able to fight through the initial cut and is strong enough to battle Harpring under the basket, Harpring often lacks the creativity to make the baskets. His make over Pierce was as much a matter of luck as it was skill. But against, softer, less coordinated defenders, Harpring will often manufacture layups simply by cutting hard. That puts pressure on opponents to sag more and protect the paint, which opens up mid-range shots galore for the offense.

Harpring was asked to drive the ball and create offense three times. On the left mid-post with Brian Scalabrine shading Harpring left, Harpring quickly attacked Scalabrine’s front foot (left foot), drew Boston’s help, and found Andrei Kirilenko on a backdoor cut which drew a foul, and led to two made free throws. From the right elbow, Harpring drove on Leon Powe to the baseline, and found Kyle Korver on the weak-side who missed a three. Harpring also missed a layup in transition when he tried to dribble into a layup which was too strong off the glass.

On mid-range jumpers was where Harpring shined. Popping a baseline 16-footer early in the second quarter, curling and missing an open 16-footer later in the period, flashing from the left baseline to just inside the free throw line for a 14-foot jumper late in the fourth, and then executing a circle cut and finding himself wide open at the free throw line for the jumper that gave the Jazz the lead for good.

While the final shot was set up by Deron Williams penetrating and forcing Boston’s defense to help, it was also set up by Harpring’s baseline cuts forcing the defense to protect the baseline. A fake and a pop out find him all alone for the winner.

Harpring also contributed in more subtle areas. Like running the court hard and sealing Paul Pierce behind him so Kirilenko could have a free layup without Pierce being able to help. Like cutting in front of the basket and then setting a solid down screen allowing Mehmet Okur to pop out for a free throw line jumper. Like setting a cross screen on Brian Scalabrine and holding his arm forcing Scalabrine to commit a foul to fight through the screen.

Hey, if the refs will let you get away with it, take an advantage of every edge you can find.

While Harpring didn’t register a single assist, he made nothing but smart decisions and didn’t force any play that wasn’t there. All of his passes allowed the Jazz to enter the next segment of their continuity without disruption. His decision making was most evident by the fact that on nearly every inbounds play, he was the one inbounding the ball.

Harpring also cut hard, even on plays where he had no chance of catching the ball. This forced the defense to treat him honestly, opening up action on the other side of the court.

It’s no surprise that Utah scored 40 points in the 18 minutes Harpring was on the court, and only 50 points over the remaining 30 minutes.

Without having any leaping ability, speed, quickness, and possessing limited range and limited shot-creating abilities, Harpring was the catalyst for so much of Utah’s offense.

Harpring’s Defense

Not quick by any means of the imagination, Harpring’s best defensive attributes are his ferociousness and his rock-solid strength. Harpring always looked to three-quarters the post, and deny passes on the perimeter. Instead of taking the easy way out, Harpring’s defense always started before his man had the ball.

Harpring’s first defensive assignment was to guard Leon Powe in the post. After banging and shoving him, Harpring moved his feet quickly when being backed down, forcing Powe to lose his balance and travel.

Harpring’s main defensive assignment, though, was Finals MVP Paul Pierce, and here are the events of what happened when Harpring was assigned to Pierce.

• After switching on to Pierce, Harpring got low, poked away a dribble, and after Pierce’s original defender recovered, Harpring closed out hard on Eddie House resulting in a missed three.
• Harpring forced Pierce to use his left hand along the baseline. Pierce couldn’t get much separation, but because Kyle Korver rotated too far down to help, Ray Allen was able to hit a corner three.
• A drive and quick right-to-left spin move allowed Pierce to get separation for a 12-foot fallaway, but Pierce missed the shot.
• Harpring was backing up on a Pierce early offense drive, allowing Pierce to pull up and make an easy mid range jumper.
• Harpring pressured Pierce 30 feet from the basket. A good screen on the right side of the court forced a switch, and Harpring was left scrambling to find his rotation assignment, Eddie House, on the opposite wing. House was wide open but missed the three.
• Harping bodied up on Pierce forcing Pierce to push off with his right hand to get separation; an offensive foul.
• Harpring was too aggressive on the perimeter with his right forearm and was called for a foul. Pierce hit 1-2 free throws.
• Harpring stayed down on a Pierce shot fake. When Pierce tried to lean into Harpring and draw a foul, Harpring stood his ground and gave Pierce a slight bump. Pierce was so off balance, his resulting shot drew air.
• Pierce blew by Harpring with no help late in the game with the Jazz up four and concerned with not fouling and preventing a three.
• Pierce missed a three over Harpring at the buzzer.

Of the ten times Harpring defended Pierce, Boston only scored eight points, a winning ratio. Harpring clearly frustrated Pierce with his intensity. Usually, Pierce is used to being the stronger man when defended one-on-one. Unable to use his strength to beat Harpring, and with Harpring so close to take away Pierce’s jumper, PP never was able to create easy looks in the halfcourt like he’s accustomed to.

What else did Harpring do correctly? He showed and recovered while defending Leon Powe on a Pierce/Powe screen. He boxed out all the time, every time. And late in the game, he tipped a defensive rebound away from Powe and then wrestled the rebound away from Ray Allen with under a minute to go.

In fact, Harpring made only one bad rotation on defense—arriving too late on a Rajon Rondo drive, giving up a dunk.

Now certainly, Harpring is lucky enough to play in an offensive system which takes advantage of his power and his movement off the ball. And he has willing help defenders behind him if he gets beat off the dribble.

But in the NBA, you have to be able to take care of your own responsibilities, no matter what those responsibilities are. There are plenty of more “talented” players in the NBA who can score points in vacuums, get streaky and provide a lift, and occasionally make a highlight play on defense, but aren’t grounded enough to know how to create the easiest possible shots for their team, or willing enough to really fight on defense.

It’s why, despite never doing anything to make a highlight reel, Harpring would be an invaluable addition and add wins to every team in the NBA.