Devin Harris: Has He Really Improved His Game All Around?

Has Devin Harris' game really improved?

The answer is no.

Harris is doing what he's always been capable of—being a scorer first and a passer second. 

Harris is currently averaging 23.8 points per game and 6.4 assists per game. This is now Harris' fifth year in the NBA. Before this season Harris' career high had been 14.8 points per game and that was last year. 

Harris has become better at drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line this year which helps because he's an 80 percent foul shooter for his career. The problem is just because someone's scoring is up doesn't necessarily mean other aspects of their game has improved. 

Take for example field goal percentage is at 45.9 percent which would be his worst since his rookie year where he only shot 42.9 percent from the floor. Harris's three-point shooting is still pretty horrific even though it's one of his better shooting percentages at 32.9 percent.

While Harris's assists have been up and would be the highest he has average in one season, a 6.4 average is decent. It's not that impressive.  And what makes it higher is the fact that he's actually had some double-digit-assist games, but after those time he'll regress to the shoot-first situation and will only have a couple assists in the next game. 

Harris has never been one that would be considered a defensive stopper, and I have yet to hear anything about Harris' defense improving.

Here's the reason why Harris's scoring is up from the 14.8 he scored last year he gets to the line about 10 times a game—when teams stop fouling Harris, his scoring is going to go down.  If it continues he will stay around the 20 point range.

Lastly, the most important thing is the fact that Harris has never been a first or second option on offense when he was on the Dallas Mavericks. Harris always had to concede this fact because of the talent the Mavericks had. 

Of course with the Mavericks they had Dirk Nowitizki, Josh Howard, and Jason Terry as primary scorers. With Harris being the fourth option for the Mavericks, but it also allowed for Harris to take better shots that he could make and that's why his field goal percentage was higher as a Maverick and why it's gotten lower as a New Jersey Net. 

The only reason why Harris is mentioned for most improved player is because of the scoring because let's face it when a player averages 20 plus points a game it's fun to say their game has improved.

What's forgotten that there's more to basketball then just putting up points and beyond getting to the line more. Harris hasn't really improved much of anything.