Call me crazy, but if Paul Harris was a few inches taller

[orangepassion]

He'd be a Kawhi Leonard-type player in the NBA. I know I'm going to get the sarcastic comments, but it just popped in my mind watching the game

 

[SoBeCuse]

I could see that on a team like the Spurs with good coaching, specialists, and blue collar guys. A 6'6 or 6'7 Paul Harris would've been drafted and perhaps an energy guy/bulldog off the bench.

 

[RF2044]

He'd be a Kawhi Leonard-type player in the NBA. I know I'm going to get the sarcastic comments, but it just popped in my mind watching the game

Need to shoot to be a mid-sized wing.

Would love to see Harris eventually get a shot. It isn't outside the realm of possibility, but he needs to demonstrate that he can function within the context of a structured offense.

 

[rosconey]

and if stevie thompson had a jump shot -he would have been a hall of famer

 

[HOFCeluck]

This reminds me of the guy a couple months ago who said that if J South had a handle he'd be a lottery pick.

 

[orangenirvana]

Would love to see Harris eventually get a shot. It isn't outside the realm of possibility, but he needs to demonstrate that he can function within the context of a structured offense.

Seeing as how Harris is now somewhere in his mid-40's, I'd say he'd better hurry up as time is running out.

 

[CU44SE]

I think at 6'7" he would have been a very good power forward in the league. A little undersized for the four but he was a great rebounder and very tough. He would have battled down there similar to Charles Barkley. Barkley was only 6'6" but his desire and toughness is what made him a great player. I think Harris had the same traits just much shorter. Rodman arguably the best rebounder ever was also only 6'7".

 

[moqui]

I like Harris and I think we tend to under-rate what he accomplished here (maybe because the expectations were so astronomically high)

but he is also due his fair share of criticism. as it turns out, I don't think he had the attitude to match his physical talents. he had enough talent to find a spot in the NBA, but he was something of a diva, and in the end that may have held him back as much or more than his height.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

sarcastic comment:
"If a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass a-hoppin'."
— Nathan Arizona

 

[cuseinseattle]

I don't think you are crazy. A few inches can make all the difference. At least that's what my wife tells me.

 

[SoBeCuse]

My post was predicated upon him improving his jump shot at least a little. His attitude probably wasn't right like Moqui pointed out but I also think his contributions were undervalued by many. I personally think he would've been a hell of a rebounder at 6'7 and probably a good m2m defender. He was a very good rebounder at 6'4.

 

[Alsacs]

Based on the PC after the 6OT UConn game I think that cemented that Paul Harris was probably one of JB top 5 least liked players he has coached. I didn't know if he was being sarcastic or was trying to needle Harris with some of the stuff he said in that PC. Then after the OU game Harris "left" the program. I don't think Harris had an NBA game even at 6'7'" to play the NBA SF position though I loved the Chuck Norris joke hype he had before he came to SU.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Based on the PC after the 6OT UConn game I think that cemented that Paul Harris was probably one of JB top 5 least liked players he has coached. I didn't know if he was being sarcastic or was trying to needle Harris with some of the stuff he said in that PC. Then after the OU game Harris "left" the program. I don't think Harris had an NBA game even at 6'7'" to play the NBA SF position though I loved the Chuck Norris joke hype he had before he came to SU.

True. He probably brought it upon himself somehow but JB was a real dick to him in that presser. That guy had as much hype as Melo coming in, perhaps. Maybe more. Probably just from his physique, only.

 

[orangepassion]

Need to shoot to be a mid-sized wing.

Would love to see Harris eventually get a shot. It isn't outside the realm of possibility, but he needs to demonstrate that he can function within the context of a structured offense.

Guys often improve their shooting after they get to the NBA. He wasn't a terrible shooter-just an average one.

 

[longtimefan]

I like Harris and I think we tend to under-rate what he accomplished here (maybe because the expectations were so astronomically high)

but he is also due his fair share of criticism. as it turns out, I don't think he had the attitude to match his physical talents. he had enough talent to find a spot in the NBA, but he was something of a diva, and in the end that may have held him back as much or more than his height.

I think he also lacked basketball smarts. Made many a dumb play. About once a game he would leave his feet to make a pass, having no idea where he was going to pass it.

 

[RF2044]

Someone made a good point above that Harris--while he didn't live up to the elite expectations--had a productive career here, despite some frustrating moments.

I've always believed that his best stint came when he got extended play at the 2, when Devo and Andy got injured. He was a mismatch and got to the line a TON. He just happened to be here at a bad time, when other players were better at the 2, forcing him to play the back of the zone as an undersized 3.

Had he played his entire career at 2, who knows. I've heard that JB envisioned him as a 1 when Harris was recruited.

 

[Captnhowdy]

Seeing as how Harris is now somewhere in his mid-40's, I'd say he'd better hurry up as time is running out.

Mid-40's? Damn, did 15 years just fly by without me noticing? Or did Paul Harris just play at SU while being in his mid to late 30's?

Dumb but honest question. Because the year Harris, Devo and Green fled to the NBA is when I started actually watching every SU game.

 

[dlegend44]

Guys often improve their shooting after they get to the NBA. He wasn't a terrible shooter-just an average one.

One of my favorite JB presser lines ever was directed at a reporter that asked about Paul Harris shooting more jump shots.

"You and Paul Harris are the only 2 people that think Paul Harris has a good jump shot."

 

[NineOneSeven]

He'd be a Kawhi Leonard-type player in the NBA. I know I'm going to get the sarcastic comments, but it just popped in my mind watching the game

It's the corn rows isn't it? am-i-right?

 

[orangepassion]

It's the corn rows isn't it? am-i-right?

Part of it, but also athletic ability and defensive ability

 

[Madbiker]

Just don't ask him to inbound the ball. Yikes.

 

[OttoMets]

Someone made a good point above that Harris--while he didn't live up to the elite expectations--had a productive career here, despite some frustrating moments.

I've always believed that his best stint came when he got extended play at the 2, when Devo and Andy got injured. He was a mismatch and got to the line a TON. He just happened to be here at a bad time, when other players were better at the 2, forcing him to play the back of the zone as an undersized 3.

Had he played his entire career at 2, who knows. I've heard that JB envisioned him as a 1 when Harris was recruited.

The road game against Villanova during Super Bowl weekend in 2007...he was just dominant. And (unlike many Syracuse players) Harris was capable enough from the line.

Too bad we couldn't take full advantage earlier in his career. A 2010 starting backcourt of Rautins and a calmer, older Harris would have been something to see.

 

[SoBeCuse]

The road game against Villanova during Super Bowl weekend in 2007...he was just dominant. And (unlike many Syracuse players) Harris was capable enough from the line.

Too bad we couldn't take full advantage earlier in his career. A 2010 starting backcourt of Rautins and a calmer, older Harris would have been something to see.

I think he had a very good game vs Kansas in Kansas City as well. I remember Vitale drooling over him.

 

[OttoMets]

I think he had a very good game vs Kansas in Kansas City as well. I remember Vitale drooling over him.

Yeah, he and Flynn were huge for us in that game. Harris had a number of good ones, but he was almost a non-entity by the end of that final season. He bears some fault, but he was mismanaged and he really just played for us during the wrong era. He'd have been a terror on winning teams with veteran leadership.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

The road game against Villanova during Super Bowl weekend in 2007...he was just dominant. And (unlike many Syracuse players) Harris was capable enough from the line.

Too bad we couldn't take full advantage earlier in his career. A 2010 starting backcourt of Rautins and a calmer, older Harris would have been something to see.

I envy you people who can recall things like this with such specificity. I typically have only a vague recollection of players, and almost never particular plays. Definitely not dates and years...