Denver Nuggets: 3 Expectations for Gary Harris

Having detailed Harris’ prowess and path to legitimacy, there’s one step that isn’t as certain as the rest:

Playoff performance.

We’ve seen, particularly from shooting guards that the playoffs can be a different animal and shortcomings in a player’s game are put under a spotlight.  J.R. Smith comes to mind, as do James Harden’s struggles over the last two seasons in the playoffs.

Calls are tighter, defense more intense.  The pressure is intense.

Remembering back to Denver’s last deep playoff run, mistakes from the backcourt stand out as memorable from the WCF loss to the Lakers.  I don’t necessarily remember Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter or J.R. Smith for their play but I certainly remember their mistakes.

It’s a thing people know about and it’s the ultimate measure that moves a player from good to great or great to elite.  Playoff performance.

If the spectacle and pressure of a playoff run don’t faze Harris, if he performs as we’ve seen over the last season-and-a-half on the biggest stage, he will stamp his name atop the Western Conference shooting guards.

Lofty company indeed but a place that Harris belongs.