A revelation since his arrival in the Jersey swamps, Devin Harris finds himself on the cusp of being an all-star.
Raptors interim head coach Jay Triano saw first-hand Harris' skills while helping coach a group of U.S. select players two summers ago.
"What I remember was a dedicated kid who had a decent jump shot,'' Triano said yesterday. "He now has a very, very good jumper."
Later today, the NBA will announce the reserves for next month's all-star game, a group of players who are picked by the league's coaches, unlike the game's starters who are voted by fans.
Triano has thrown his support behind Harris, who entered last night in the most elite of company, having averaged at least 21.0 points and 6.0 assists. That group includes four other players -- Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Joe Johnson and Chris Paul.
Harris' scoring average is the highest among all NBA point guards.
"For me, it was a no-brainer,'' Triano said, referring to his choice of Harris as a reserve.
A year ago, Harris was acquired by the Nets in a package that sent veteran Jason Kidd to Dallas.
"He (Harris) is a scoring point guard, but he'll also find his teammates,'' Triano said.
Shot worth taking
Triano was helpful in basically remaking Jose Calderon's shot, from a mechanical perspective, much like a golfer undergoes a swing makeover.
One of the things Triano did was have Calderon use an elastic band to ensure his elbow stays in.
The results have been evident each time Calderon heaves a shot from the field or from the charity stripe.
Triano now is hoping to duplicate the success with Roko Ukic, whose form isn't exactly text book.
"With Roko, it's more his off- hand,'' Triano said.
