The Rockets are dealing with four injuries to their front court and they love Harris, so I'm not sure he'll ever get a better opportunity to prove himself than this one.
The no-doubt about it NBA D-League MVP (I'm calling it an upset if he doesn't get every vote), can play small forward and power forward pretty easily, and honestly, in the Rockets scheme, he can play center too. Harris successfully played some center for the Vipers earlier this season, and he's the same height as Chuck Hayes, so it's not as ridiculous as it may sound.
Either way, it sounds like he's going to get what he needs - a chance.
"Mike deserves the opportunity and we wish him the best and would like to see him excel at the next level with the Rockets," said Vipers General Manager Gersson Rosas, who is also the Vice President of Player Personnel for the Rockets.
Pretty strong, and in my opinion, telling words from a guy who has a lot of decision-making power at both the major and minor league level. He's seen Harris extensively and I think he knows what he can do at the NBA level. Remember was Gersson said to me during a Farmers Insurance Halftime Report a few weeks ago when I asked him why Harris was still in the NBA D-League? He said he didn't know and that he was surprised Harris hadn't been called up. Since then, Harris has had a GATORADE Call-Up to the Washington Wizards, but for whatever reason, did not get a chance to play. It's not the Wizards were going anywhere, and they have since called up Alonzo Gee from Austin and given him a chance to play. Gee has excelled. It's not like Gee is that much better than Harris. Honestly, I'm not sure that he's better at all, maybe more flashy. They're both really good... of similar talent... so why did one get to play and not the other?
I categorically reject the notion that NBA Teams aren't giving Harris his well deserved chance because he is undersized. As Coach Finch said on Inside the Vipers Nest the other week, he'll take speed and talent over size any day. Some NBA GMs say they're in the size business. Well, Finch has a bunch of Championships and Coach of the Year Awards. Finch almost always goes to the playoffs and has never had a bad season. He'll be in the NBA before too long. So I trust his judgement.
And I trust my eyes. My eyes tell me Harris is an NBA player. Hopefully we'll find out for sure in the next few weeks.
It starts tonight. Rockets @ Oklahoma City, 7:00 p.m. You can listen locally to Craig Ackerman and Joel Blank on ESPN 1240 AM or check it out on FSN Plus.
Nice.................nice............nice work here. Thanks..
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