Player’s Ball: David Harrison
The Pacers center on his summer and looking forward to this season.
Welcome to our first installment of Player’s Ball, the new spot at SLAMonline for player diaries. This is the online diary of Indiana Pacers Center David Harrison.
This summer I spent most of my time out in Colorado training. My coach treated me like I was in college again, making me wake up early in the morning, do drills and all that stuff, so I’m in pretty good shape heading into the season. I haven’t done much else differently. I read a lot of weird books over the summer. I read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I’m reading Alice in Wonderland now. That book is definitely not for kids.
As far as the Pacers go, I’m confident. We have a core on this team that most teams don’t have. We have a balance between the first, second, and even third unit where we can rest when we have to. We’re prepared for injuries. We’re prepared for a lot of things. I think we’ll definitely make the playoffs. It’s still too early to tell with us, just how good we’ll be though. We look good at times, we look terrible at times. Do we run and gun or slow it down? We’re in a little bit of limbo right now. We’re such an up and down team. We have to find our balance. Marquis Daniels was a good addition, and he’s getting healthy now. He’s a really good player and a good personality on our team.
I don’t know how much I’m going to play, whether my role is to rest Jermaine or to rest Al Harrington at that position, or whatever. I think I have the potential and the ability to play a lot, and I hope I get to show that this year. Every year my role changes. I really don’t want to get too many technicals this year. That’s my only personal goal. I don’t know how to hide my emotions very well. You can see them on my face. I don’t even say anything and the refs are on me. I think the refs are beginning to understand me more though. I don’t think they’re bad guys or anything and I don’t talk back to them.
I love the new ball. It’s like the old Nike ball, easier to palm. Some guys don’t like it, but I don’t have to dribble with it. I just have to dribble twice and dunk.
As for the off court stuff, it’s like everybody thinks we’re this big dysfunctional family, but we’re not. This is what I think happened. We are a family here and Stephen Jackson was protecting a teammate. Our actions get put in the papers but stuff like that happens around Indy all the time.
15 Responses to “Player’s Ball: David Harrison”
Nov.6 at 1:06 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
great line about the new ball
Nov.6 at 1:11 pm
koen says:
Not that I’m always capable to stick by these rules..
Maybe look at how guys like Duncan are playing and try to stay calm even though you’re about to explode. It intimidates opponents more to play like a robot than to show your emotions. Those are your vulnerabilities. At least, thats what I think
Nov.6 at 4:16 pm
Pamela Mobley says:
Good luck on trying to ‘hide’ your emotions—they are a part of who you are—it’s genetic!
The key is that you have recognized your vulnerability; now you can ‘control’ it and use it to your advantage. The David Harrison without the ‘fire’ and passion would be someone that we don’t know and love; the David Harrison fire in ‘control’ mode is a mature, confident player. Best of luck this season to you and the Pacers. As always,
Your greatest fan,
Aunt Pammie
Nov.6 at 5:44 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Seriously, Al HArrington’s back up? Whats wrong was Zendan Hamilton busy?
1
Nov.6 at 6:03 pm
Nads says:
Murda Mace
Nov.6 at 6:44 pm
Drolfe says:
“I just have to dribble twice and dunk”.
YEAH!
Nov.6 at 7:05 pm
Patrick says:
I just like that he’s reading Alice in Wonderland. The next John Amaechi?
Nov.6 at 7:34 pm
MH says:
my nigga, dribble twice and bang that s**t!! get at ya boy
Nov.6 at 8:32 pm
skurv says:
Forget the refs. When you dunk on someone, just grab your crotch and yell!
Nov.6 at 11:31 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
He does wear his emotions on his, um, jersey, I guess. Although in the locker room he tends to look more like a giant, half-stoned, Forest Whitaker (sorry Aunt Pammie, not to imply he imbibes).
Nov.7 at 2:39 am
Mongo says:
I see progress in David’s game swince last year. He just needs to move his feet, and quit reaching, so he can stay on the floor more. His playing time will come, as his fouls go down. Keep working Big fella. I can see you starting by the end of the year.
Nov.15 at 9:00 pm
BETCATS says:
We need Harrison at the Bobcats. Primo is to soft in the post. If we had him the Emka-David combo would at least give the bobcats 10+ wins
Nov.22 at 3:13 pm
BETCATS says:
when will their be a new player spot?
Nov.22 at 3:14 pm
BETCATS says:
i meant player ball. and if anybody wanted to corect me go lick balls
Dec.27 at 5:47 pm
basketball says:
David harrison was better on mtv real world then he is with the pacers so far