Harris quickly becoming the Nets' vocal leader

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Devin Harris took his usual spot, leaning over the garbage can just outside the Nets' trainer's room after today's practice. Richard Jefferson started this ritual when speaking to the media and often joked he did it because most of what he said belonged in the trash.
 
To a certain extent, Jefferson was right, but that's not the case for Harris.

As good as Jefferson was, he was never the voice of the team. For the most part, that was Kidd and Vince Carter. With Carter gone now, this is Harris' team and it's clear he's quickly become the voice.
 
As he leaned over the can following the third practice of camp, Harris talked about the team's offense and defense, why Brook Lopez is ready to be a focal point offensively, the competition at wing between Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts and rookie Terrence Williams and how "nasty" it's been, how good Lee can be and what improvements Yi Jianlian has made and the importance of keeping his head in the game. Harris also talked about the effect replacement referees can have on the game and his game.
 
We can't get into everything but here's Harris on where the offense is going to come from this season since coach Lawrence Frank is only talking defense.
 
"It's hard to say as of right now," Harris said. "But obviously we had two guys who did the majority of the scoring last year and were one of the highest scoring duos. I think it's going to be more about committee more than anything else.
 
"We're hoping Brook can increase his productivity. But I think it's going to be more by committee. It's going to be part of our team concept. It could be Courtney. It could be CDR. We don't know who it's going to be but the feeling I get watching practice is it's going to be different guys."
 
Harris talking about anything and everything may not seem like a big deal but it's important to note that this is exactly what Carter used to do - minus the trash can.
 
Carter spoke about everyone, gave honest assessments of certain players in camp, told you what this person needed to do, that Lopez needed to show a nasty side and things of that nature. Carter also backed it up by leading on the court in practice and in games.
 
 Just three practices in, you have to like what Harris is doing and showing. No games have been played. There's been no adversity yet. The real test will come then, but early indications are Harris is embracing his role as best player, leader and voice of this young team.
 
After yesterday's first practice, Harris said, "I like the sound" of the Nets being his team. This is his sixth NBA season and that says a lot about him and his development when you consider he went from a backup guard to a starter on a finalist in Dallas and then a complementary player early in 2008 to where he is now.
 
Frank has tried to stay away from appointing the Nets as Harris' team. That's something the media does anyway. But Frank thinks Harris is on his way to being the leader the Nets badly need. He said Harris has asserted himself and talked to guys on the side, trying to help them or encourage them.
 
"Leading is the hardest thing because regardless of what's going on anywhere you got to be the same guy every day," Frank said. "He has it in him. I think he can be a very, very good leader. Yet at the same I think we have several guys in that locker room who have to be what we call regulators.
 
"We talk about firefighters or firelighters. Firefighters put out fires. Firelighters you don't want those guys. We have a lot of guys who c an help.
 
"Whose team is it? Look, Devin's our All-Star and he's our best player. But it's everyone's team. Everyone has to take ownership in it. You can't just put it on one guy. We don't really have a hierarchy. Our strength is in numbers so everyone has to take ownership."
 
Early indications are that Harris has.
 
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)