When Al Harrington arrived on the scene with the Nuggets this past summer, he was relentlessly and endlessly described as a player who would help the team most by scoring.
Nine games into the 2010-11 season, the Nuggets have found value in something else Harrington brings to the team.
Defense.
Most of what Harrington is bringing to the defensive end isn’t measured in statistics.
He is rotating well in the team concept. He’s playing solid one-on-one defense, particularly in the post, where the 6-foot-9 forward has been asked to guard 7-foot centers at times.
Harrington, a 12-year veteran, has been physical and smart, and his defensive contributions have been as welcome as his 13.7-point average as the Nuggets continue to play without post stalwarts Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen.
Harrington’s fourth-quarter defense on Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol was vital in the Nuggets’ victory Thursday night.
All of this from a player who was chided in New York for not caring about playing defense.
“People say I didn’t play defense much. Show me how many games where somebody (scored) 20 or 30 when I was guarding him one-on-one,” Harrington said. “But my team defense has gotten a lot better, and I think that has helped. I just try to do what I can to help us win, and defense is a big part of it.
“I always had the foundation to be a good defender. It’s just that the couple of teams I’ve been on in the last four years, defense wasn’t a priority at all. So I’m just happy I’m on a team where that’s what it’s about and I can show that I can do it.”
He has impressed — but not surprised — his coach. One of the first conversations George Karl had with his new player was an offense-defense talk.
“I kidded with him. I said, ‘Al, I remember when your career was made at the defensive end of the court,’ ” Karl said. “He got on the court early in his career because he was a tough defender. And he grew into being a good offensive player.”
Harrington is expected to play power forward tonight against Phoenix. He’ll guard Hedo Turkoglu and Channing Frye, versatile players who specialize in shooting 3-pointers but also can score inside.
“He’s a competitive guy,” Karl said of Harrington. “He’s always going to give you effort. Maybe his foot speed has slowed down a little bit since he’s gotten older. But his basketball savvy is at a very good level.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
Denver at Phoenix
7 p.m., ALT, 1510 AM, 93.7 FM
Spotlight on Steve Nash: The years go by, but Steve Nash’s numbers stay the same. The 36-year-old’s game is locked in eternal youthful greatness. Going into Sunday’s game against the Lakers, he was averaging 19.9 points and 9.5 assists, and shooting 51.7 percent from the field for a Suns team trying to find its legs.
Nuggets: Shelden Williams is one of the most effective and efficient rebounders in the NBA, averaging 16.3 rebounds per 48 minutes. . . . Carmelo Anthony has three double-doubles in nine games this season. . . . The Nuggets have lost 11 straight games in Phoenix.
Suns: This is the second of a back-to-back for the Suns, who defeated the Lakers on Sunday. . . . Suns forward Hakim Warrick played with Carmelo Anthony at Syracuse. . . . Phoenix has not lost a season series to the Nuggets since 2003-04.
Chris Dempsey, The Denver Post
