The match between the Brooklyn Nets and the defending NBA champions Golden State Warriors is surprisingly competitive so far. The Nets arrived in Oakland as a 15-point underdog with the Warriors expected to take Brooklyn by its collars and throw it out the window right away. Instead, the Warriors only led by five point at the half, partly because the Nets looked locked in.

And no player perhaps demonstrated how focused the Nets are of winning this game than Joe Harris – at least during one particular defensive play in the second quarter, when he took away Draymond Green’s hopes and dreams at the rim with this tremendous rejection.

Green, who won the Defensive Player of the Year honors last season, perhaps did not wake up Tuesday thinking that Harris, of all people, would get him a taste of his own medicine.

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The first quarter ended with the Warriors ahead by 16 points, and appeared as though they were on their way to turning the remaining three quarters into a lengthy garbage time. But thanks to Brooklyn’s tenacious defense, as exemplified by Joe Harris on his block on Draymond Green, the Nets were able to outscore Golden State in the second period, 34-13, to put themselves back into the game.

Joe Harris
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

A former Virginia Cavalier, Harris surely must have made Cavs coach Tony Bennett proud with that play. Bennett, of course, is one of college’s best defensive coaches today, and his philosophy is clearly not lost on Harris.

The 26-year-old Harris is averaging 10.6 points, 1.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game this season.