Philadelphia 76ers: Tobias Harris has quieted his critics

By Christopher Kline | Dec 11, 2019

Tobias Harris | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Philadelphia 76ers have gotten steady production from their $180 million man.

In the 2019 postseason, Tobias Harris was the Philadelphia 76ers‘ weakest link. His shooting percentages plummeted, he looked out of place on offense, and he couldn’t hold his own on defense. It was a lackluster showing.

When the Sixers rewarded Harris’ efforts with a five-year, $180 million contract over the summer, it was rightfully met with criticism. He’s probably not worth the max — not in a vacuum, at least. A large contingent of the fanbase was firmly against Harris, either overtly or passive aggressively.

Such tension will naturally lead to a short leash. I was in favor of the Harris deal — if the Sixers had let him walk, his max contract slot would have evaporated into thin air. For those against it, however, Harris’ rocky start to the 2019-20 season was fuel to the fire.

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Through the season’s first 10 games, Harris was a 21.7 percent three-point shooter. He missed wide left or right with alarming consistency, and he was definitively the weakest link in the starting five. It was an uncomfortable sensation of deja vu, and genuine concern over Harris’ future set in.

Since then, Harris has righted the ship. Over the past 15 games, Harris’ success rate has jumped to 40 percent. He’s the Sixers’ second-leading scorer at 19.2 points per game, and his defense has elevated to its highest level yet. He is earning his keep.

Even in the midst of a dire cold spell, Harris was able to provide some stability as a perimeter scorer. For better or worse, Harris has aggressively gotten inside and forced dribble penetration all season. For all the criticism lobbed his direction, Harris has been the Sixers’ steadiest offensive presence.

One can simply point to games played as a reason for Harris’ stability. He’s the only starter to appear in all 25 games for the Sixers — an impressive and important feat given the volatility of the other stars. Joel Embiid has missed time to suspension, rest, and injury. Al Horford to rest. Ben Simmons and Josh Richardson to injury.

The lone constant has been Harris, who switches fluidly between lineup combinations and styles. Harris is the Sixers’ most proficient three-point threat, a label now restored after his slow start. He effectively pairs with Embiid and Simmons, whether it be spot-up shooting, rolling to the rim, or handling in the pick-and-roll.

Harris has reminded fans of his value. He’s a sturdy 6-foot-9, with deft touch, underrated strength, and a clear desire to improve. His defense has been largely okay this season — not great, but miles ahead of even last season. He’s not perfect, but his aggressiveness has bred necessary jailbreak moments all season.

So far, the 2019-20 season has been an imperfect one for Harris, an imperfect player. He’s averaging 19.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and a career-high 3.2 assists on .485/.324/.798 shooting splits. He has grown in multiple areas, and his shooting has regressed strongly to the mean with an upward trajectory still in tact.

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There are several questions surrounding this Sixers team. Championship contender or not, Harris is beginning to earn his contract — a sentence few would have uttered a month ago. It’s too early for sweeping, definitive statements, but this season has served as a reminder of Harris’ talent and importance, if nothing else.