Why Tobias Harris is still holding the Sixers back

The Sixers continue to fall victim to Tobias Harris’ one-dimensional skill set

Tobias Harris is best cast as the third or fourth option offensively, where he can exploit mismatches and attack his favorite spots on the floor without being saddled with a large self-creation burden. He is also best cast with a good floor general and a dynamic pick-and-roll big. The Sixers have neither.

While Tyrese Maxey is growing into the role of floor general — and his emergence should generally mean good things for Harris offensively — the Sixers offense is built around Joel Embiid. It’s heliocentric, and for good reason. Embiid is one of the most dynamic offensive engines in basketball, despite a traditionally unhealthy diet of mid-range jumpers and post-ups.

Embiid is a unicorn the Sixers are lucky to have. But Harris is not the best-suited No. 2 offensively. Embiid needs quick decision-makers around him. Players who fire liberally from 3-point range and make snappy decisions with the ball. Harris is far too hesitant from 3-point range, even still, and his ability to process defenses and make the right decision is often lacking at best.

We have all seen Harris fall back on contested 2-point jumpers and doomed isolation possessions when the offense would be better served by a quick pass or a spot-up 3. Harris is a below-average passer and, frankly, not a very good one-on-one scorer. He’s not explosive enough to gain separation off the bounce, and he doesn’t have the dribble craft or preternatural shot-making gift to make up for it. Plays like this are too common.

Harris’ best NBA skill is his shooting, and he doesn’t shoot enough. He’s also great finishing out of the pick-and-roll, helping him get downhill and use his bulky 6-foot-8 frame to score at the rim. He’s not utilized enough in that capacity either, in large part because Embiid is not accustomed to playing the roll man. That could be changing as the Sixers adjust to Maxey’s elevated importance offensively, but we’re a ways away from Harris being used properly.