As everyone knows, the Philadelphia 76ers do not exactly have the fondest of memories with Tobias Harris. The veteran forward, after all, was a major target of derision among the fanbase during his stint with the franchise. While there were definitely a lot of overblown takes about him, there were good reasons why he constantly drew the ire of people watching the team.
Now with the Pistons, Harris has become their veteran leader on and off the court. Since leaving Philly, he seems to be more at peace in Detroit, although that may not longer be the case moving forward given his medicore play so far this season after an otherwise steady campaign last year.
Aside from missing a lot of games due to injury, having been sidelined for 10 out of their 32 contests thus far, Harris has not been as impactful as he was last season. He is averaging the fewest points per game since his sophomore year in ‘13, and his strengths are starting to wane — something the 76ers are all too familiar with.
Pistons are making a Tobias Harris realization the 76ers know too well
Harris is shooting the basketball at a worse rate than last season on all facets. His three-point shooting is the worst it has been in 12 years. As if that’s not enough, his current field goal percentage is his lowest ever.
His rebounding, which was one of his strong points given his frame, has declined a lot. He is corralling the least rebounds per game since his rookie season. His defense, which was passable last season, has become a weak point in Detroit’s starting unit.
With the 76ers, Harris’ production tended to vacillate heavily on a nightly basis, and the same thing is now happening to the Pistons. One night, he registers 20 points — only to end up scoring in the single-digits in the following game. That level of inconsistency, which has been revived this season, is something that is already bothering a lot of their fans.
Detroit, which is off to a fiery start this season, should hope that Harris does not end up getting worse from here on out. They have lofty goals in the playoffs, and if he somehow reprises his shaky play in the postseason with the 76ers, they will surely find themselves in a world of hurt.
The 76ers did not feel a modicum of pain when Tobias Harris left them in free agency. Now, the Pistons are slowly (but surely) getting the idea as to why that was the case.