Following a terribly deflating campaign that ended in them missing out on the postseason entirely, the Philadelphia 76ers have every reason to take a premature view on the offseason. However, fans certainly cannot just gloss over the tight competition in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, which has not disappointed so far.
Out in the East, the higher seeds have had the upper hand thus far, but their counterparts are still in good position to mount a comeback and force a deadlock. But the tightest matchup in the conference has been the 3-versus-6 series between the Knicks and Detroit, with both teams already tallying wins on the road just three games into their playoff slate.
Detroit, a suprise breakout team, went from being the worst team in the NBA in recent seasons to securing the sixth-best record in the Eastern Conference. That is quite a feat for a franchise still in transition, and aside from Cade Cunningham taking a leap, the Pistons have enjoyed solid contributions across the board from their veteran skippers, such as Tobias Harris.
Tobias Harris is already showing why 76ers fans badly wanted him out
Harris has been tremendous for Detroit all year long, and his two-way contributions were on full display in Game 2 of their playoff series against New York, where his team escaped with a win heading back to their home floor.
However, in Game 3, the Knicks prevailed and took back homecourt advantage in a tight win, and given how close the outing was, the Pistons could have gone up 2-1 in the series had Harris played like a competent player on offense.
After averaging 20 points in Detroit’s first two games, the former 76ers forward crashed down to earth in their homecoming, finishing the night with just five points, missing seven of his nine shots and draining just a single three-pointer.
Harris simply disappeared when it mattered the most. The Pistons slowly mounted a mini-comeback late in the fourth quarter, but a one-man show obviously won’t suffice against a team with as much firepower as the Knicks.
That being said, 76ers fans already knew this was coming sooner than later. Harris is very prone to long scoring droughts, and when he’s not hitting shots, he rarely sustains his value in other areas. In fact, he tallied just six rebounds and nothing else.
Until Tobias Harris unlearns this fatal habit from his 76ers days, the Detroit Pistons will have a much difficult time in their upset effort against the Knicks. After all, his team is still young at its core, and not having veterans that can offer consistent production would drown them.