Sixers coach Doc Rivers explains Tobias Harris’ offensive success
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris was one of the more ridiculed players during the 2019-20 season. After signing a 5-year $180 million max contract in the 2019 offseason, a ton of pressure was on him to succeed, but he could not quite do it.
That can be attributed to the fact that the team asked him to do too much during the previous season. The team lost JJ Redick and Jimmy Butler in the offseason and Harris had to essentially replace both players. That is a tall task for anybody and he had to try and replace Redick’s shooting while also being a closer like Butler.
He did average 19.6 points, but he shot 47.1% from the floor and 36.7% from deep before shooting a dreadful 2-for-15 from deep in the playoffs.
Fast forward to the 2020-21 season and he is putting up big numbers of 19.6 points per game with 6.8 rebounds and he’s shooting 52.3% from the floor and 44.3% from deep under the guidance of coach Doc Rivers. He had similar success during his time under Rivers with the Los Angeles Clippers.
“We just stay on him,” Rivers explained. “It was the same thing in LA. Just quick decisions now. You catch it, shoot it. You catch it, drive it. If you dribble, it pass it. It’s pretty simple for him. When he stays in that formula, he is unbelievable. He’s a train going downhill. He’s got a beautiful shot. It’s when he hesitates and guys get in tune is when he gets himself in trouble, he had a couple of those tonight.”
To Rivers’ point about quick decisions, Harris is shooting 46.4% on catch and shoot 3-pointers and he shoots 65.5% when he takes two dribbles and shoots per NBA Stats. Those quick moves allow Harris to get into his offense and shot much quicker.
Tobias Harris is shooting 46.4% on catch and shoot 3s.
He’s shooting 65.5% on shots after taking only 2 dribbles.
Making quick decisions has been a big help for him. #Sixers— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) January 23, 2021
Harris’s improved shooting has made it easier for Joel Embiid to operate on the low post. With Harris shooting the way he is combined with Seth Curry and Danny Green, teams have to hesitate when going to double Embiid in the post.
“We got a bunch of great shooters,” said the big fella who called for Harris to be an All-Star earlier as well. “Tobias has been playing at an All-Star level…We got a great group of guys and we’re still learning how to play with each other. We’re only gonna get better.”
There were a few instances in Friday’s win over the Boston Celtics where Harris did get into what Rivers likes to call his “bag of tricks” and try to go 1-on-1 with a lot of guys. That is something that the veteran coach does not like to see, but due to his size and talent, he will let him get away with it at times.
“I don’t like that, but every once in a while he’ll get away with it,” Rivers added. “It’s not something that we want to get used to, but it’s gonna happen and that’s fine. He is talented enough to do it. I just don’t think he’s efficient when he does.”
The Sixers will take on one of Harris’ former teams on Saturday when they take on the Detroit Pistons on the road.
