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Detroit Pistons season review: Forward Tobias Harris

By Brenden Welper

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Tobias Harris #34 of the Detroit Pistons shoots during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on January 28, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Tobias Harris #34 of the Detroit Pistons shoots during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on January 28, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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In November, Tobias Harris and the Detroit Pistons were riding high.  By January, Harris was gone and the Pistons were spiraling out of control.  Here’s a look at the forward’s final season in the Motor City.

The Detroit Pistons took the NBA by storm early in the 2017-18 season. It was Tobias Harris who led the way.

He helped christen the new Little Caesars Arena on opening night by scoring 27 points and grabbing 10 boards in a 102-90 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

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During the Pistons’ 14-6 start, Harris averaged 19.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 47 percent from the floor.  The 25-year-old was also nailing 47 percent of his 3-point attempts.

His play earned him the Eastern Conference Player of the Week selection back on Nov. 13.  It was the first time in Harris’ career that he had received that honor.

His ability to finish off the dribble made him Detroit’s go-to scorer.  Pair that with Andre Drummond now initiating more dribble hand-offs, and the Pistons found a new two-man attack.

Watch how a Drummond screen le

ads to a defensive switch, with Harris then taking advantage of the mismatch.

In this next video, a Drummond hand-off gives Harris just enough room to break free of Ben Simmons.  The power forward takes care of the rest.

It wasn’t until the 27th game of the season when Harris failed to score in double figures.  He responded with a 19-point performance two nights later, hitting eight of his 11 field goal attempts.

While Harris was able to maintain his success, the Pistons could not.  They lost seven consecutive games to open the month of December.  To make matters worse, starting point guard Reggie Jackson went down with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain on Dec. 26.

But it was an eight-game losing streak in January that proved to be the tipping point.

Stan Van Gundy pulled off a blockbuster deal on Jan. 29., sending Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a 2018 first-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Blake Griffin.  Detroit also acquired Willie Reed and Brice Johnson in the trade.

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