The Pistons’ lack of secondary scoring has been a major problem all season long. It may force them to rely on Tobias Harris as a second option, which was a disastrous formula when he was on the 76ers. Harris regularly underperformed for Philadelphia in the playoffs, which was especially problematic when he was one of the highest-paid players on the team.
Even when he was making nearly $40 million per season for the 76ers, Harris averaged just 9 points per game in the 2024 playoffs. The Pistons hope they won't have to rely on him to the same extent, but their options may be limited. Even though Jalen Duren has grown into the team's second-leading scorer and an All-Star, he still has his limitations creating his own shot. Unfortunately, Harris might still be the best option if Cade Cunningham is bottled up and the Pistons need a tough bucket.
The Pistons may be asking too much of Tobias Harris
Harris hasn't always been a playoff underperformer. In fact, he even averaged 22 points per game for the 76ers in the 2021 playoffs. But at this stage of his career, it's best not to overtask him offensively. Tobias is 33 now and his best days as a scorer are behind him. But the Pistons still turn to him in times of need.
When the shot clock ticks down and the defensive pressure turns up, one of the Pistons' go-to actions this season has been a Harris post-up. He's been an underrated machine scoring on the block, especially against smaller players and using his patented bump and fadeaway. But this formula could lead to trouble in the playoffs regardless of the Pistons' specific matchup.
The problem isn't Harris himself; it's the lack of halfcourt creation on the Pistons roster. Their offense has survived this season by getting out in transition and letting Cade Cunningham go to work in the pick-and-roll. But when opposing defenses are able to slow the game down and stifle the pick-and-roll, they don't have too many other options besides Harris.
There's still hope for Tobias Harris
However, that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Last year, the Pistons were able to get good contributions from Harris in the playoffs. He averaged nearly 16 points per game while shooting 48% from the field and 43% from three against the Knicks. Those aren't superstar numbers, but they are more than adequate for an overburdened role player.
If the Pistons can find ways to use him opportunistically in his best spots, they can beneift from his services again. But over-relying on Harris to create something out of nothing is bound to produce disappointing results. Hopefully the Pistons can consistently put him in positions to succeed.