Tobias Harris has been a key veteran presence for the Detroit Pistons this season, helping J.B. Bickerstaff's squad secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference, even with the abundance of setbacks the young team dealt with throughout the trying season.
The 33-year-old proved to be crucial to the team's regular season success, but as we all know, the postseason is a different animal.
And while Harris was a huge reason for the team's dominant season, he could also present a major obstacle that hinders the Pistons when the NBA Playoffs begin.
Just ask Bill Simmons, who labeled Harris as his playoff weak link for the Pistons entering round 1.
Bill Simmons unveils Tobias Harris as weakest link for Detroit
On a recent episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons and Zach Lowe took a deep dive ahead of the postseason, and when discussing Detroit, the NBA mind revealed his biggest concern for the Pistons is how Harris will hold up in the postseason:
"I'm going to go right to my weak link, and when I make this pick, I'd like to make the point that this is not a character assassination," Simmons said. I've been really impressed with how he's played this year. I'm just judging it based on history, reputation, and whether he can shed some of that reputation."
"But also, some of the situations he's been in this season, where his team, which is really good, has really needed him to all of a sudden like 'uh oh, our lead is down to one, can you create a really good shot for us?' and that man is Tobias Harris."
The veteran is a crafty scorer, and Simmons' assessment is right, Detroit has tended to look at their starting forward when the game is on the line in crunch time.
In the postseason, they'll only continue to do that, especially when teams look to take away Cunningham down the stretch.
Now, the million-dollar question that remains is whether he will remain a playoff weak link or will he shed the label?
Detroit is depending on Harris to shake his reputation
There are plenty of factors that will determine the Pistons' postseason fate moving forward.
How will Cade Cunningham's stamina hold up? Can Jalen Duren be that No. 2 scoring option? Will Daniss Jenkins rise to the occasion?
Plenty of questions surround the Pistons, but there may not be one bigger than whether or not Harris can be a go-to option for Detroit in the clutch.
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