The Detroit Pistons are learning a harsh Tobias Harris lesson, most of which isn’t even really Harris’ fault. At this point, the rest of the NBA knows that Harris isn’t a great three-point shooter, especially when it comes to volume. The league also knows that Harris shouldn’t be treated as a secondary offensive option. Yet the Pistons are apparently just now figuring that out.
Harris has played pretty well in the Pistons’ first-round series against the Orlando Magic so far. In fact, he’s been one of the Pistons’ better players. But therein lies the problem: If the Pistons want to be a genuine title contender, Harris needs to be a third or fourth option. Not a second option. It’s a problem that plenty of other teams have already run into.
But the Pistons decided to follow the path anyway.
Rest of NBA knew to avoid the Pistons' Tobis Harris situation
Take Game 5, for example, which actually ended up being a Pistons win. Detroit brought home a victory, extending the series to a sixth game after falling into a 3-1 hole against the Magic.
As per usual, Cade Cunningham led the way for the Pistons. He put up 45 points -- setting a new franchise record for points in a single playoff game -- and carried the offensive load for Detroit.
But right behind him was Harris, who ended the game with 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field and 1-of-3 shooting from beyond the three-point line.
Not only did he not shoot amazingly from three-point range, but he didn’t really take that many shots. The Pistons need floor spacing. They need more consistent scoring.
This is a problem that other NBA teams have already figured out, and the rest of the league already knew about already.
The Philadelphia 76ers depended on him to provide them with consistent offense behind Joel Embiid, as Ben Simmons wasn’t really a score-first type of player.
That experiment failed miserably. Jimmy Butler’s famous “Tobias Harris over me?” rant reflects that experiment in Philadelphia pretty well.
Even during Harris’ time with the LA Clippers, there was a reason those types of teams didn’t end up doing much. Harris was their best scorer for a while, and they weren’t exactly a title contender.
The rest of the league knows that Harris is best suited as a third option. As a guy whose three-point shooting can’t be depended on consistently.
Yet somehow, someway, the Pistons managed to end up in the exact position that the rest of the NBA knew to avoid.
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