After spending most of his career as an isolation scorer, Sixers forward Tobias Harris concentrated on improving his catch-and-shoot game over the summer to provide a complementary weapon to Joel Embiid and James Harden, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The results have been impressive, as Harris is thriving in the role and the Sixers have reeled off six straight wins. He scored 17 points in 21 minutes Wednesday, two days after sinking a game-winning three-pointer against the Raptors.
Harris is averaging 17.1 points per game this season, which is his lowest mark since being acquired in a trade nearly four years ago. But he’s shooting 42.2% from beyond the arc, which would be the best figure of his career.
“I know that if you threw me out there two years ago, I wouldn’t be able to do it and get going because that wasn’t the mentality for me, catching and shooting really fast,” Harris said. “At first it was tough, but now I kind of changed my mentality toward it and just said like, ‘OK, if that’s the case and situation, how do you be the best at it?’”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- Montrezl Harrell has reclaimed the backup center role from Paul Reed, who has fallen out of the rotation over the past two weeks, Pompey states in a separate story. Reed, who saw just four minutes in Wednesday’s rout of the Pistons, acknowledges that he needs to play better. “You have to handle it like a professional,” he said. “I understand that I have areas that I need to improve on. I ain’t trippin’. I just know I have to get better so I’m putting in the work every day, and I know it’s going to pay off.”
- Shake Milton‘s improvement gives the team four rotation-level guards and could lead to some interesting decisions when Tyrese Maxey returns from injury, according to Rich Hofmann of The Athletic. Hofman expects coach Doc Rivers to use more three-guard lineups when the roster is healthy with some mixture of Maxey, Harden, Milton and De’Anthony Melton.
- In an interview with Cassidy Hubbarth of ESPN, Embiid rejects the idea that he and Harden aren’t ideal complements to one another. “I don’t know where that’s coming from because last year when we got him, we just kept dominating teams,” Embiid said.
Makes sense just for a ball movement standpoint that Harris becomes a spot up shooter. They already have 3 really good iso options with harden Maxey or Embiid and if Tobias needs to make his own shot too the offense is pretty inefficient.
Not to mention, Harden is one of the best passers in the NBA right now. He needs spacing and shooting around him, and Harris is providing exactly that.
Tobias is obviously a really expensive contract but as the article shows he’s really adjusted well and now suits the system. Yes you could get someone else to do is role for cheaper or for his price you expect more but I mean if we are getting results I don’t mind it.
However, last season the issue was Harden and Embiid hadn’t played long enough together after the trade which was fair. But the other issue was a lack of depth. Now it seems like we have to much depth. There what Milton Melton Thybulle Niang Korkmaz House Harrell.
I think that group is a little guard heavy and we could do with a better back up big. Ideally a stretch 5 or shot stopping 5. Either that or a more experienced 3 and D wing that can give us 20 minutes per night consistently.
Two guys which stand out are McGee and Crowder
Ideal unrealistic 4 team trade
Sixers: Crowder and McGee
Sun: Martin and Thybulle
Mavs: Harrell, Korkmaz and a 2nd
Rockets: Springer and a 1st
(First from Philly, second from Pheonix)
Sixers then look like
Maxey Harden Tucker Harris Embiid
Melton Milton Crowder Niang McGee
Suns get the guy they want in Martin and Thybulle I think is also a great fit following his ex assistant coach Monty Williams. Both guys would probably okay off the bench with Cam Payne and Landale and that would be a decent second unit.
Dallas gets another big man. It could push Wood into a starters role with Harrell then getting a better back up role. If not they just swap bigs get Korkmaz who is a decent shooter and I think would fit in well with all the Euro guys there. Plus get an extra pick all for a guy not getting minutes anyway.
Lastly the Rockets they get a first for Martin is apparently the price they want.
10/10 for the Sixers
8/10 for the Suns
7/10 for the Mavs (could rise depending on draft pick and Korkmaz form increasing)
7/10 for Rockets (could rise depending on pick)