Philadelphia 76ers veteran Tobias Harris had a terrific first season under coach Doc Rivers. The versatile forward put together an impressive season, averaging 19.5 points and shooting 51.2% from the floor and 39.4% from deep as he stepped into a bigger role for Philadelphia.
Harris then went to work during the summer to improve those numbers. The two-way forward detailed on Monday the aspects of his game he worked on to become an even bigger factor for the Sixers on offense.
“A big emphasis in the offseason was just obviously continuing to work on my body, health, being able to do movements all over the court,” he stated at media day. “A lot of 3-point shooting off the bounce, a lot of moves after bouncing off the perimeter like outside the 3-point line. That’s where I wanted to make the biggest improvements.”
For Harris to take that next step, he will have to become a better off the dribble shooter. If he can add that to his game, it will be a huge help for the Sixers, and it will give him another weapon he can use down the stretch in the clutch.
“If you look from the bubble, my biggest improvements are how I wanted to increase efficiency in the low post area and inside the 3-point line so this summer was that,” he continued. “Then adding the outside component of that is outside the 3-point line and being (able) to shoot these 3s off the bounce contested 3-point shots as well so those were the huge emphasis of the summer. Like (the) main focus for me.”
Harris still put together a terrific 2020-21 season, and he probably should have been named an All-Star for the first time in his career. The 29-year-old used that snub as a bit of motivation the rest of the way, but heading into the new season, he is not worried about that anymore. He understands there are bigger fish to fry.
“I can understand from having two years where I believe I was at an All-Star level, understanding the swing of it or whatever so at this point, the goal is to win a championship,” he deadpanned. “You play at a championship level. I do believe it happens. If it does, that’d be amazing but if not, go win a championship. Like that’s (the) mentality.”
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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