Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris has a reputation of being a scorer. In the Sixers two previous games, that notion couldn’t be further from the truth.
In Tuesday’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Harris scored eight points on 4-for-17 shooting including a dreadful 0-for-11 from deep. His saving grace was his clutch play down the stretch in the win.
In Wednesday’s 112-97 loss to the Orlando Magic, Harris followed that up with eight points on 4-for-13 shooting and 0-for-3 from deep. If you’re adding that up at home, that’s 8-for-30 from the floor and 0-for-14 from deep for a guy the Sixers are counting on to provide scoring from the wing position.
In Harris’ defense, he is playing through a cold after coach Brett Brown revealed his illness on Tuesday. However, Harris isn’t using it as an excuse as he stated:
Not any…If I can walk out there I am playing. I am under the weather yeah, but at the end of the day, if I go out there and play I believe I can go.
Harris is a rhythm shooter. He’s a guy who is much better in catch-and-shoot situations rather than creating his own shot. The only way for a player to find his rhythm again is to continue to shoot no matter how many times he misses. So while the 0-for-14 from deep combined in the previous two games is an eyesore, it’s important that he continues to keep shooting.
He added:
As long as I am not making shots I am not in a rhythm. That’s it. Obviously, it is easier said than done, but I am going to find my rhythm and once I do, those shots are going to be there and they are going to be able to be made. Until then, I will watch film and see the looks that I can get, see the easy ones that I can get to, but when they are not going for me, sometimes I try to get to the free throw line obviously. In the fourth quarter, I thought there were two questionable whistles…a travel and an offensive so those are two turnovers that kind of affected the fourth quarter. I just have to find a rhythm that’s it.
Philadelphia will continue the road trip on Friday when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder. Maybe that will be the game where Harris can finally bust out of his slump. [lawrence-related id=19247,19232,19222]