The Philadelphia 76ers have had a whirlwind of a schedule recently as they have had to play a lot of games in a short amount of days while battling through a slew of injuries to their top players.
Friday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies marked their seventh game in 11 days as they have had to get on the court and just play these games while being down so many players. That fact has forced others to step in and produce while out on the floor.
Tobias Harris has been the latest example of that as he has had to play through a non-COVID illness. He played through it to begin the trip in Cleveland and he played on Friday despite still being very sick and he put up 21 points and he drilled five triples.
“Obviously, I’m still battling a cold,” Harris told reporters. “It was tougher out there, but like I always say, if I’m healthy and could walk and be able to give some type of effort out there, I’m going to go do it. With us being down and short-handed so many guys, I know I got to go and give something tonight (Friday).”
After the loss to the Cavs, Harris was focused on resting and being sure he was ready to go on Friday for Memphis. He will now have two days off before Philadelphia finishes the trip against the Houston Rockets on Monday.
“Oh, yeah, I was just resting,” Harris added. “Yesterday (Thursday), I was nearly asleep all day. My body was recovering, and I was in a game in Cleveland, at one point, I was just like, ‘I don’t have enough energy to play at this type of level.’”
The good news for the Sixers is that James Harden is likely to return on Monday against the Rockets. That would take more pressure off Harris and The Beard’s return would, obviously, be a huge help.
“I’m hoping we’re getting a couple guys back soon,” said coach Doc Rivers to reporters. “James possibly can be back, and the day off… I thought we had better legs. I thought the day off helped us. We didn’t do much shootaround today (Friday) because we are thinking about all the games, and then that we get a real day off and a practice and a game, but we have to win these games.”
The Sixers will look to salvage a game on this trip in Houston Monday.
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