PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers needed somebody to step up and help Joel Embiid and James Harden on the offensive end to knock off the Toronto Raptors at home in overtime.
Embiid had 28 points and 11 rebounds. Harden stuffed the stat sheet. They needed more.
That more came from Tobias Harris. The veteran out of Tennessee was terrific: He had 21 points and he drilled five 3s. He shot 7-for-9, and he only missed two triples of the seven he took. His performance ensured the Sixers won.
He put in substantial work over the summer to help Philadelphia succeed on the offensive end.
“He dedicated the summer to being a spot-up shooter and making shots and he’s doing that,” said coach Doc Rivers. “He’s got a quick trigger, you can see he’s worked on improving the quickness of his release. He’s doing that, he’s ready, and that’s not easy. Going four or five minutes and not getting any ball screens and making it, that’s hard. That’s really hard, and he stays ready, so very happy with him.”
The work Harris has put in is evident as he evolves as an elite 3-point shooter. He’s shooting 42% from deep on the season, which is exactly what the Sixers need.
“I said going into the season that that was going to be the biggest thing to help this group, but also help myself with the amount of talent that we have,” explained Harris. “So just to have these nights, but to also know and to will myself through all year to be able to 5-for-7, 6-for-8, whatever it may be, you gotta be willing to take them at a high level. For me, I’m always looking for them in the flow of the game and just being able to get them up.”
Harris has such a high basketball IQ that he understands how and where he is going to get the shots he needs in order to succeed both individually and within the team. He has watched film to get a better understanding of where he can get his shots.
“That’s just the mentality and the work that I’ve put in on all the off days and during the season and watching film and seeing very little details of how passes are coming in the flow of the game,” he added. “The amount of time from one 3 to the next 3, like all of these types of things go into preparation for the game, and to be able to make those shots, the timing of them, it’s great stuff that I was fortunate to get on top of this summer and even last year.”
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