Doc Rivers says Tobias Harris had a ‘breakthrough’ for Sixers in camp
When Doc Rivers took over as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, he mentioned that he wanted to get Tobias Harris back to making quick decisions again. He stated that he dribbled too much in the 2019-20 season and that hurt his numbers.
Harris averaged 19.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in the first year of a 5-year $180 million deal, but the numbers plummeted in the playoffs where he averaged 15.8 points and he shot only 2-for-15 from deep. Those numbers are just not going to cut it.
As training camp continues on, Rivers notices a difference in Harris as he looks to get him back on track.
“I thought he had a kind of a breakthrough a little bit today,” Rivers said on Wednesday. “Got to the basket several times, got his shot. Looked way more comfortable. It’s a process for him to get back to that quick decision basketball. I just think Tobias going down the hill is really hard to guard, and the more he does that, the more easy shots will end up happening as well. So he’s getting it a day at a time.”
Harris shot 43.4% from deep under Rivers to begin the 2018-19 season with the Los Angeles Clippers before being sent to Philadelphia in a deadline deal. If Harris can continue to make progress and get back to being the player he once was in Los Angeles, that is a big difference that Philadelphia can use in the upcoming season.
