Tobias Harris, Sixers address offensive struggles after loss to Knicks
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers got back at it on Thursday following the All-Star break and they had a tough time in a 110-96 loss to the New York Knicks. Philadelphia trailed by as many as 26 and had a tough time with its offensive rhythm.
While the Knicks were able to play a free-flowing style and get some easy buckets, the Sixers struggled. Philadelphia shot just 41.9% from the floor and 4-for-16 from deep in the first half while New York built its lead. The Sixers just could not find an offensive rhythm and it affected one of their important players.
Tobias Harris shot just 3-for-9 and had seven points on the night. He was unable to get any looks within the offense and coach Nick Nurse noticed it.
“Just I mean, listen, I think he didn’t quite get into the flow of things,” Nurse said after the loss. “He didn’t get a whole lot of shot opportunities. Just again, I think he’s certainly a rhythm guy and we need to get him into rhythm. I’m sure he’ll be better tomorrow (Friday).”
Nurse is right. Harris is the definition of a rhythm player and with the Sixers out of sorts to start the night against the Knicks, that threw him off all night long.
“I think we’re still figuring out how to adapt to one another,” Harris told Sixers Wire. “We gotta figure out ways to generate ourselves some more easier looks, really. I just think the difference in the game offensively was they were driving, kicking, and getting open 3s and running. Part of our offense struggling was we didn’t get many stops so we were stuck in the half-court.”
The Sixers had a tough time converting in the half-court offense all night. The offense looked better with Kyle Lowry out there to run things next to Tyrese Maxey, but Philadelphia needs to find ways to get better looks which then leads to a good Harris night.
“We still gotta find some actions that lead to some greater looks for us,” Harris added. “Open looks like some more open 3s, open drives, drive and kicks, things of that nature. Some slip-outs. Some rolls so that’s something we gotta watch and get better at and figure out ways that we can help each other out there on the offensive end.”
The Sixers will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday at home.
