A hostile Philadelphia crowd seemingly did Tobias Harris and the Detroit Pistons a favor.
Despite the plenty of boos for the former 76ers forward, Harris managed to lead his team in scoring on the way to a blowout victory. At the end of the night, Harris could smile knowing that his team locked up the first seed in the Eastern Conference.
But it wasn’t all smiles for Harris in Philadelphia. He had some major bulletin board material. And once he realized he would successfully defeat the Sixers on Saturday, Harris apparently sent a strong message to the Philly crowd.
via Full Court Pass on X: Tobias Harris to the Philadelphia crowd ð
âGet ready for the fu*kin play-inâ
If the lip-reading is accurate, Harris was eager to tell the Sixers’ crowd to get ready to watch their team in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The Sixers Slipped In The Standings
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Houston Rockets in overtime at the Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rockets defeated the 76ers 122-115 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Heading into the second night of their back-to-back set, the Sixers were in possession of the sixth seed. A 116-93 loss against Harris and the Pistons sent the Sixers back to the seventh spot, allowing the Toronto Raptors to pass them once again.
If the season ended this weekend, the Sixers would have to play an additional game or two to battle for the seventh or eighth seed. If the Sixers happen to drop to No. 8 later this month, they’ll pick up a first-round series against the Pistons.
In that case, Harris would certainly embrace the challenge, as he’s on a mission to get back to his biggest critics.
Tobias Harris Has History With Philadelphia
GettyTobias Harris during his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers.
When the Sixers traded for Tobias Harris during the 2018-2019 NBA season, he was considered a blockbuster addition. Harris joined the Sixers with heavy praise.
The honeymoon phase ended rather quickly. The Sixers locked up Harris with a long-term contract, which included a total of $180.0 million across five years. From that point on, the pressure was high, and Harris couldn’t meet it.
Harris was a consistent contributor for the Sixers. Across six years, he averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, while shooting 36.9% from the field.
But the Sixers paid Harris All-Star money, so expectations weren’t met.
Harris has moved on, and is serving a valuable veteran role on a thriving Pistons team. They’ll see how far they can go when the playoffs roll around again, but for the time being, Harris is thrilled with the outcome of Saturday’s action.
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