Did Tobias Harris Save the Pistons' Season?
Tom Bogert, CBS Local Sports
The Detroit Pistons made a splash at the trade deadline in acquiring Tobias Harris from the Orlando Magic for not much more than contract fillers, with Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova going to Orlando.
Harris is in the first year of a four-year $64 million contract with the Magic and the team wasn't convinced that he'd live up to his contract, so they put him on the trading block. The Pistons took a chance and, so far, it's working.
Since Harris entered the starting lineup with his new team, the Pistons are 14-7, an adequate sample size to judge that this may be more than a short hot streak.
Harris has shot 35% from three point range since joining, giving the team valuable spacing to allow the Reggie Jackson-Andre Drummond pick and roll to have ample space to wreck havoc in.
In Orlando, Harris averaged 13.7 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game on 46% shooting overall, just 31% from 3. In Detroit, Harris has upped his scoring to 16.5 per game, improved his assist totals to 2.7 per game and has shot better from the floor, where he's sunk 48% of his shots. His rebounding has depreciated slightly, down to 6.1 per game, but that's what happens when Drummond is eating everything in the paint. Harris doesn't need to grab as many boards as he did in Orlando.
Harris has given the Pistons a lift in the playoff race and could settle even better next season after a full offseason with the team.
As a fan of repetitive disappointment and frustration, Tom holds Liverpool FC, the New York Knicks and New York Red Bulls near and dear to his heart with occasional joy coming from the New York Giants and New York Yankees.
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