Subscribe
Follow Us
The unforeseen addition of Tobias Harris has quickly sprung the Philadelphia 76ers from hopeful contenders for the Eastern Conference to downright threats to take it come June, as the once-quirky trio of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and now Jimmy Butler have finally found that jelling piece to unite them.
“100 percent, I see myself as the connector here,” Harris told Shams Charania of The Athletic. “Just having these games so far, and the way I’m playing, I think guys are realizing that I’m here for one reason. It’s to help this team get to the championship, and be a force around the league. I think guys are respecting and noticing that.
The Sixers swung big by acquiring Butler early in the season, knowing they'd need more than Embiid and Simmons to become a force to be reckoned with. The Markelle Fultz experiment had shown signs of potentially failing then, and it eventually did, as he soon would be sidelined again and later traded away to the Orlando Magic.
Harris, Philadelphia's second big-time acquisition this season, is a star-caliber player without the star-like demeanor, nor demand — making him that missing piece of chain link to bring the Sixers' Big Three together.
“That’s a good way of putting it: Being the connector,” Harris reflected. “Help bring guys together. I’ve been around the game a minute now. It’s my eighth year now, and I’ve seen different personalities and different teammates. I know how to communicate with every type of guy.”
Harris' shooting ability, his unselfish play and all-around basketball savvy makes him an easy fit with this All-Star core, but it's his ability to play off the ball that really makes him that pressure-relieving presence around three ball-dominant stars that often look for their shot.
