If there is one thing that NBA Eastern Conference contenders don't need this close to the postseason, it is an angry and motivated Philadelphia 76ers team. After Friday's blowout 127-100 win against the hapless Washington Wizards, Sixers veteran Tobias Harris went off on the perceived ongoing disrespect he receives from fans and coaches around the league.
“If PHI fans understand I’m an All-Star, these are the same fans that probably woulda escorted me out my house last yr. When me and Doc [Rivers] talk about it, I tell him I got a bounty out for all the coaches that didn’t vote for me and the national media that skipped over me,” the Sixers forward said, per Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype.
Joel Embiid is motivated than ever as he continues to lead the MVP race, Ben Simmons is a top-tier defensive talent and facilitator who could very well win Defensive Player of the Year, and Doc Rivers is probably still smarting from his ousting from the Los Angeles Clippers just this past offseason.
So if you are a coach, player or Sixers fan who doesn't want this Sixers team to run you over on its way to the 2021 NBA Championship, stop feeding disrespecting the beast.
The Sixers are currently in possession of the Eastern Conference's No.1 seed, and even scarier, they are waking up for every matchup, instead of slumming it in disrespect against teams with subpar records. While Joel Embiid will undoubtedly get rewarded for the team's success with a legit shot to win this year's MVP Award, Tobias Harris is also having a career year as Philly's most talented shot creator on the perimeter.
He is averaging career highs in assists per game and effective field goal percentage, as well as near-career highs in points, rebounds and 3point percentage this season. If the Sixers are to keep up with offenses like the Brooklyn Nets or overcome top tier defenses like the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks', Harris is precisely the player they need motivated.
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