Philadelphia 76ers striker Tobias Harris got off to a solid start in the 2020-21 NBA season. His percentage of pitches is quite high compared to last season and he has been playing with more confidence. He was recently recognized as the Player of the Week in the league thanks to his positive production. When asked what contributed to his hot start, Harris gave credit to new coach Doc Rivers for the culture he cultivated in Philadelphia.
“I think it’s more than [Doc] leaves the entire group, “Harris told media members after Philadelphia’s 118-101 victory over Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.” I am the type of player that my game can fall in line with and whatever the coaches ask of me, I can finish. What he is asking of this team is that they play the right way, move the basketball, play with each other, use their teammates, really be a collective group … The mentality and attitude of playing together, playing as one, doing what you can for the next guy, doing the right pass, going from good to great. Only this mentality for me, personally for my game, helps me to be in the flow and play better.
“This has been a hit for my game. It was a hit in LA with Doc. I would be selfish if I said, ‘Hey, this is what Doc is doing for me’. It’s more about ‘this is what Doc is doing for the whole team as a whole. ‘It makes us responsible for playing the right style of basketball and a winning style of what he knows. “
The fact that Harris used the word “responsibility” when describing what Rivers brought to the Sixers is especially noteworthy, as several Sixers have previously stated that the team lacked responsibility in the past. After Philadelphia was swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs last year, Josh Richardson questioned the team’s overall responsibility – or lack thereof – under then coach Brett Brown.
“I just think, going ahead, [Brown’s] we have to take more responsibility, “said Richardson.” I don’t think there was much responsibility this season, and I think that was part of our problem … We have to start from scratch, it won’t be easy. People will not feel comfortable, but that is what the championship teams do. Guys who are not doing their job on or off the court, there must be some kind of consequence, but you have to be able to talk to each other and listen, really listen. It is a difficult lesson to learn for some people, but in order for us to reach the tie we all want, we need to start. ”
Striker Ben Simmons of Sixers All-Star fully agreed with Richardson’s assessment.
“We didn’t know when we were going to get a bucket, who would bring us a bucket,” said Simmons. “Hence to know what we needed to be at all times, people being held responsible for certain things, be it a small thing, everything plays a role … He was definitely right. We were not in a position to get into that bubble and win. I think that our mindset was wrong, and responsibility is a big part of winning. So, I think he was definitely right. ”
Only a few weeks have passed in the season and the Sixers will be judged on their post-season performance. So it would be premature to come to any concrete conclusions about how the Sixers will fare under Rivers in the long run at this point in the campaign, but the first results have been promising. In seven action games, the Sixers are at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 6-1 record and have the league’s best defense. Rivers is doing a great job to maximize the team’s talent and has clearly established a culture of responsibility, at least according to Tobias. Obviously, there is still a long way to go, but it sure looks like the big problem that plagued the Sixers last season has already been addressed and fixed.