On May 3, 2024, the Philadelphia 76ers lost to the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs and ended up losing 2-4 in the first round. The focus of this game is undoubtedly the 76ers' main forward Tobias Harris.
In this life-and-death battle, Harris only got 0 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 29 minutes and 20 seconds of playing time, and the plus/minus was as high as -10, which can be said to have completely become the biggest stumbling block for the 76ers. Harris's dismal performance not only caused the 76ers to miss out on a key victory, but also sparked backlash from fans and the media, with some even jokingly calling him "the agent who defrauded $180 million from Philadelphia."
It is no accident that there has been such a strong response. As a player with a five-year, $180 million contract with the 76ers, Harris has been an integral part of the team for the past five seasons, and his performances have brought the team a lot of consistent scoring. However, in the first round of the playoffs this season, Harris completely collapsed, not only dropping his average points per game to single digits, but also frequently missing key shots at critical moments, which eventually became an important factor in the team's loss.
Previously, Harris was considered the "second thigh" of the 76ers by the outside world, and was able to form an effective combination with the champion center Embiid to provide the team with stable offensive output. But in this crucial first round of the playoffs, Harris fell far short of that expectation. He was slow on the court and lacked achievements on the defensive end, and eventually became the "oil bottle" of the 76ers on the offensive end.
What's even more puzzling is that at the critical moment when the 76ers had a fierce confrontation with the Knicks in the final moments, Harris chose to give up his shot, which led to the team's final loss. Such a performance raises doubts about whether Harris is deliberately dragging the team down, or if he has completely lost his form.
In response to Harris's sluggish performance in this game, 76ers fans and media have also spoken out. Some believe that Harris has become the "undisputed most disgusting player" for the 76ers, and some even jokingly called him "the agent who defrauded $180 million from Philadelphia." Previously, Harris was considered the "second thigh" of the 76ers, but now he has become the "cancer" of the team.
So, what caused Harris to completely collapse at a critical moment? Why did he fall from the "second thigh" of the 76ers to the point of "the most disgusting player"? and why did some people jokingly call him "the agent who defrauded $180 million from Philadelphia"? These questions are worth exploring.
First of all, we have to admit that Harris has contributed a lot to the 76ers in the past. In the 2019-20 season, Harris averaged 19.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, contributing significantly to the 76ers' regular season record of 48-34. In the following seasons, Harris's scoring and rebounding numbers remained at a high level, making him an important addition to the team's backcourt offense.
But the problem is that Harris seems increasingly unable to play his due role in the crunch time. At the critical moment of Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs, Harris chose to give up his shot on the court, which led to the team's final loss. This makes people wonder whether Harris is really capable of taking his due responsibility at a critical moment.
Moreover, Harris's playoff performance this season has been really disappointing. In this series, Harris averaged just 9 points per game, shooting just 43 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range. Such sluggish numbers raise questions about whether Harris has completely lost his form.
It was Harris' loss at a critical moment and the decline in his overall performance that sparked a backlash from fans and the media. Some people believe that as a 5-year, $180 million contract player of the 76ers, Harris chose to give up his shot at a critical moment, which is undoubtedly "defrauding" the trust of the team and fans.
Of course, we must also be objectively aware that there are many uncertainties in professional sports. A player's performance is not always smooth sailing, and there will inevitably be ups and downs. But the problem is that Harris' performance has reached unacceptable levels in the playoffs this season.
The reason for this may be that Harris has entered a low point in his career. It is reported that Harris signed a five-year, $180 million contract with the 76ers in 2019, which also made him a "heavy burden" on the 76ers' salary bill. But the problem is that Harris's performance before this contract expires seems to be far from matching his hefty salary.
By all indications, Harris may have entered the "countdown" phase of his career. In this season's playoffs, Harris's performance has dropped significantly, which not only caused the 76ers to lose at a critical moment, but also caused strong discontent from fans and media. Some even jokingly called him "the agent who defrauded $180 million from Philadelphia", which is a bit too extreme, but also reflects the fans' strong dissatisfaction with Harris's current situation.
So, what should we think about Harris's future? Some analysts believe that if Harris can't regain his form next season, he is likely to become the "sinner" of the 76ers and be traded by the team or directly fired from the team in the future.
After all, in professional sports, performance is the most important measure of a player. If a player is unable to contribute to the team at key moments, it will be difficult for him to maintain his place in the team, even if he has contributed to the team in the past