Tobias Harris is aware of all about being missed. That’s precisely why the Knicks can’t afford to sleep on him.
If OG Anunoby is tasked with defending Detroit All-Star Cade Cunningham within the opening spherical of the playoffs, the ball goes to search out its approach elsewhere. And one place it might find yourself? Within the palms of a 13-year veteran with deep New York roots and a quiet knack for punishing inattentive defenses.
Harris, who returns dwelling to face the Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard in Saturday’s Sport 1, has change into the Pistons’ quiet stabilizer. The Lengthy Island Lutheran product is the third-leading scorer on a immediately harmful Detroit staff, averaging 13.7 factors on 47.7 p.c taking pictures from the sphere.
The numbers are modest. His 34.5 p.c clip from deep might not flip heads. But when the Knicks don’t concentrate, Harris is able to making them pay.
He began 73 video games for a Pistons staff that tripled its win whole from a league-worst 14 final 12 months to 44 this season. And he discovered success in opposition to his hometown staff, taking pictures 43.5 p.c from three in 4 matchups with the Knicks, whereas rating amongst league leaders in post-up scoring effectivity this season.
“Really good veteran leadership. He can shoot, he can drive, he can post — he’s a tough matchup,” head coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned after follow on the staff’s Tarrytown coaching facility on Wednesday. “He makes quick decisions. When he’s open, he shoots. When he’s guarded, he makes a play. We know how good he is. We’ve got to be ready for that.”
If Anunoby slides onto Cunningham — who torched New York for just below 31 factors per recreation on higher than 50 p.c taking pictures in 4 conferences — the Harris task might probably fall to Mikal Bridges, beforehand Cunningham’s major defender.
However Detroit will hunt mismatches.
With a 6-foot-8 body and veteran poise, Harris will attempt to exploit dimension benefits in opposition to Josh Hart (6’4”) or Jalen Brunson (6’1”), significantly within the publish, the place he’s taking pictures 51 p.c this season.
The Knicks have been burned earlier than by an excessive amount of consideration on the star and never sufficient on the fellows who profit from it. Harris is one. Malik Beasley, who ranked second in threes made league-wide behind solely Anthony Edwards, is one other. Tim Hardaway Jr. has 71 million causes to stay it to his former staff.
“We’re gonna try to key in on everyone. They’re a team full of great players,” mentioned Anunoby. “Malik can really shoot. Tim can really shoot. Tobias is a great player. … They have a great team.”
“Cunningham can shoot it,” Thibodeau added. “You look at it, you study it, and you have to prepare for what you’re facing next.”
A TEAM EFFORT
The job of guarding Cunningham gained’t fall on Anunoby alone.
“He’s a great player,” Anunoby mentioned. “It’s gonna be a team effort. Just try to make it difficult for him every possession.”
What makes the Pistons star so harmful?
“[He’s] just a great all-around player,” Anunoby mentioned. “Can shoot, drive, pass, can do everything.”
Cunningham averaged 26 factors and 9 assists for the Pistons this season — and 31 factors on over 50 p.c taking pictures from each the sphere and three in opposition to New York.
ELECTRIC GARDEN
Madison Sq. Backyard within the playoffs is not like every other enviornment on the planet — however Josh Hart says he hasn’t wanted to prep his new teammates for what’s coming.
“I haven’t talked to them about it,” he mentioned on Wednesday. “They’ll get a feel for The Garden and how electric it is in the playoffs.”
Hart additionally downplayed the exterior stress that always comes with the territory of taking part in in New York.
“The criticism: they’re gonna love you some days and hate you other days, so you’ve gotta put the criticism out at the end of the day,” he mentioned. “The one factor that issues is in the event you put the work in, the staff is aware of you set the work in, and also you empty the tank.
“So as long as you do that, a lot of time you’re gonna find success. So I don’t think anyone’s worried about the criticism at all for those guys or anyone on the team. But excited to see how they are with that Garden, because that Garden playoff time is one of the best arenas in the world.”
