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Pistons’ Cade Cunningham reveals how Tobias Harris helped elevate his game
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- Pistons’ Cade Cunningham reveals how Tobias Harris helped elevate his game
Pistons' Cade Cunningham reveals how Tobias Harris helped elevate his game appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Tobias Harris has been a productive NBA player for nearly a decade and a half, and he also began to plateau with the Philadelphia 76ers . Both statements can be accurate, but unfortunately, the negative is frequently emphasized over the positive. The 2011 first-round draft pick was labeled as one of the biggest reasons why the Sixers could not enter genuine championship contention. However, a new environment can breed a new perspective.
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Often scrutinized for his past playoff performances, Harris is helping the Detroit Pistons regain their footing and inch closer to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2008. Franchise cornerstone Cade Cunningham is bestowing copious praise on the veteran forward following Thursday's 107-97 win versus the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the conference semifinals.
"Man, he's been great in a lot of ways," the All-NBA selection said, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. "He's shown me a lot of things, on and off the court. Just professionalism, ways to make my life easier and do my job more efficiently."
Given Detroit's lack of recent success, the importance of a composed and experienced leader is hard to overstate. Harris has brought stability to the organization, helping young players like Cunningham and Jalen Duren realize their potential. Though, besides the wisdom he adds to the locker room, the 33-year-old is making a huge impact on the floor.
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Without him, the Pistons might not have a 2-0 series lead. Heck, they might not even still be in the playoffs. Cade Cunningham knows that this team's ceiling is dangerously high when Tobias Harris is thriving offensively .
"He's so versatile," the superstar point guard said after totaling a team-high 25 points, 10 assists and two blocks versus Cleveland. "We can put him in so many different spots. He can space us and shoot the three, we could put him on the block… Just the ability to put him in so many different spots at the {forward} position is great for us."
Harris dropped 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting with nine rebounds and three steals in Game 7 versus the Orlando Magic , refusing to suffer another heartbreaking postseason defeat. He has carried that clutch prowess with him to this current series. The native New Yorker posted 21 points, seven boards, two blocks and two steals in Game 2 against the Cavs .
Although Detroit earned 60 wins in the regular season, the major question surrounding this squad has been the offense around Cunningham. The Pistons lacked firepower vs. the Magic, until they didn't. When Harris is active and efficient, this group indeed looks like the Beast of the East.
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He will try to sustain this level of play heading into Game 3. But based on Cunningham's comments, what Harris does in between the action will be quite important as well.
Related: Cade Cunningham sounds off on Pistons factor that doomed Cavs in Game 2
Related: Rising Pistons playoff weapon credits Magic for Round 2 success vs. Cavs
