Tobias Harris Leads Pistons in Playoff Opener Against Knicks
The Detroit Pistons’ playoff hopes were dealt a crushing blow on Saturday night as they fell to the New York Knicks 123-112 in Game 1 of their first-round series. Despite the loss, veteran forward Tobias Harris remained optimistic about his team’s chances, telling reporters after the game, “It stinks to lose, but it’s all about how you come back next time.”
According to Newsday, Harris, who scored 22 of his 25 points in the first half, was a key player for the Pistons in the game. His performance was a significant factor in keeping the Pistons competitive, especially in the early stages of the game. As Newsday reports, Harris shot 7-for-10 in the first half, including 4-for-5 on three-pointers.
Harris, who is in his 13th NBA season, has been a vital addition to the Pistons, helping the team improve from 14 regular-season wins last season to 44 this year. As Newsday notes, his experience and leadership have been invaluable to the team, with coach J.B. Bickerstaff praising Harris’s dependability and trustworthiness. “He’s just been trustworthy and dependable,” Bickerstaff said. “That’s all you can ask for from a veteran player. Our guys know whenever they turn around, Tobias has their back.”
The Pistons’ young and inexperienced roster was evident in the fourth quarter, as they struggled to maintain their composure and allowed the Knicks to pull away with a 21-0 run. As Newsday reports, Harris’s experience in similar situations has been crucial in helping the team navigate the highs and lows of the game. “It’s a series,” he said. “You can’t get too high, can’t get too low. Each team will make an adjustment, but overall, it’s about mentally just staying locked into the moment and being ready for the next game no matter what.”
Cade Cunningham, the Pistons’ 23-year-old star, echoed Harris’s sentiments, highlighting the value of having a veteran leader like Harris on the team. As quoted in Newsday, Cunningham said, “I think it’s been great. I think Tobias has been such a great fit for this locker room on top of the fact he’s been here before in Detroit and all the things he brings to a city as far as giving back to the community and being the leader that he is.”
As the series shifts to Detroit for Game 2, the Pistons will look to bounce back from their disappointing loss. Harris’s performance in the first half was a bright spot, but the team’s inability to maintain their momentum in the second half was a concern. As Newsday reports, Bickerstaff attributed this to the Knicks’ defensive adjustments, saying, “We didn’t get an opportunity to get him the shots that we wanted to in that second half.”
The Newsday article also notes that Harris’s experience in similar situations has been crucial in helping the team navigate the highs and lows of the game. With the series far from over, Harris and the Pistons will look to regroup and make adjustments to even the series. As Harris said, “All-time high” is where the Pistons’ confidence level is at, despite the tough loss. The team’s focus will now shift to Game 2, where they will look to bounce back and level the series.
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