The Philadelphia 76ers are back in Boston for a deciding Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. They had a chance to wrap up the series at home, but could not manage to do so. In a game of such magnitude, the Sixers just had three players who were able to get to double digits. After the game, Shannon Sharpe showed ‘No Mercy’ and blasted the Sixers, especially Tobias Harris.
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In the summer of 2019, the Philadelphia 76ers parted ways with Jimmy Butler, while signing Tobias Harris to a 5-year deal. However, since that time, Butler has led the Heat to three Conference Finals. Meanwhile, the Sixers haven’t been able to breach the thresholds of the 2nd round.
After Joel Embiid and the Sixers dropped a chance to advance to the ECF on their home court in Game 6, Shannon Sharpe decided to assign blame to the one guy that flies under the radar.
Shannon Sharpe blasts Tobias Harris for his performance
Whenever one thinks of stars on the Sixers, they think about Joel Embiid and James Harden, or their famed head coach Doc Rivers. People often forget they have another player with a max deal – Tobias Harris.
After the Game 6 loss, Shannon Sharpe took to Undisputed to talk about Sixers and how they need to start holding Tobias Harris responsible for the Sixers’ underwhelming performance.
“We’ve blamed Doc Rivers, Ben Simmons, and James Harden. The one guy that’s gone unscathed is Tobias Harris… He’s like a B52, he can fly under the radar and not get detected.”
A user on Twitter tried defending Harris by saying that no one expects things from him.
reason he’s gone unscathed is because people don’t expect elite level play from him the way they do Ben, Joel and Harden… Lol context is a crazy thing huh
— Middy Garoppolo (@DylannJabroo) May 13, 2023
However, Shannon Sharpe wasn’t having it. Harris is a max contract guy, and needs to be treated so.
He’s a max player. His pay dictates he bares culpability as well. 76ers chose him over Jimmy Butler. There’s your context. https://t.co/tRggTz9cWp
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) May 14, 2023
In a way Shannon’s right, but he isn’t exactly right as well.
Did the Sixers choose Harris over Jimmy Butler?
Back in 2019, the Philadelphia 76ers had a big choice. They had to pick between Ben Simmons or Jimmy Butler. They went with Ben Simmons, and well, that didn’t work well for them. Since Jimmy left, they wanted to lock in their other star free agent, Tobias Harris.
He was signed on a 5-year, $180 Million deal. That has not worked out well for them, whereas the Heat are thriving with Butler. When the Heat eliminated the Sixers in 2022, Butler even named Harris.
Jimmy Butler: “Tobias Harris over me.”
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 13, 2022
Well, with the season on the line, Tobias Harris better show up tonight, or this offseason might force the Sixers to make some tough decisions.
