What Went Right: Tobias Harris’ clutch gene
The Orlando Magic struggled mightily late in games. But Tobias Harris gave fans moments to give them faith and give them excitement late in games.
It was the moment of the season.
Tobias Harris came across a pin-down screen to catch the ball at the top of the key. He dribbled toward the left elbow with DeMarre Carroll trying to catch up and Paul Millsap hedging off his man to cut off the penetration.
Harris rose before either could get to him and before the buzzer could sound and made the game-winner for one of the Magic’s most satisfying wins of the season.
It was yet another feather in Harris’ clutch chops and highlights reel, adding to his game-winner in the Magic’s first win of the season at Philadelphia.
Harris became the Magic’s closer, and he came through in some big moments, providing Magic fans with some of the best moments of a disappointing season.
Victor Oladipo had his big moments too. He made a game-winner against the Bulls late in the season and the game-clinching free throws in a December win over Miami.
Those moments stood out in a sea of late-game struggles throughout the season. Harris though has created a nice collection of late-game shots and clutch moments.
This season, Harris posted 14.7 points per 36 minutes in the last three minutes within five points. He shot 60.0 percent from the floor in those situations too. That number is slightly lower than the 17.7 points per 36 minutes he scored throughout the season, but he shot the ball better.
In the small sample size of time played within five points in the last minute of a game, Harris averaged 27.0 points per 36 minutes and shot 60.0 percent from the floor.
As is often the case when we talk about “clutch” moments, perception really overplays the stats. The sample size is too small and efficiency gets thrown out the window at the end of games.
There were the easy ones to remember in the buzzer beaters, but there were also plenty of other clutch moments and little plays Harris made. There was the scoring outburst he had in Detroit in his first game back from injury, perhaps the Magic’s best all-around performance of the season. Then there were the big 3-pointers he made late against Sacramento and Milwaukee late in the season.
Harris just had a knack for coming through in the clutch.
Considering how bad the Magic were late in games — the collapses will be documented later — it was surprising seeing a player so good when the pressure was on. Perhaps with some calmer play and better schemes, the Magic would have fed the ball to their most clutch player and let him deliver.
For reference, Oladipo put in the last five minutes within five points, Oladipo averaged 19.1 points per 36 minutes on 41.5 percent shooting. In the last three minutes within five points, Oladipo posted 28.3 points per 36 minutes on 44.1 percent shooting. And in the final minute within five points, Oladipo had 51.1 points per 36 minutes on 47.1 percent shooting.
Statistically then, it was Oladipo who was the more “clutch” player. And he certainly had his moments.
But the best and most memorable moments of the season belonged to Harris. It was his calling card in a Magic uniform this season. The one that gets fans excited for his potential and the ones that will help him cash in during free agency.
They are just moments, but in a season so negative, it was something to be excited about and something to have faith in late in games.