The Detroit Pistons are heading to Cleveland with all the momentum in the world, and veteran forward Tobias Harris is a huge reason why. After a thrilling Game 7 victory over the Orlando Magic, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had a simple, powerful message: "Nobody can say s--- to me about Tobias Harris."

Harris backed up that faith in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, pouring in 21 points on an efficient 9-of-16 shooting, grabbing seven rebounds, and swiping two steals in a 107-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was the team's second-leading scorer once again, following up a 20-point performance in Game 1. This comes right after he dropped 30 points in that decisive Game 7 against Orlando, matching Cade Cunningham's 32-point explosion.

At 6-foot-8 and 226 pounds, Harris has been using his size to his advantage all playoffs long. The numbers tell the story: after averaging just over 13 points per game during the 2025-2026 regular season, he's now averaging more than 21 points per game in the postseason. It's only the second time in his 15-year career that he's topped the 20-point mark in the playoffs.

So what's behind this surge? According to Bickerstaff, it's all about mindset. "Confidence," the coach said after Game 2. "There's no insecurity in who he is, and when you don't have those insecurities in the moment, you can play free and trust the work that you've put in. Because you know how much time you've put in over the years to do what you do, and trust that he's got a spot."

Harris has seen just about everything in his 76-plus games of postseason experience. He was swept in his first playoff series back in 2016, lost a heartbreaking seven-game battle to the Raptors in 2019, and watched this very Pistons team fail to win a single home playoff game last season. But he chose to bet on Detroit anyway, signing a two-year, $52 million deal in 2024 when the franchise was coming off a league-worst 14-win season.

"I knew the impact that the type of players that we have in here," Harris said, reflecting on his decision to return. Now, with the series shifting to Cleveland, the Pistons are counting on their veteran star to keep protecting what they've built. And so far, he's been more than up to the challenge.