The Detroit Pistons had their second preseason game on Thursday, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks 117-111. Obviously with preseason games, it is more about individual performances rather than the score, and there were plenty of positives to take away, especially Cade Cunningham seemingly hitting another level with his second straight monstrous performance, this time going 26-6-6 on 8/14 shooting in only 19 minutes of action.
Yet, Cade being a dominant superstar is nothing new for Pistons fans. What is more fascinating, perhaps, is some of the lineup decisions head coach JB Bickerstaff may be forced to make.
Jalen Duren has been dealing with a hamstring tightness in training camp, forcing him to miss the first two preseason games. That meant an increased run for third-string center Paul Reed. The veteran backup has made the most of his opportunity so far, finishing Thursday's game with nine points, six rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal in 19 minutes. This came on the heels of a 12 rebound, two block outing against the Grizzlies on Monday.
The Pistons are all too familiar with Reed's hustle and energy. He is an excellent rebounder, outworks everybody, and plays way bigger than his six-foot-nine frame. What has been more intriguing so far, has been his offensive development. He looked more comfortable with his live dribble, passing, and midrange shooting, highlighting a potential to be more than just a rim-running big on offense. Defensively, he is already a solid option with his ability to guard multiple positions and switch out on the perimeter, while doing a decent job protecting the rim.
Paul Reed May Have Earned Himself More Playing Time with Preseason Play
All of this could earn Reed more minutes in the rotation. Last season, the 26-year-old center was in and out of the rotation. Duren and Isaiah Stewart barely missed any time, not leaving enough minutes for Reed. Bickerstaff generally shied away from playing two bigs, keeping Stewart strictly as Duren's backup.
With Reed's emergence, however, that could change. Teams around the NBA are increasingly playing more two-big lineups. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who the Pistons will have to go through if they want to make a deep postseason run, play extended minutes with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Contenders like the Oklahoma City Thunder (with Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren) and Houston Rockets (with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams) have also found success using such lineups. The Pistons could give these super-sized groups a chance when the season rolls around.
Reed is already a fan favorite in Detroit, as well as his previous team, the Philadelphia 76ers. It's hard not to root for him when he plays with such effort and grit. This may have earned him a bigger opportunity to start the season in the eyes of Pistons fans, but whether Bickerstaff agrees remains to be seen.