The Detroit Pistons bounced back in a big way in their second game of the season, coming away with the road win over the Rockets. There were plenty of important takeaways from the game, including a much better shooting and rebounding display compared to the season opener. The game also saw head coach JB Bickerstaff using a deeper rotation with six players playing real minutes off the bench. Perhaps the most impressive backup of them all was Paul Reed, who was thrust into a larger role after Jalen Duren's ejection in the second quarter.
Reed showed once again how much of a luxury it is to have him as the third-string center on the roster. Every opportunity he gets, whether it's due to injuries, foul trouble, or underperformance, Reed always delivers. Friday night was no different.
Paul Reed Continues to Impress in Every Opportunity He Gets
Reed arguably made the biggest play of the night when he blocked Alperen Şengün's driving layup to tie the game with 16 seconds left in the game. This was his second block of the game, where he also had 13 points and nine rebounds (five offensive) in only 19 minutes of action. He also converted his only three-point attempt in the game. He may not have the prettiest jump shot in the league, but he has been taking and making more mid-range and long-range shots this season.
The 26-year-old center is one of the more underrated players in the league. He is undersized at 6'9" for a center, but he more than makes up for it with his defensive awareness, strength, and intensity. He protects the rim well, grabs rebounds, and always plays very hard. There aren't too many better backup centers in the NBA than Reed, let alone a third-stringer.
With Duren and Isaiah Stewart being important parts of the rotation, Reed's path to consistent minutes is not an easy one. Last season, he was in and out of the rotation as Bickerstaff almost never uses two-big lineups. Reed, however, is forcing his hand as he clearly deserves more minutes. He was equally impressive in the preseason, averaging seven points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in only 15 minutes per game.
BBall Paul is already a crowd favorite in Detroit, thanks to his hustle, and Pistons fans would love to see more of him. Considering how the Pistons don't really have a traditional backup power forward anyway, Bickerstaff may have to give Reed more of a look next to one of Duren or Stewart.