The Detroit Pistons were missing their starting and backup center last night against the Raptors but it didn’t matter because they have Paul Reed.
BBall did what he has done for the last two seasons for Detroit, which is step up when called upon, dropping an eye-opening stat line of 22 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and four blocks to help carry the Pistons to an easy route of the 5h-seed Raptors, who looked even further away from the 1st-place Pistons than the standings indicate.
Reed is one of the most interesting players in the league, as he is a third center who doesn’t always play, but every time he does, he makes an impact.
With Isaiah Stewart suspended for six more games and Jalen Duren for another one, Reed will get at least one more start and will be the backup until Stewart returns. It won’t matter to BBall Paul, who just does his thing no matter when or if he is called upon. It almost seems like these types of players deserve their own postseason award.
Paul Reed is the best deep sub in the NBA
I don’t think there is any argument that Reed is the best third center in the league, and that he’d be in a lot of team’s full time rotations if not the starting lineup.
Reed is a luxury that few teams have, which is a third center who can actually play and isn’t just some one dimensional cone like so many of his peers.
Reed won’t get enough minutes or games to be considered a sixth man, nor should he be, as he doesn’t play every night, but these types of players still have importance.
The league recognizes the best 6th Man and gives an award to the league’s best bench player, but players like Reed rarely get recognized even though what they do is arguably even more difficult.
Reed never knows when or if he’ll play but manages to stay sharp, and when he does get his chance, it’s hard to see how this guy isn’t part of the full-time rotation.
I’d love to see the NBA give some recogition to these bench irregulars who are key to every good team, as they allow them to weather injuries and suspensions without missing a beat, as the Pistons did last night.
Reed is following in a great tradition of Pistons’ bench players who were unheralded yet huge parts of the team’s winning culture.