The Pistons were dying for some coaching adjustments to weather Jalen Duren's struggles, and JB Bickerstaff finally delivered in a moment of desperation. With the season on the line, Paul Reed got his first meaningful minutes of the first round in Game 6 and helped spark a monster comeback for Detroit. Reed's production should change the Pistons' rotation going into Game 7 and give them more options for counters to the Magic.
Paul Reed made a huge impact immediately
Even though he only played 10 minutes even in Game 6, Reed made his presence felt on the game. In that time, he had 6 points, 6 rebounds (including 3 offensive) and 3 blocks. His defensive impact in particular helped completely shut down the Magic offense in the second half as the Pistons stormed back from a 60-36 halftime deficit.
The Pistons are obviously missing an offensive difference maker off the bench, but Reed proved that their reserves can still make winning plays on the other end. In his Game 6 minutes, the Pistons had a defensive rating of just 38.9, a historic mark in a playoff game. Obviously, it's not sustainable to expect Orlando to score just 40 points over 100 possessions, but that extreme defensive stretch completely shifted the tide for the Pistons.
Detroit has struggled to get solid production from All-Star center Jalen Duren all series, but Reed can be a solution for short bursts. He's obviously got incredible defensive awareness and timing, but Reed's offensive game is also severely underrated. He's got a knack for finding offensive rebounds and tough finishes at the rim, as well as some range out to the 3-point line on occasion.
Reed needs to be in the rotation regularly
All season long, Pistons fans were in awe of Reed's production as the team's third-string center. Not only was he great in his typical limited bursts off the bench, but he was also capable of producing like a legitimate starter when needed. On multiple occassions with Duren and Isaiah Stewart out or limited, Reed took on a bigger role and delivered.
There's no reason for Reed not to get some minutes in practically every playoff game. He complements Detroit's roster well and amplifies their biggest strengths without adding new weaknesses. Although we can't expect him to log starter minutes regularly, there needs to be at least 7-10 minutes for him in most games - especially when the other centers are struggling.
Paul Reed only needed one game's worth of opportunity to help the Pistons solve their biggest issue this series. Hopefully, he can get even more chances to help them win in Game 7 and beyond.
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