During a regular-season campaign, Paul Reed is considered a capable understudy for a leading option in the center position and can occasionally show glimpses of an offensive powerhouse. However, when the postseason arrives, the former Philadelphia 76ers big man becomes virtually invisible; for the Detroit Pistons, that has been true in the most literal sense, as Reed has barely seen the court during the team’s playoff run.
In Philadelphia, Reed had little pressure on his shoulders. His game time was limited because the dominant Joel Embiid was always the 76ers' primary offensive option when he was available. When called upon during Embiid's injury-ravaged 2023-24 season, Reed contributed positively as the Sixers stumbled to a Play-In Tournament spot -- averaging 7.3 points, six rebounds, and one block per game in around 19.4 minutes on the floor.
When the postseason arrived, Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse sharply reduced Reed’s role in the rotation, cutting his minutes to just 7.2 per game. Unsurprisingly, his production declined alongside his playing time, with the 26-year-old averaging only 1.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per appearance. Now, the same story is unfolding in Detroit, and there is only one common denominator.
Paul Reed is not trusted when playoff time rolls around
It seems Paul Reed is always the bridesmaid and never the bride. While he has his uses in a regular-season campaign, head coaches do not believe he has the talent levels to make an impact when it really matters. First in Philadelphia, and now Detroit, Reed is deemed surplus to requirements during the playoffs.
Reed significantly improved his statistics in his second year with the Detroit Pistons, putting up 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 61.7% from the floor. In fact, on April 12, the DePaul alum recorded one of the most dominant games of his career during the Pistons' 133-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Reed went 11-for-11 on the night and scored 26 points, while also accumulating six rebounds, three blocks, and three steals.
In most cases, this would be the perfect dress rehearsal before the playoffs commenced. Detroit's head coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, did not agree with this theory, and much like Nick Nurse, has limited Reed's time on the court as the Pistons began their postseason campaign against a physical Orlando Magic team.
During Game 1 of the Pistons’ series against the Magic, Paul Reed watched from the bench as his teammates suffered a surprising 112-101 defeat without logging a single second of playing time. Even after Detroit responded with a 98-83 victory in Game 2, Reed still managed just 46 seconds on the court.
Unfortunately for Paul Reed, this situation is not an anomaly. When playoff season arrives, it is clear that his coaches do not trust him to make a positive impact on the team. Seemingly, the Detroit Pistons will follow in the footsteps of the Philadelphia 76ers by opting to field other options as they make a tilt for the Eastern Conference Finals.
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