Detroit — The Detroit Pistons had their best season in 20 years, winning 60 games for only the third time in franchise history. Although their first-round playoff series went to a decisive Game 7 on Sunday, it still gave the Pistons their best chance to secure a postseason victory after nearly two decades.
From J.B. Bickerstaff’s Coach of the Year candidacy to the dynamic All-Star pairing of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, several factors contributed to the Pistons’ success this season. However, the team’s depth may have had the most significant impact. Throughout the year, various players stepped up to help the team win, but Paul Reed might have been the biggest X-factor.
Although there were times when Reed recorded several DNPs, he always made the most of his time whenever Bickerstaff called on him, embodying the team’s stay-ready mentality.
“It’s really incredible how hard he works. He works harder than anyone you can find. He is one of the hardest workers,” Cunningham said. “Any time his number is called, he is ready to go. Comes right out there and imposes himself on the game. I don’t think there is any situation in basketball that you could put him in, where he is not going to bring some type of productivity to the floor.”
Since joining the Pistons as a free agent in July 2024, Reed has become Detroit’s unsung hero. No matter the situation, he always delivers what the team needs. One of his most memorable moments occurred in mid-February when he started two games due to the absences of Duren and Isaiah Stewart, who were suspended for their involvement in a fight with the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 9.
Although Bickerstaff disapproved of the league’s decision, he recognized the Pistons’ frontcourt would remain strong due to Reed’s contributions. Detroit put together a 6-1 record with Reed as the primary big man, which included two games as a starter. He averaged 11.7 points while shooting 61.4% from the field, along with 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
Reed’s consistent ability to step up for the Pistons is one of the reasons why Bickerstaff confidently turned to the veteran big man during the most chaotic moments of Game 6.
“He’s one of those guys who personifies our spirit. He’s one of those guys that anytime you put him on the floor, he’s active, he’s aggressive,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s all over the place — coming up with steals, deflections, block shots, and rebounds. And I thought that was needed in that moment. That we needed to keep that energy, to keep that spark, and I knew he would bring it to us.”
The Pistons made a 24-point comeback at Kia Center by picking up their production on both ends of the court and executing a strategic plan to secure a 93-79 victory on Friday night.
Reed became the catalyst of the comeback, finishing with six points, six rebounds and three blocks. He played 11 minutes, seven of which came in the second half. The energy he brought in the second half shifted the momentum, leading to the Pistons’ historic comeback.
“His name was called, he comes out there, he gets a couple of offensive rebounds to get us going, gets us a couple of extra possessions, scores the ball for us, makes all of his adjustments defensively, or his rotation defensively. He just does a lot, and he has always been that way for us,” Cunningham said.
For six months, Reed walked into the arena unsure of how many minutes he would play. There were times when he didn’t even step onto the court. This situation can often make it tough for players to be effective when given the opportunity. However, Reed has established himself as the team’s “safety blanket.” His coaches and teammates know that whenever he steps onto the court, he will deliver substantial performance.
“He is like a safety blanket that we always have. We have two of the best bigs in front of him, and we have a great rotation of bigs, and he just finds himself as the third one,” Cunningham said. “To have that much production out of the third big like that, it’s amazing he has won us so many games with that type of intensity and that work that he has. We are lucky to have him.”
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Big man Paul Reed continues to be Detroit Pistons’ biggest X-factor
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
