The Pistons needed somebody to steady the middle, and Paul Reed answered the call on Thursday night.
Detroit’s double-overtime win over the Washington Wizards was defined by Cade Cunningham’s historic night and Ausar Thompson’s triple-double, but Reed quietly gave the Pistons exactly what they needed at center. With Jalen Duren still out since the second game of the season and John Collins getting the start for a second straight game, Reed came off the bench and looked like the best big man on the floor.
Collins’ night was uneven from the start and ended with a box score that told the story. He finished with 10 points, four rebounds and one block, going 3-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from deep.
The bigger issue was his minus-18, the worst mark on the Pistons and one of only two negative plus/minus figures on the team. Ron Holland II was the other, at minus-8, and he played just 13:47 compared with Collins’ 25:14.
Reed, meanwhile, made his presence felt in 37:44 off the bench. He posted 13 points, 11 rebounds and three assists, including five offensive boards, while shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 0-of-1 from beyond the arc.
His plus-25 was easily the best on the roster; Kevin Huerter was next at plus-10. For a game Detroit won by only four points, Reed’s impact was massive.
He gave the Pistons stability at the five, and that’s the role he’s been built for. Even with JB Bickerstaff trying Collins in the starting lineup, Reed has pushed himself back into the clear top spot at center while Duren remains sidelined. Thursday made that hard to miss.
In Other News...
Pistons May Have Found The Backcourt Spark They Were Missing
The Pistons have spent plenty of time searching for another backcourt piece to ease the load on Cade Cunningham, and Daniss Jenkins is making a strong case that he belongs in that conversation. Since stepping into Jaden Iveys spot, Jenkins has shown a more polished offensive game, with his shooting and playmaking both trending in the right direction as Detroit looks for more stability around its lead guard.
What makes the stretch so interesting is how quickly Jenkins has started to matter in real games, not just in theory. He has put together a run of 20-plus-point performances and given the Pistons a different kind of perimeter threat at a time when Jalen Durens injury has already forced the offense to adjust. If Jenkins keeps this up, Detroit may have found a much-needed spark in a place it has been trying to upgrade for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Daniss Jenkins Is Giving The Pistons A New Contract Dilemma
Daniss Jenkins has quietly turned into one of the more interesting pieces on the Pistons roster, and not just because he is starting. At a time when Detroit is trying to sort out its long-term core, Jenkins has given the team useful production across the board, averaging 13.5 points, 4.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds while hitting 44 percent from three-point range.
The contract part is where things get tricky. Jenkins is only the 11th highest paid player on the roster at $4 million this season, a figure that even trails rookie Ebuka Okorie, which makes him look like one of the leagues better bargains. With restricted free agency looming after the season, the Pistons may soon have to decide how much value they place on keeping a player who has outperformed his salary and earned a bigger role. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Are Surviving Jalen Durens Absence In An Unexpected Way
Jalen Durens absence has forced the Pistons to get creative in the middle, and the usual answer on the glass has not been there. With undersized centers John Collins and Paul Reed handling those minutes, Detroit has taken a hit in rebounding, but the bigger picture has stayed surprisingly steady because the rest of the lineup has adapted around the loss.
Ausar Thompson has helped cover some of that ground with strong work on the boards, while the ball has also been safer in Detroits hands. Fewer turnovers and a lineup built more around ball handling have given JB Bickerstaff a way to manage possessions better, and that has helped the Pistons keep winning even as one of their most important big men remains out. [Read more 🡒]