CAMDEN, N.J. — All season, Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers has maintained that the backup center position will be fluid as he has a couple of options he can turn to.
The Sixers brought in veterans PJ Tucker and Montrezl Harrell over the summer to join Paul Reed as the backup options behind Joel Embiid. Then, Philadelphia brought in veteran Dewayne Dedmon off the buyout market.
It appears, however, that Reed has taken over the spot permanently. The young big man out of DePaul is averaging 5.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 12.2 minutes per game since Feb. 10 as Rivers has consistently turned to him.
“I think for me, I just eliminated all the mental mistakes,” said Reed. “That kind of helped build the trust from the coaches. I feel like defending and finishing around the rim is something I’ve always been good at. So for me, it was just eliminating all the mental mistakes during the game and building the trust and that’s what helped me solidify my position if it is solidified.”
It appears Reed has the spot locked down, but in today’s NBA, one never knows. Philadelphia continues to lock everything down for the postseason.
As long as Reed continues to do what he’s supposed to, such as roll quickly off screens and be ready for passes from James Harden, he and the Sixers will be in a position to succeed.
“It’ll be tough because they always say, hold the screen and get out quick and sometimes slip out so it’s about making them reads during the game, and just trying to get my teammates the advantage, really,” Reed added. “Once I get them the advantage, get downhill, I just gotta get out quit. That’s kind of my mindset going into setting screens.”
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