Doc Rivers: Paul Reed Starting to ‘Figure Out’ Things

Originally posted on FortyEightMinutes | By Chris Crouse | Last updated 4/10/22

What the Sixers’ rotation will look like heading into the postseason isn’t quite clear yet, particularly their backup big men spots.

Many Philadelphia fans would like to see Paul Reed get some run and over the past two seasons, coach Doc Rivers has been clear that the 2020 No. 58 overall pick has some work to do before he is ready for a consistent role.

Reed, who scored eight points and brought down 11 rebounds in the win over the Pacers on Saturday, brings energy off the bench but getting into foul trouble has been one of his areas of concern. Rivers believes Reed will grow into a more disciplined player as he gets more experience but right now, the 6-foot-9 wing is simply too young.

“I don’t worry about it honestly, I told him that I said I don’t care about those fouls, you know, that’s where he struggles with bigger guys. Today it was a smaller lineup so you would think he wouldn’t get in foul trouble, but to me he’s too young to try to tell him to play a different way, so just let him play the way he plays,” the coach said after the Sixers’ win over the Pacers on Saturday.

“He’s really starting to figure out where to be on the floor, getting sets, how to run a set. You know, he had one where he got the rebound and went to a dribble hand-off where a month ago he would’ve tried a spin move, you know something like that. So just getting guys to understand who they are and their role on a team is very hard. I don’t think people have any clue how hard that is and he’s doing it. You have got Tyrese [Maxey] too, he’s another worker, guy just works his butt off so it’s really good to see. He’ll be better with the fouls… I actually thought two of those were Paul Reed fouls, I don’t want to say anything, but he had his hands back, but they called them anyway.”