Sixers single out big man Paul Reed after big home win over Cavaliers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 23: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots over Jarrett Allen #31 and Craig Porter #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on February 23, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA — Heading into a matchup with the much taller Cleveland Cavaliers without the services of Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers needed Paul Reed to step up and produce. While taking on bigger guys such as Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, the big man answered the call.

Reed had eight points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks in the win. The Sixers needed his efforts as he grabbed four offensive rebounds and helped Philadelphia to a 51-43 rebounding advantage over the Cavaliers.

“I think that Paul was physical and he was bouncy tonight, you know what I mean?” said coach Nick Nurse. “Like he was reacting fast. You know? Ball bounced to the side, boom, he’d run it out down in the corner or he just was so much more engaged with just the way he was moving. That was huge because they’re hard to guard because of their size and that pick-and-roll game they got. The lob threat, we did a good job. We made them catch it in the pocket a lot and then have to make another move.”

Nurse is right about the Cavaliers. They can go attack a team in any different way from the pick-and-roll game between Darius Garland with Mobley or Allen and the shooters they have now around them. Reed did a terrific job of challenging every action.

“Paul got back to those even though they scored some of those,” Nurse added. “He was making those tougher and they missed a good share of them because he challenged them, and again, I just thought he just played more physical, more athletic tonight.”

Reed played a big role in Philadelphia’s win over the Cavs on Feb. 12 in Cleveland as well. Tyrese Maxey made sure to point that out.

“The last few times we played them, he’s been big time, honestly, and for him to go out there, hold his own, and get blocks and get rebounds,” Maxey started. “I told him, I think around four minutes I said ‘Can you get 13 rebounds?’ He was mad at me because he had 12 and I got the last rebound. He said ‘How’re you gonna ask me to get 13 when you take the rebound?’ I said ‘Man, listen I just had to get the rebound. I didn’t know who was around me’, but he’s been great.”

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers single out big man Paul Reed after big home win over Cavaliers