In just over two weeks, the Sixers will begin training camp on the campus of Colorado State University. The stakes will be numerous since the James Harden case is still not resolved, but also that Nick Nurse has succeeded Doc Rivers, and he must now impose his paw.
Among the changes he could make, the former Raptors coach should offer a new role to Paul Reedwhose activity he intends to exploit and which he plans to develop alongside Joel Embiid at position 4. It will therefore be a preseason of the greatest importance for the interior.
“I just focused on ways to get better for the team,” Paul Reed said about his offseason. “I understand that I’m about to play a different role this season, that my role is expanding, so I’ve been working on everything the team needs me to do, which is- i.e. stretch the court, defend, get rebounds. I make sure I stay in great shape and I try to listen very closely to the coaches.”
All summer to work
The exterior shooting sessions have already started and Nick Nurse has already supported him in this area of work. Because if Paul Reed has not represented a reliable outside threat in the NBA, he has already practiced in the G-League, with 44% success behind the arc in 54 attempts in 2020/21, then 35.8% in 2021/ 22 with the Delaware Blue Coats.
“Since day one, he has been very involved”, added Paul Reed. “I feel like he already knew what he wanted to work on with me. He let me know that from day one. He wants me to shoot. He wants to make sure my action is right, and he has worked with me personally on this. It’s amazing. We focus on the way I catch the ball, the gestures, keeping the same every time. There are a lot of small details, but they are very important for the overall result of my shot.”
Paul Reed also clarified that he has changed the way he catches the ball, and is continuing his work on flexibility.
During the summer, he also discovered the atmosphere of the summer training of Rico Hines, an emblematic assistant coach who accompanied Nick Nurse from Toronto to Philadelphia. A demanding framework that pleased him.
“The atmosphere was excellent. Everyone was ready to work. Everyone was very motivated and wanted to improve. I was able to bond with some of the new players that came in, and I got used to the new team. We have a whole new team, a whole new staff, and I’m starting to get used to everyone. So I appreciated being able to adapt to the new staff and get closer to them.”
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
