Jalen Duren’s Playoffs Are Going From Bad to Worse Despite Pistons’ Game 6 Win
The Detroit Pistons managed to come away with an unbelievable street win in Game 6. On the again of an unbelievable defensive efficiency within the second half and Orlando’s epic collapse, the Pistons crawled again from a 24-point deficit and forced a Game 7 at home. While there have been loads of constructive takeaways like Cade Cunningham’s unstoppable particular person scoring, Jalen Duren’s lack of influence continues to stick out like a sore thumb.
Jalen Duren Continues to Be the Pistons’ Weak Link
On Friday, the Pistons had been as soon as once more intentional about getting Duren going early. In the primary six minutes of the sport, Duren went 3/3 from the sphere for six factors. In the remaining 42 minutes, nonetheless, the 22-year-old heart was nowhere to be seen. He completed the sport 4/6 for eight factors, 9 rebounds, one help, and two turnovers. He as soon as once more received in foul hassle later within the recreation, ending with 5 private fouls and taking part in solely 32 minutes.
Duren has had a minimum of 5 private fouls within the final 4 video games of the collection. He hasn’t performed over 32 minutes in any of those video games. So a lot of his fouls have been of the irritating form, together with biting on Wendell Carter Jr.’s pump pretend from three a minimum of as soon as a recreation.
So far, Duren hasn’t scored over 12 factors or grabbed double-digit rebounds in any recreation within the collection. He has 5 extra turnovers than assists. After making 65% of his pictures within the common season, he’s down to 52.3% within the playoffs. As a outcome, the Pistons have been higher when Duren is off the court docket as an entire. While they’re dropping Duren’s minutes by 5 within the collection, they’ve received the minutes he has been on the bench by 16 factors.
The Magic are an exceptionally troublesome matchup for the Pistons. They have dimension and physicality to match Detroit, and due to the Pistons’ incapacity to shoot, the Magic can pack the paint. This makes Duren’s life laborious within the paint.
But that is the playoffs. How star gamers differentiate themselves from non-stars is their means to alter and discover methods to be efficient. So far, it looks like Duren has misplaced his matchup towards Carter and hasn’t come shut to fixing the puzzle Orlando has been throwing his means.
Even if Duren is ready to flip issues round within the subsequent spherical, his incapacity to dominate Carter Jr. for all the collection might be remembered for a very long time. It must also be on the thoughts of the Pistons’ high brass when they’re negotiating Duren’s next contract this offseason. It’s necessary to have fun Duren’s progress this season as he has taken a giant step ahead, however his incapacity to have a single good recreation within the playoffs shouldn’t be forgotten come summer season.