After missing the past two games with a right ankle sprain, Pistons center Jalen Duren returned to action on Monday and completely overpowered the Pacers, recording 31 points (on 12-of-13 shooting), 15 rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes.
“He’s just continued to dominate and that’s the only way you can say it,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said (Twitter link via Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press). “The way he’s rebounding the ball through contact and in traffic, getting to the free throw line … he’s just playing a well-rounded game.”
Detroit won its 10th straight game, the first time the team has reeled off that many victories in a row since 2008, per the NBA (via Twitter). Duren discussed the achievement after the game, according to Sankofa (Twitter video link).
“It’s the work we put in, I think it’s the summer work that we’ve put in. Obviously camaraderie and I think culture, honesty everything plays a part in it. It’s still early in the season, we have a long, long way to go,” Duren said.
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- Duren also discussed his growth as a leader, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic (Twitter video link). “I’ve grown a lot,” Duren said. “ … Everybody holds everybody accountable. We’re not the type of team where it’s one guy dictating everything.”
- Daniss Jenkins, who was nominated for the Player of the Week award in the Eastern Conference, had another huge game on Monday, recording a career-high 26 points to go along with eight assists. The second-year guard, on a two-way contract, has thrived over the past handful of games amid backcourt injuries.
- Speaking of injuries, star guard Cade Cunningham missed his third straight game with a left hip contusion, while starting forward Ausar Thompson missed his fourth straight due to a right ankle sprain. Both players were listed as questionable before being ruled out, and Bickerstaff says they’re “trending in the right direction,” Patterson tweets.
- Second-year forward Bobi Klintman is expected to miss a “little bit of time” with a left ankle sprain, Bickerstaff told reporters, including Sankofa (Twitter link). The 22-year-old was a second-round pick in last year’s draft (37th overall).
They’ve had a relatively easy schedule, so far.
But they’re doing what’s needed, win those winnable games, Cade, Duren leading, develop their rotation, especially their bench.
Good on this Jenkins kid, he plays free, plays hard.
The young guys Duren and Cade are really growing as leaders. They are hungry and want to win and it’s awesome. Duren is going to get paid this offseason. Such a great core these two and Thompson.
Not sold on Ivey but will see once he returns. Holland has been great so far and I’m glad it’s been more on the defensive front and not just showcasing his offence. We all know he can finish at the rim and eventually the shot will come but for now he’s decided to work on the defence and that’ll earn him respect in the coaches and get him minutes
Move Duren to PF. He will flourish . Trust me
He’s flourishing at C. But I’m curious, what do you see that makes you think he’d benefit from going to 4?
Being 6’10 with shoes on
Not a elite defensive C
Shoots over 60 percent from the field and shoots FT’s well which shows there is room for improvement (expanding his shooting range)
He could flourish as a Karl Malone type
Either have Duren shoot more or find a C next to him that can shoot
I would compare him to Bam on the Heat.
Undersized at C but would be a big PF
I see. Well, nothing is preventing him from extending his range as a 5. I have seen almost all their games this season. He’s been trying jumpers here and there, and he’s been putting the ball on the floor, which he hasn’t done before. So he’s dipping his toe in the water a little bit.
But he’s been excellent as a 5, he’s one of the best rebounders in the league, he’s been commanding the space around his rim on defense better, he’s wreaking havoc under opponents’ rims. And he has an excellent understanding with Cade. If I’m Detroit, I’d be afraid to ruin that.
In my language, there’s a saying ‘The best is the enemy of the good”, which means that trying to reach the best level of something might damage the good thing that’s going on. I don’t know the equivalent of that saying in English.
There’s such a good thing going on with him right now, I’d let that develop.
And the way I see basketball, it’s not “The center has to be 7ft+ to be able to rebound, protect the rim, control the space around the rim, and keep up with the opposing 5”. I see it as “The center has to rebound, protect the rim, control the space around the rim, keep up with the opposing 5”. Period. And if the guy does that at 6’9 and not at 7’0, then hats off to him. I see no issue with that.
Throughout the history of this league, so many players have inflated their height, namely centers who claimed 7 foot but actually were 6’8-6’10. And many of them were absolutely brilliant at basketball.
I’m going to call BS sorry. Please give me one Center who said they were 7’0 but much shorter.
Cam Whitmore, nassir little, Justice Winslow, Ace Bailey are recent players lying about their height but are not Centers
I’d rather have a 6’11 guy than a 6’8 Center. Wes doesn’t count
Sorry but 6’8 guys should be playing SF
Wasn’t Hakeem listed as 7’0 and talked about as a 7-footer, but was closer to 6’9? Dwight did just fine at 6’9.
I’d rather have a 6’11-7’0 guy too. But if the guy is shorter and can play, I see no problem. Duren had 18 boards against Boston (Queta is 7’0) and 22 against Utah (Nurk is also 7’0). He had 6 boards in 12 minutes against Houston before he got ejected, that’d be on pace for 15 in 30 minutes, against their size.
Duren’s strengths, at least at this point, are around the rim. Why take that away from him? And it’s not like Detroit have a young 7-footer knocking on the door. Isiah Stewart, their 2nd C, is 6’7.
Queta is kinda of a weakling. He gets out muscled by smaller players, Nurkic is a scrub.
Duren can still play the exact game at PF. I’m just saying he can be better than what he is now but it’s okay. Stewart is too small at C but many others are too
I believe Hakeem was never that small. He is 6’11 I believe, Dwight is not 6’9, he is taller than LeBron right?
Tobias or Reed and a 1st for a C but it’s all good
What would you do if you were the Pistons then? Leave it and keep the core together?
I just think they are missing that one piece to be a championship team
Dwight was 6’9. Hakeem was between 6’9 and 6’10, closer to 6’9. Ben Wallace was 6’7. LeBron is a little over 6’7, like 6’7.25-6’7.5. Kevin Love is 6’7.75, he’s about half an inch taller than LeBron.
All of those are barefoot without shoes.
Among recent draftees who are there or almost there, Mark Williams is 7’0 barefoot, with long arms, and he absolutely looks like it. Kessler is 7’0.25.
Alex Sarr and Kel’el Ware are both a hair under 7’0. 6’11.75 to be exact.
Duren is between 6’8.75-6’9, I believe. But he’s a rock in terms of his strength and build, and knows how to use his centre of gravity. People bounce off him.
They probably need a 4, both short- and long-term.
Had they extended Duren this summer (it was reported he was asking for 30m AAV, they probably could have struck a deal for 25-28, like Giddey), and had they extended Ivey (based on their internal evaluations), they would be in a good place to get another max or close to max guy. But Duren will likely ask for a 25% rookie max now, which will cost 45m AAV, Cade is making 30%, Ivey I think has a high chance to play himself into a large contract too, plus this is Ausar’s contract year, plus they need to think about Holland. I don’t think they can afford a really big salary. So no JJJ or Markkanen, otherwise they’ll be in the 2nd apron in 2 years. Certainly no AD or anything like that.
I don’t hate the idea of Santi Aldama, who’s probably gettable from Memphis, and makes 17m a year. Not a physical defensive monster, but a solid player all-around, crafty and with proper fundamentals. Almost always makes the right play. He strikes like someone who’d play for Pop in San Antonio and win titles. Has a nice size for his position.
As far as established defensive stretch 5, those are valuable, and I’d like to see Duren continue developing his rim-protecting skills. He’s been a much-improved defender in this early stretch of the season than in the 3 previous years.
Porzingis is a free agent next summer, and Detroit will have cap space. He’s not ancient yet. So maybe that’s an option.
I know Ben Wallace was listed at 6’9 with shoes
I’m not sure about that Hakeem and Dwight height without shoes. I’ll have to maybe look that up.
I can think of Durant and Garnett lying about their height. To be shorter though
If Duren was say moved to PF and you then give him the green light to score then give the duties of defense to the C. 6’8 without shoes you said is too small. I’m sorry I must have a height complex
PG. 6’1+
SG. 6’6+
SF. 6’7+
PF. 6’9+
C . 6’11+
Those are my perfect height for position but some players are exceptions. I think only Iverson, Barkley, Wade ,Rodman and Adrian Dantley are the only players I would start that are undersized at PG -C
All undersized team
PG. Bogues
SG. Wade/Iverson
SF. Dantley
PF. Barkley
C . Unseld
“6’8 without shoes you said is too small.”. Closer to 6’9 than to 6’8 Duren is, I believe. He was not measured at the combine, and we don’t have a good reference, but I’d say 6’9 or a little under that barefoot.
He’s been averaging 20 in under 30 minutes as a center. That’s impressive. I’ve been watching him, he’s becoming very good at drawing fouls under the rim. He’s averaging much more FTAs per FGA or per 100 possessions than Cade, for example. It’s one of the reasons I think he should be kept at 5.
They have good functional size in Cade and Ausar. They are big for their positions, play big and are physical. Holland isn’t undersized either. It’s not like they need a 7-foot physical best with aeroplane wingspan to make up for the lack of size and physicality elsewhere.
P.S. I love Unseld as your pick for that team :)
You are right about everything there. Just he could do all that at PF and more, a Rich mans Bam. Then someone next to him blocking shots and doing the dirty work.
If you decide to leave Duren at C then you need a young PF who is 6’10 or taller who can shoot it. I still like Stewart as the first big man off the bench.
This would be it next year if say a championship
PG. Cunningham
SG. Thompson, Ivey 6th man of the year
SF. Holland
PF. ? Find a shooting PF age from 21-24
C . Duren
Trade Paul Reed, Klintman, Lanier and a pick for a young future starter PF (21-24 6’10+) who can shoot and block a little along with a shot blocking backup C. Promote Jenkins
That’s what they should do then if Duren is the C
Something like that, yes.
The problem is that 6’10 forwards who can block shots, move their feet on defence and shoot the 3 are rare. But if they can find a guy like that, they’ll have an amazing starting 5, plus a quality bench.
Of course Duren is doing well at C playing against 6’8 Onyeka Okongwu who played 38 minutes and grabbed ONE rebound.
Just because Duren rebounds good doesn’t mean he has to be a C. Plenty of PF’s have led the league in rebounds. Like Bam he would flourish. Of course Duren will dominate playing against the PJ Tucker’s of the world
I agree I would keep the Pistons core together.
All they would need to do is trade Reed, Tobias and a pick for a good defensive 3pt shooting C
Duren the player Embiid wishes he was. But instead Embiid flops his way to the injury report as Duren keeps getting tougher.
Yea…ok. Oh wait, how many times has Duren been on the mvp ballot? Child please, the kid’s got talent for sure but let’s not make absurd statements. Troll better