After a rocky start to the playoffs against Orlando — where his offensive numbers dipped well below his regular-season averages — Jalen Duren has found his footing at the right moment for the Detroit Pistons.
The young center averaged 13 points across the Game 7 win over the Magic and the Game 1 victory over the Cavaliers, numbers more in line with what Detroit has come to expect from him. But it’s not just the scoring — his rebounding, passing, and shot-blocking have been crucial assets when matched against the front-court pairing of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
« If I can have an impact in three or four ways rather than just one, I have to do that, » Duren told The Athletic. « If it’s time to score, I try to score. But the most important thing is the team winning. »
With the Pistons holding a 1-0 series lead over Cleveland, Duren’s continued development as a two-way force could be the X-factor in Detroit’s unlikely deep playoff run.
Source: BasketUSA
