Heading into Game 6 in Cleveland, the Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff was facing a ton of scrutiny about his rotation decisions at center. Many were calling for Jalen Duren's benching in favor of more Paul Reed. This was certainly understandable given the fact that Duren has been struggling on both ends of the floor in the playoffs, while Reed was swinging games for the team every time he stepped on the court.
Bickerstaff, however, stuck to the plan that got him this far. He gave Reed a bigger opportunity, to be sure, but Duren got the start and the lion's share of minutes at center once again. And this risky decision that could have come back to bite him helped the Pistons force a Game 7.
JB Bickerstaff's controversial Jalen Duren approach pays off in Game 6
Duren arguably had his best game in these playoffs, despite spraining his ankle in the third quarter. He put up 15 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks on 7/10 shooting from the field. He was able to beat his defender off the dribble a few times, overwhelm them physically, and exert his will inside the paint. Most importantly, he looked confident and engaged throughout the game.
Perhaps Bickerstaff deserves credit for this performance. Unlike what most head coaches would have done, Bickerstaff never stopped trusting in Duren and always instilled confidence in him.
When asked about this decision before Game 6, Bickerstaff had a thoughtful response. He said that he was looking at the big picture and didn't want to give up on guys when they are struggling. He added, "What does it say about us, if in their difficult times, we choose to give up on them? That's not building the environment that we want to build," per Pistons insider Omari Sankofa II.
That approach is how Bickerstaff was able to find a ton of success in Detroit. His players play very hard for him. It doesn't always look pretty. It's almost never easy. But these Pistons care. They play with effort and intensity, and they pick each other up when they fall.
Bickerstaff leads by example. He is the first one to pick his players up when they are struggling. With how many games they have won since he took over, it's hard to argue with the results.
This may not continue. The Pistons may end up losing Game 7 or the next round. And Duren's poor performance may be a contributing factor. But Bickerstaff's overall approach, as controversial as it may be, will remain admirable. For now, it has been working beautifully and has the Pistons on the brink of the Conference Finals.
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