After the disappointing Game 1 loss to the Orlando Magic, a big talking point in Detroit was Jalen Duren. The first-time All-Star was a shell of himself on Sunday, taking only four shots in 33 minutes and finishing with eight points. It was arguably the worst game of the season for the talented center, and if the Pistons are going to take control of this series, they need more from Duren.
Both head coach JB Bickerstaff and Duren agreed with this sentiment and discussed how they plan to counter Orlando's defensive strategy. Duren said that the Magic had a good game plan of packing the paint, and now the Pistons have to respond well with the "adjustments" they made over the last few days, per Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press.
Bickerstaff also reflected on what went wrong and what needs to change in Game 2. He emphasized the need to "put the ball in [Duren's] hands, and do a better job of letting him touch it in different places," according to Sankofa.
Pistons Can't Ignore Jalen Duren's Defensive Struggles in Game 1
It certainly sounds like getting Duren going early will be a priority for the Pistons on Wednesday. However, Duren's issues weren't only on the offensive side of the ball.
Defensively, Duren was nowhere near where he had been all season. Duren finished the game with seven rebounds and one block, and wasn't effective in protecting the rim. Guarding Wendell Carter Jr. of the Magic, Duren stepped out to the perimeter to defend him, but wasn't able to get back into the action. Orlando ended up taking advantage of the spacing created by Carter and attacked the rim at will on Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero's drives.
As a result, the Pistons had a miserable 134.3 defensive rating with Duren on the floor on Sunday. Detroit lost Duren's minutes by 21 points. So, the offense was certainly not the only issue with Duren in Game 1.
The Pistons relied on their defense all season to get to this point. Duren rotating and providing help defense at the rim was a big reason why the Pistons were the second-best defense in the league. Duren's mobility, athleticism, and length can be very impactful at the rim, but he was taken out of his defensive game by Orlando. In Game 2, he needs to respect Carter's shot less and stay closer to the rim to prevent the Magic's drives.
It would have been nice to hear more about Detroit's approach on the defensive side of the ball rather than solely focusing on Duren's lack of offensive involvement. Let's hope that the Pistons can rediscover their defensive identity and tie the series at 1-1.
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