Jalen Duren’s playoff struggles becoming major concern for Pistons

Jalen Duren’s playoff struggles becoming major concern for Pistons originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Pistons entered the postseason expecting young center Jalen Duren to play a major role in their playoff push. After an impressive regular season that showcased his growth as one of the league’s rising big men, Duren appeared poised for a breakout postseason. Instead, the playoffs have exposed some of the challenges young players often face under postseason pressure.

During the regular season, Duren developed into one of Detroit’s most reliable interior players. He averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 65 percent from the field in just 28.2 minutes per contest. His athleticism, finishing ability, and rebounding presence gave the Pistons a consistent inside threat throughout the year.

However, those numbers have taken a noticeable step backward in the playoffs.

Through the postseason, Duren is averaging 10.4 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting just 49.4 percent from the field despite seeing his minutes increase to 31.7 per game. The dramatic decline in efficiency has been particularly concerning for Detroit as the intensity and physicality of playoff basketball continue to rise.