In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Detroit Pistons held an early lead, but Donovan Mitchell erupted in the second half, scoring a record 39 points in the half and 43 total to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a dramatic comeback, tying the series at 2-2. The loss put the Pistons’ star big man, Jalen Duren, under fire. He finished with just 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, along with 5 fouls—a performance widely labeled as a disaster.
Worse still, Duren is approaching a contract extension. Based on his regular-season play, he could have commanded a maximum deal worth up to $210 million. Now, it appears he is single-handedly sabotaging that opportunity. Let’s break down how poor his playoff performance has been.
Lack of Offensive Game, Plummeting Efficiency
First and foremost, Duren’s offensive limitations are glaring in the modern small-ball era. He lacks reliable self-creation, and his postseason averages of 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists are far from sufficient for a team’s primary interior option. His scoring relies heavily on alley-oops, pick-and-roll finishes, and putbacks—virtually nonexistent away from the rim. Against Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen of the Cavaliers, he has been completely neutralized, scoring only 38 points across the first four games, which explains the Pistons’ struggles.
The Pistons have tried to give him isolation touches, but his limited footwork and back-to-the-basket skills allow the Cavaliers to defend him one-on-one without even double-teaming. Worse, his low basketball IQ has been exposed: when double-teamed near the basket, his passing is slow and indecisive, leading to an increasing turnover count—from 1 in Game 1 to 4 in Game 4. His once-dominant rim-finishing percentage has dropped from 67.2% in the regular season to 50.6% in the playoffs, forcing the Pistons to rely more on perimeter shooting—their weakest area.
This flaw explains why Detroit narrowly avoided a first-round sweep and lost their 2-0 series lead in the second round. Duren must address these issues in the offseason to become a legitimate core player.
Defensive Struggles and Lost Dominance
Defensively, Duren was a reliable force in the regular season, posting averages of 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks, with a defensive rating of 108.2 (34th in the NBA). His presence anchored the Pistons’ elite defense, which allowed them to finish first in the East despite ranking near the bottom in three-point shooting.
But in the playoffs, his flaws have been magnified. He bites on pump fakes too easily, frequently losing positioning and allowing easy buckets. In the first round against Wendell Carter Jr., he let Carter shoot 52% from the field—a clear sign of trouble. As a result, he’s averaging 3.5 fouls per game, among the league leaders. His rebounding has also dipped—especially defensive rebounding—and in the last two games he managed only 6 combined boards, ceding control of the paint to Mobley and Allen.
Additionally, the Pistons’ supporting cast hasn’t helped. Players like Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed can’t share the load, leaving Duren isolated against multiple bigs on both ends.
Mental Fragility and Lack of Leadership
Finally, Duren’s mindset has been concerning. In both the first round against Orlando and the second round against Cleveland, he has come up short when the team needs him most. In Game 4, with a chance to go up 3-1, he managed only 8 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 fouls, directly contributing to the loss. When his offense stalls, he becomes frustrated, diving further into turnovers and foul trouble, with poor self-correction abilities heavily dependent on the system.
As the Pistons’ second-best player behind Cade Cunningham, Duren still needs to develop leadership qualities. Setting aside contract talks, he has a long way to go to solidify his role in Detroit and earn respect league-wide.
