Despite struggles in the postseason and a Game 4 loss, J.B. Bickerstaff is sticking with Jalen Duren for the Pistons’ playoff push.
One key reason the Detroit Pistons keep turning to Jalen Duren even during a rough stretch is the message it sends about who the team is building its future around.
After the Pistons’ 112-103 Game 4 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, J.B.. Bickerstaff made it clear he’s continuing the gamble on Duren. while acknowledging the postseason has looked different than the regular season.. Duren himself described the situation plainly: he believes he has to improve and said he has no excuses. insisting he is his “biggest critic” and that he’ll keep pushing for better contributions with the playoffs ongoing.
Game 4 offered a snapshot of why doubts have surfaced.. Duren finished with eight points, two rebounds, two steals, four turnovers, and five fouls.. His stat line was only part of the bigger picture. though. as the Pistons’ defeat also reflected multiple issues across their performance in a series that is now tied 2-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Still, the Pistons are not starting from scratch in their confidence.. Duren’s regular season was strong enough to earn recognition as the second-most prominent player in a 60-win team and to place him second in Most Improved Player voting.. He averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. forming a foundation that Detroit relied on to secure the Eastern Conference’s top seed with ease.. That history matters, particularly because Bickerstaff’s decision suggests he is prioritizing long-term dependability over short-term results.
In this postseason run, however, Duren’s numbers have dipped.. Over 11 games, he is averaging 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds.. There have been reminders of what he can still deliver—most notably a Game 7 first-round performance against the Orlando Magic featuring 15 points and 15 rebounds—yet those flashes have not been consistent enough to fully erase concerns.
The defensive side of the picture has also shifted.. During the early parts of the Cavaliers series. Duren met James Harden as he came off screens and was described as solid at the point of attack.. In Games 3 and 4. that effort “has disappeared. ” underscoring why his struggles have stood out even to those rooting for the long-term plan.
Yet Bickerstaff’s coaching preference has remained the same: he continues to close games with Duren instead of leaning on Paul Reed. a choice that revealed both an approach to development and the franchise’s priorities during Detroit’s deepest playoff run in nearly 20 years.. In the short term. this can carry risk—especially if Duren’s missteps pile up—but it also reflects a belief that he needs playoff reps to become reliable under pressure.
It also matters that Duren is positioned for a significant future moment.. He is 22 years old and is on the cusp of a potential pay raise. with restricted free agency ahead this offseason.. The willingness to keep investing in him through adversity signals that the organization views him as one of its core building blocks rather than a temporary solution.
The decision wasn’t absolute, though.. Even with Duren on the floor for crucial stretches. Monday marked the second straight game—and third in these playoffs—where Bickerstaff leaned on Paul Reed in a pivotal moment.. Reed entered for Duren at 9:40 of the third quarter as the Cavaliers went on a 24-0 run that nearly settled the outcome early.
Reed’s impact came quickly: he helped snap the run midway through the period with a dunk and finished with 13 points in 13 minutes.. Then. when the game demanded another look at the primary target. Duren returned with 10:28 remaining in the fourth. and stayed in until Bickerstaff effectively shifted away from the matchup as Detroit trailed by 16 with under three minutes left.
Bickerstaff defended the choice to stick with Duren in the fourth by pointing to confidence and earned responsibility.. He said the idea is not to abandon players who are struggling. noting that Duren has accomplished things for the team and that moments like Reed’s minutes were meant to recognize what a player earned.. The reasoning was also tied to how the group supports one another. with Bickerstaff describing a team culture where players genuinely care and fight through difficulties together.
Bickerstaff also emphasized what he wants Duren to focus on—areas of the game where he can exert control.. The coach suggested that physically, Duren can dominate in specific ways: rebounding, defending, and running the floor.. From that perspective. the strategy is to steer him toward the parts of his skill set that are most dependable. with the expectation that the rest of the game can follow as confidence and rhythm return.
More broadly, the Pistons’ season success still sits in contrast to the realities of postseason basketball for a young roster.. They had momentum this spring. winning five straight games to overcome a 3-1 deficit against the Magic and building a 2-0 lead over the Cavaliers. but the playoffs are now forcing them to solve problems in real time.
With Games 3 and 4 turning against them, Detroit now heads back home for Game 5 with the series on the line.. Duren’s stance reflects the same philosophy: he sees each game as a learning opportunity and said the team is growing through losses as they figure out what needs to change.. For the Pistons. that learning curve has to happen quickly. because the margin for error narrows sharply as the postseason advances.
Game 5 carries an immediate consequence. Detroit is listed as the 1-seed at 2-2 against the 4-seed Cavaliers also tied 2-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with the winner advancing to face the 3-seed New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals and earn a spot in the NBA Finals.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, with ESPN and WWJ-AM (950) scheduled to carry the game.
Jalen Duren J.B. Bickerstaff Detroit Pistons Cleveland Cavaliers NBA playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals