Overview
- Duren’s average has fallen from 19.5 points in the regular season to 10.1 in the playoffs, a drop that trails only Wilt Chamberlain’s 1962 falloff for an All-Star.
- In Game 5 against Cleveland, third-string center Paul Reed played the entire fourth quarter and overtime while Duren stayed on the bench.
- The Pistons trail the Cavaliers 3–2 in the second round and face elimination with one more loss, increasing pressure on their rotation choices.
- Opponents have tagged Duren’s rolls and blitzed Cade Cunningham on ball screens, and Detroit’s poor spacing has limited lobs and easy finishes for the center.
- Analysts also point to Duren’s shaky lateral defense and thin post-up game, and Detroit must decide whether to match big offers, seek a smaller deal, or explore a sign-and-trade in restricted free agency.