Twelve wins in a row, clear first place in the East. Just two years after their horrendous 28-game losing streak, the Detroit Pistons are back on top. But how did this happen so quickly? Here are three reasons for the surprising turnaround.
1. The Pistons have the best duo in the Eastern Conference
It’s no secret that the Pistons have an All-Star caliber player in their ranks in former No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham. The point guard is once again putting up fabulous numbers this season, which, coupled with the franchise’s recent success, are bringing him closer to the field of MVP candidates. Statisticians credit the American with 27.4 points and 9.9 assists in 13 games this season. So far, so unsurprising.
One difference compared to previous years, however, is the production of co-star Jalen Duren. The center has already made a name for himself in recent years as a double-double machine. In the summer, however, the big man, who just celebrated his 22nd birthday, seems to have worked intensively on his offensive skills.
Duren averaged 20.5 points in his first 14 games of the season, almost twice as many as last season (11.8 PPG), while his efficiency has remained virtually unchanged. At 2.08 meters, he is certainly not one of the biggest big men in the league, nor does he have a three-point shot yet. However, Duren makes up for these shortcomings with his rare combination of size and tremendous athleticism. His 11.5 rebounds per game are not only among the top six in the league, they also come close to his personal career best (11.6). His 4.2 offensive rebounds per game are clearly unmatched in his NBA career.
In addition, the fourth-year pro has unexpectedly acquired good ball-handling skills, which he is increasingly using to beat his tall opponents off the dribble.
2. Defensive pest is back – the Bad Boys Pistons
In the 1990s, the Bad Boys Pistons spread fear and terror with their physical and sometimes unfair style of play. Almost three decades later, parallels can be seen once again. Only four teams top their 23.0 fouls per game. Only two teams can beat their 28.7 opponent free throws per game.
Their defensive strength within the three-point line is Detroit’s key to success. This is made possible by their often very tall lineups. Ausar Thompson is just as much of a defensive pest as Isaiah Stewart. Duren also repeatedly shows flashes of his potential in this area. Teams average only 43.9 points in the Pistons’ zone – fourth best in the league! With 6.1 blocks per game, the new Bad Boys even rank third.
This adds up to a defensive rating of 110.0 – clearly the best in the Eastern Conference and second only to the historic defense of the Oklahoma City Thunder (102.8 DRAT) in the league.
3. Detroit’s offense: More diverse than ever!
The Pistons’ great offensive strength is not just the Cunningham/Duren show. Ten players (minimum five games) are currently averaging over eight points. The departures of Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. have been adequately replaced. Duncan Robinson is shooting 44 percent from three-point range on a high volume (7.3 per game). Caris LeVert is finding his feet in the team after a slow start. In addition, numerous young players have taken a big step forward this season. Alongside Duren’s offensive doubling, two-way guard Daniss Jenksins is considered the big surprise of the new season with his 11.4 points per game. The 24-year-old helped keep the backcourt rotation stable in the face of Ivey’s long absence. Speaking of Jaden Ivey, he recently made a successful return with ten points in his first game after almost a year out with injury, giving the league leaders another option.
