The Detroit Pistons snapped their losing streak last night, but it was the knockout punch of Killian Hayes that has everyone talking.
Hayes retaliated after being shoved into the bench by Moe Wagner and the two benches had a brief scuffle, though from the reaction of some of the pearl clutchers today you’d think Hayes had murdered the man in cold blood.
Not to sound like an old head here, but some of you would have needed fainting couches to watch basketball in the 80’s and 90’s. Killian Hayes shouldn’t have done it, but I understand, as he got shoved from behind into his own bench and the two teams had been chippy all night. Wagner shouldn’t have done what he did either, so let’s move on and hope this starts a nice rivalry between two rebuilding teams trying to come up at the same time.
It was unfortunate for Hayes, as slumping Wagner will probably cost him a game or two suspension, but it might be just the spark this team needs to get going and build some of the chemistry that has been lacking all season.
Hayes will get most of the headlines, but it was the rebounding of Jalen Duren that should have everyone talking.
Detroit Pistons: Jalen Duren joining the league’s elite rebounders
Rookie Jalen Duren scored seven points and added 18 rebounds last night, eight of them on the offensive end. This is huge for a team that struggles shooting the ball, as it gets them extra possessions and the chance for easy put backs.
Duren is now 3rd in total offensive rebounds in the NBA this season, just behind Steven Adams and Ivica Zubac. This is even more impressive when you consider that Duren is the league’s youngest player and has only recently been inserted into the starting lineup.
Last night’s game marked the 10th start for Duren this season, and in those games he is averaging 10 points,12.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Those rebounding numbers would lead the NBA if done over the full season, and Duren has pulled down 4.7 offensive rebounds per game in that time, which would also be tied for the league lead.
I think it’s fair to say that the league’s youngest player has a chance to be its best rebounder, and soon, as he just keeps getting more comfortable and dominant on the boards the more he plays.
A lot of the focus has been on rookie Jaden Ivey this season, but it’s Duren who is really starting to look like the steal of the draft and a guy who is going to end up on the first team All-Rookie.