The Pistons' best lineup might not include a center

We spend a lot of time talking about who should start games, but for the Detroit Pistons, the bigger question will be who finishes them, especially when they are down and hunting buckets. 

Assuming Jalen Duren is back, it’s likely the Pistons will start the season with Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins and Jalen Duren in the starting five, but this may not be the lineup when they need a hoop. 

The Pistons’ best offensive lineup may not include a real center 

If the Pistons are trying to maximize their scoring at times next season, they may go with a lineup without a traditional center. 

I’ve talked about going small with Collins at center in stretches, and it’s something I am sure head coach JB Bickerstaff will explore next season, especially when his team is desperate for a bucket or trying to close out games at the free-throw line. 

He could run lineups with Cade, Ausar, Isaiah Joe, Robinson and Collins that would give him four shooters who are all good at the line. 

If he wanted to go crazy, he could swap Ausar for Daniss Jenkins or Kevin Huerter to get even more ball handling and shooting on the floor. 

But the lineup with Ausar may end up being one of Detroit’s best, which is ironic considering they’ve spent all summer trying to sign a center. 

This is a factor in the Jalen Duren saga 

Jalen Duren was not good in clutch time last season, which is defined as the last five minutes of a close game. 

His field goal percentage plummeted to 44 percent in clutch time last season, and he only shot 73 percent from the free-throw line. 

Meanwhile, Collins shot over 55 percent in 19 clutch-time games for the Clippers last season, shooting 100 percent from the free-throw line. 

It’s hard to justify giving a max deal to a guy who can’t even be on the floor late in close games, especially when Duren Isn't a great defender on top of it. 

Collins may end up being the Pistons’ best clutch-time option, something I am sure has been discussed in the Duren contract negotiations. 

Duren was vitally important to the Pistons last year in the regular season, but his clutch-time and playoff numbers put a dent in his next contract, as you need guys you can count on in these situations. 

It does bring up a very real debate about the value of centers who do not stretch the floor or protect the rim at an elite level, and this very debate is dragging out the Duren contract drama, as the two sides clearly have different views on this argument. 

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