The Detroit Pistons are rolling, winners of five straight and sitting alone in the 6th spot in the Eastern Conference.
It’s a far cry from where they were last season, or the one before that, or the one....you get the picture.
After being the worst team in the NBA over the last six years, Detroit is finally treating fans to some much-deserved joy. Regardless of what happens this season, it’s been entertaining basketball and it’s clear the Pistons are on the right path after wandering the wilderness for years.
One of the commonalities in all of those losing seasons was that every new coach and every new player made some reference to bringing back “Detroit Basketball,” a promise we heard so many times it turned into a snarky joke.
Those are just words until you back them up, which the Detroit Pistons are finally doing this season.
Jalen Duren makes good on same old Detroit Pistons promise
Jalen Duren has been a big part of the recent surge, as he’s been much more active on both ends, especially offensively, where he is doing more than just dunking, averaging 5.6 assists per game over his last five.
Duren made reference to “Detroit Basketball” in a recent pregame interview with Johnny Kane, saying that Pistons fans deserved playoff basketball in Detroit and this is the team that is going to bring it to you:
“The fans and the city deserve to see playoff basketball. They deserve championships because that’s the type of city it’s always been.. Our goal is to bring that back and we will bring that back. Stay tuned. Be excited. Be ready because #DetroitBasketball is back.”
— Johnny Kane (@Johnny__Kane) February 21, 2025
- Jalen Duren pic.twitter.com/EIGqc1queg
Like I said, these are just words until you back them up, and Duren has been of late, not just with his passing, but with improved defense and effort.
Duren may never be a defensive stopper, but he showed last night why he is special, as few players with his size and strength have his kind of athleticism. The Spurs had no answer and Duren was relentless on the boards.
But as we know, “Detroit Basketball” begins and ends with defense, and the Pistons have improved mightily in that area, especially around the rim.
Detroit is up to 12th in the league in defensive rating after being 30th in that category just last season. They are 9th in defensive rebounds per game (a key to closing out possessions and getting out in transition), 4th in defensive rebounding percentage, 13th in blocks per game and 5th in opponent’s points in the paint per game.
Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart have a lot to do with that, as they have been stout around the rim and with Ausar Thompson making it more difficult for opponents to get there, the Pistons are 11th in defensive efficiency and allowing six fewer points per game than they did just last season, and that’s without a major upgrade on the defensive end.
The Pistons are relevant again because of their defense and hard work, finally making good on a promise we’ve heard many times before. JB Bickerstaff said before the season that he wanted the Pistons to be a team no one looked forward to playing, and right now, they are.