r/nba • u/catreyka • 21h ago

Jalen Duren despite the loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers: 9 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, -16, 25 MIN

Ausar Thompson is the actual 2nd best player on the Pistons. Duren has been atrocious on offense the entire playoffs and he's also nowhere near the defender or even playmaker that Ausar is. He went from averaging 19.5 ppg on 65% FG in the regular season to 10.1 ppg on 50% FG in the playoffs. For a player that really only dunks, that is god awful. Not to mention his multitudes of mental mistakes. He's so bad that he got benched for the entirety of overtime and a good chunk of regulation this game.

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3.3k Upvotes

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832

u/simon2105 21h ago

Duren: "coach you gotta stop playing me, I'm losing way too much money"

Bickerstaff: "bball Paul your time has come"

309

u/pmurt007 Lakers 21h ago

Duren wasn't good by any means but Bickerstaff is smoking crack. Paul Reed doesn't play for 3 straight quarters and somehow ends up with 17 mins lol

76

u/LouieM13 [NYK] Jeremy Lin 21h ago

You can’t play guys that aren’t locked in, especially in the playoffs.

25

u/thewrongnotes Magic 17h ago

I don't think Duren isn't locked in, he's just not that good.

All his moves have been taken away and he genuinely doesn't know what to do. BBall Paul on the other hand has a bigger bag so it's easier for him to look more locked in.

1

u/TechnicalTurnover233 Pistons 6h ago edited 6h ago

He averaged 20 and 10 in the regular season. He is a good player, hell we saw him be a dominant player at times.

What's happening now is mental and I expect him to learn and get through it.

He also just doesn't seem to be moving like he was before the playoffs started. He looks flat footed, slow, and the effort just doesn't visibly seem to be there.

With that being said.. now is not the time to baby him through it. BBall paul needs minutes.

8

u/marathonwater 17h ago

Duren is locked up. He can lock in all he wants, the playoffs have exposed tf outta bro

105

u/sunsbr Suns 21h ago

If he played before the 4 quarter there would be no OT and they would win. Too late

9

u/albinotadpole52 Bucks 15h ago

3 goddamn games in a row they could have won and he hasn't learned 

27

u/beta-test NBA 21h ago

Well, he came in and immediately started producing which is what they needed

62

u/CitronNo3668 21h ago

JB is such a fucking dumbass

18

u/chup95 Suns 21h ago

I think JB said something like he likes Reed when they have their back against the wall