How Jalen Duren, Cade Cunningham’s Pistons improved a lot before NBA Playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A large majority of the NBA world was astounded by the sudden rise of the Detroit Pistons. More than Coach JB Bickerstaff’s schematics, they also found new ways to improve. The result? Well, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren have become All-Stars. Moreover, they have a very realistic shot of retaining homecourt advantage for the whole of the NBA Playoffs. So, what’s the secret?

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Duren outlines Pistons’ heavy focus on film

When watching Pistons games, a glaring separator between them and other teams is how they operate like a well-oiled machine. It also not just Cunningham and Duren who do well on the floor. Coach Bickerstaff has found a way to elevate guys in their rotation like Daniss Jenkins, Ron Holland III, and Paul Reed before the NBA Playoffs.

Duren noted that it was all because they evaluated Coach Bickerstaff’s schemes and how they would fare against other squads. All of that happened in the film room, via Fred Katz of The Athletic.

“It came down to just watching film, man. Just watching film, seeing where my weaknesses were and kinda just building on that. Once you understand what your weaknesses are, you’re able to work on them,” the Pistons center declared.

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All of that seem to be paying dividends for the majority of the Pistons roster. Aside from their conference-leading 52-20 record, they have been great at all the team metrics. Coach Bickerstaff and Cunningham have led this team to 117.5 points per game which ranks eighth in the league. Moreover, They also have an insane 109.9 defensive rating that gets them to third in the NBA. Not to mention, the Pistons’ net rating is valued at +7.7 and it’s the third-best in the league.

As of late, they are still holding on after Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung a few games before the NBA Playoffs. With how much they are invested to improving, it would not be a surprise if Duren and Bickerstaff still manage to lead this team to a probable Larry O’Brien trophy run.

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