But after just one bad playoff game,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0back to the same old narratives, namely that Duren\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0improved enough on defense and is not a true second\u00a0option\u00a0when it comes to scoring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Duren is going to get a big raise this summer one way or another, and that\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0changed, but his play in this series and beyond will\u00a0determine\u00a0just how much he gets, and right now, the Magic are taking money out of his pocket.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jalen Duren\u00a0has to\u00a0bounce back in game 2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Duren only took four shots in the first game, something that\u00a0has to\u00a0change, as the Pistons have relied on his efficient inside scoring all season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Magic were able to effectively pack the paint, caused some early turnovers, and then the Pistons went away from their big man for most of the game.\u00a0Head coach JB Bickerstaff\u00a0has to\u00a0make adjustments<\/a> to\u00a0counter this defense and to find ways to get Duren the ball in his spots.\u00a0<\/p>\n A big game two will make everyone forget about the first game\u00a0dud,\u00a0and Duren can start to rebuild his resume for a max deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n But if he continues to get outplayed by Wendell Carter Jr., not to mention the other centers on his team (we may see\u00a0BBall\u00a0Paul at some point if this continues), this Orlando series could be an expensive one for Duren whether the Pistons win it or not.\u00a0<\/p>\n There is pressure is on Duren for the first time\u00a0<\/p>\n For most of his career, Duren has just caught lobs from Cade Cunningham and been asked to\u00a0improve on\u00a0defense, but the Pistons have come to rely on him more offensively this season, so he may be feeling pressure for the first time in his career.\u00a0<\/p>\n Last season in the playoffs, the narrative was all about Cade Cunningham and whether he would flourish on the big stage (he did), but after a\u00a039-point\u00a0performance in game one, that narrative is all but dead.\u00a0<\/p>\n The focus is now on the supporting cast, headlined by Duren, who was a non-factor in game one, something that\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0be a repeat\u00a0occurrence\u00a0if the Pistons want to make a deep run.\u00a0<\/p>\n Duren\u00a0has to\u00a0take these matchups\u00a0personally and\u00a0stop the Magic from making money disappear from his wallet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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