With three of their first four games away, the Pistons did not have the favors of the schedule to start their season. Especially them who are coming out of a disastrous campaign with 17 victories and 65 defeats last year.
But, with two victories and two defeats, including one on the wire in Miami for the opening night (103-102), the young troop from Detroit is not doing too badly.
“We didn’t have much time together [la saison passée] »
It must be said that Jalen Duren (15.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2 blocks on average) and Cade Cunningham (21.0 points, 7.5 assists) are starting to find their feet next to each other, having only played 79 minutes together (over 9 matches) on the boards before this season…
In his first three outings, before a tricky match against OKC, the interior already totaled 18 dunks and 8 blocks.
The Pistons’ new starting pivot is ultimately only 47 days older than Victor Wembanyama, but already has an NBA season in his legs. And now a point guard who can put him into orbit for thunderous alley-oops!
“I invited him to my house this summer,” says Cade Cunningham in The Athletic. “We talked about it earlier in the offseason, it was a mutual intention. We wanted to get together and do some ranges together. We didn’t have much time together [la saison passée]. »
The results did not take long. According to official NBA stats, Cade Cunningham gives 2.3 assists per game to Jalen Duren, his most sought-after teammate. And the converse is also true because the pivot gives 49% of his passes to his leader! Look no further what is the major axis in attack for Detroit…
“We both have this sense of the game”
Two years ago, Cade Cunningham was able to glimpse the prospect of a player who gives height to his game with Marvin Bagley. But, with Jalen Duren, the former No. 1 in the Pistons Draft can still aim higher.
“With JD, it was mainly about adjusting our chemistry, finding our bearings. Between Bagley and me, it fell into place without forcing anything. As soon as he arrived, we had a good relationship on the pitch. But it can take time to develop chemistry with an interior, especially for lobs. We didn’t have much time together in training last season, but it’s starting to come after our summer session. »
Main change in the Pistons’ game compared to last year, Jalen Duren and this “vertical spacing” can only do good for the Detroit franchise, which is still looking for its second wind since the great Billups – Wallace years at the start from the 2000s…
At 19 and 22 years old respectively, Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham must become the Pistons’ duo of the future.
“I just wanted to spend more time with him,” concludes Jalen Duren on this summer of working together. “It was like an introduction to each other, so that we could learn to play better together. I wanted to see what his spots are on the court, and how I can create open positions for him. But honestly, it happened naturally with his IQ. I think we both have that feel for the game.”
Detroit is in any case counting a lot on them and has just activated its options for their 2024/25 season (13.9 million for Cade Cunningham and 4.5 million for Jalen Duren), as well as for Jaden Ivey (7.9 million).
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Cade Cunningham | 4 | 33.7 | 41.9 | 40.0 | 85.7 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 7.5 | 5.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 3.8 | 21.0 |
| Jalen Duren | 4 | 30.8 | 68.3 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 5.3 | 8.0 | 13.3 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 15.5 |
| Alex Burks | 4 | 25.6 | 43.6 | 53.8 | 80.0 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 15.0 |
| Isaiah Stewart II | 4 | 33.9 | 48.9 | 42.9 | 71.4 | 2.3 | 7.0 | 9.3 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 13.8 |
| Jaden Ivey | 4 | 20.3 | 47.5 | 43.8 | 80.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 12.3 |
| Marvin Bagley III | 4 | 17.0 | 66.7 | 50.0 | 86.7 | 1.3 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 11.5 |
| Ausar Thompson | 4 | 29.6 | 32.4 | 14.3 | 75.0 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 10.5 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 8.5 |
| Killian Hayes | 4 | 27.5 | 31.6 | 25.0 | 57.1 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 8.0 |
| Marcus Sasser | 4 | 9.5 | 54.5 | 57.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 4.0 |
| Joe Harris | 4 | 11.0 | 25.0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| Stanley Umude | 2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jared Rhoden | 1 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
