After their strong start to the season, Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons have been on the losing side for the last four games. It has been a struggle for the top-seeded Eastern Conference side.
With the regular season reaching the business end, the Pistons will need to fix the mistakes that have seen them drop winnable games. The string of losses marks their longest losing streak after their two-game skid back in December last year.
Jalen Duren Throws Down the Gauntlet to Struggling Pistons
Speaking to the media in the aftermath of the tough 121-110 loss to the Miami Heat, Duren minced no words when he urged his teammates to regroup and get back to winning ways.
“I just think that we were not locked in, including myself,” Duren said. “We just have to be better and get back to how we were defending early in the season, getting back to being that top-three defense.”
The Pistons have had a series of issues over the last four games. Their 3-point shooting has sputtered, as has their defense. After making headlines for their lockdown defense at the start of the season, the clamping of their opponents has been a major absence.
The offense has taken a hit for the Pistons, as they have failed to score over 110 points in their last four games. Cade Cunningham’s scoring has been the lone bright spot for the side, as the rest of the starters and the bench have come up short.
Duren has had a solid season, averaging 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds, but the Pistons will need more from him on both ends of the floor as they gear up for their second playoff appearance in as many seasons.
The Pistons are now 45-18 after the losses and are trailing the 43-21 Boston Celtics, looking to make a push for the top seed. Despite the pressure to stay on top, Duren’s teammate Tobias Harris painted a positive picture.
“In the locker room, it’s not a joking-around mentality,” Harris said, according to ESPN. “We know we’re supposed to win, but we know that we put the work and time into it. So, things are going to work in our favor. We’ll figure it out, and we’ll be right back on a winning streak and be ready, get ready for the playoffs.”
Up next, the Pistons play the Brooklyn Nets on the road. They will hope to work on rectifying their errors and end the slide. They host playoff hopefuls Philadelphia 76ers, followed by the struggling Memphis Grizzlies.
