The Detroit Pistons are staring down elimination after a crushing Game 5 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on their home court. Cade Cunningham did everything he could, dropping 39 points with nine assists in another stellar postseason performance. But for the second straight series, the Pistons find themselves fighting for survival—and the biggest reason is that Cunningham's co-star has completely disappeared when it matters most.
Jalen Duren was a force in the regular season, racking up double-doubles with ease and finishing the year with multiple 20-point games. But the playoffs have been a different story. He hasn't cracked 15 points in any postseason game, struggling first against Orlando and now getting swallowed up by Cleveland's frontcourt.
NBA legend Charles Barkley didn't hold back when breaking down Duren's struggles on Inside the NBA. While Barkley acknowledged that Duren's scoring has dipped because of his reliance on Cunningham, it was the rebounding that really set him off. After Duren pulled down just two boards in Game 4, Barkley unloaded: "He should never have 2 rebounds ever. That's two more than a dead person. Come on, man. You can never have 2 rebounds."
To be fair, Barkley also offered some encouragement, calling Duren a "young kid" who needs to get in the gym and develop a mid-range jumper. "He's too good a player. He's an All-Star," Barkley said.
The issue isn't physicality—Duren bullied opponents all season. It's confidence. In Game 5, there were flashes, like a beautiful spin move that led to a dunk over Evan Mobley. But the final stat line told the real story: just 9 points and 5 rebounds.
Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff talked about having his players' backs when they're struggling, but even he ran out of patience. After giving Duren chance after chance, he turned to Paul Reed in the fourth quarter and overtime—a player who hadn't seen a single minute in the first three quarters.
For a young star who was supposed to be the perfect complement to Cunningham, Duren is running out of time to prove he belongs in the postseason spotlight.