Mitch Albom: Pistons prove anything is possible with The Big on menu

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Mitch Albom: Pistons prove anything is possible with The Big on menu

Mitch Albom: Pistons prove anything is possible with The Big on menu

Mitch Albom: The Big is back, with Jalen Duren leading the way and Paul Reed packing the paint in a Game 6 stunner vs the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Mitch Albom: Pistons prove anything is possible with The Big on menu

Mitch Albom: The Big is back, with Jalen Duren leading the way and Paul Reed packing the paint in a Game 6 stunner vs the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In a season where the Detroit Pistons have already defied the odds, Friday night in Cleveland might have been their most stunning trick yet. Trailing 3-2 in the series and facing elimination, the Pistons didn't just win Game 6—they dominated, 115-94, and in the process, reminded everyone why this team is so dangerous when their big man is at his best.

Jalen Duren had been carrying the weight of disappointment for so long, he was actually starting to look shorter. But on Friday, May 15, he emerged with an action hero's urgency—Superman bursting out of the phone booth, the Hulk tearing through Bruce Banner's clothes. The 22-year-old center was everywhere: soaring for rebounds, swatting shots, spinning in the paint for layups. He even crossed up Jarrett Allen, drove past James Harden, and gave a little Michael Jordan tongue wag on his way back down the court.

For the first time in what felt like ages, Duren caught passes cleanly, put the ball on the floor with purpose, and didn't dribble it off his foot or fumble it out of bounds. The result? A vintage performance: 15 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and a steal in just 27 minutes. It was the version of Duren the Pistons had been waiting to see all series.

"My confidence never wavered in myself," Duren said afterward. "I know who I am. I'll never forget who I am. I know what I can do. I know what I can be."

That confidence is now carrying the Pistons back home for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday (8 p.m., Prime Video), with a spot in the Eastern Conference finals on the line. And they're not just coming home—they're bringing an awakened colossus with them. With Paul Reed also packing the paint and the team rediscovering the identity that made them so dangerous all season, Detroit has proven once again that when it comes to this team, anything is possible.

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