Detroit — Jalen Duren held the ball down on the low post inside the Henry Ford Health Pistons Performance Center on Tuesday afternoon. One coaching staff member guarded him one-on-one, while another sagged in the paint. A third member provided additional help from the perimeter.
Duren sought to emulate the Orlando Magic’s defensive strategy, focusing on improving his decision-making and aggression. The idea stemmed from watching the Detroit Pistons’ Game 1 loss to the Magic on Sunday, which prompted him to review game film repeatedly over the past 48 hours.
“They just had a good game plan, packing the paint. Anytime I had catches deep, they collapsed on me,” Duren said. “They were coming from everywhere. I did not get as many shot attempts (four) as I should have. There were times when I did catch myself one-on-one, and I’ve seen those moments before, and I want to get more of those opportunities. But for the most part, they were collapsing from anywhere.”
Imitating Orlando’s defense was Duren’s way to begin preparations for the Pistons’ Game 2 contest Wednesday, when Detroit will aim to avoid falling behind 0-2 in the best-of-seven series. He used this approach to counter the Magic’s defensive scheme, which had limited him to just four points on 3-of-4 shooting.
Duren continued, “For me, just being more aggressive, finding my spots and attacking more; I think I could have done a better job of that. I just spent time watching the film over, and, over, and over again, seeing where I wasn’t most effective at and just trying to capitalize on that next game.”
The time Duren spent watching film showed how the team used its playoff-opening loss to build momentum for Game 2. The approach allowed coach J.B. Bickerstaff to focus on the intangibles that could help them not only win the series but also recapture the qualities that enabled the Pistons to win 60 games during the regular season.
One key observation was their lack of defensive execution. Bickerstaff noted the Pistons were not playing to their usual defensive standard. In Game 1, the Magic went to the free-throw line 19 times. The results suggested the Pistons were not playing their typical physical defense, which led to their poor performance.
“A lot of times, the most valuable lessons that you learn are the ones that hurt the most. If we can take that kind of approach to it, we will be fine moving forward,” Bickerstaff said.
Bickerstaff also observed the Pistons were less energized at the start of Game 1 than the Magic. They had been waiting for their first-round opponent, while the Magic came in with strong momentum after competing in the NBA Play-In Tournament, essentially “fighting for their lives.”
Watching footage of Game 1 gave the Pistons the motivation they needed to recognize their flaws and have open, honest conversations as a team to discuss solutions. Despite their struggles, however, there were some positives they wanted to carry into the second game, despite the result.
“For one, it was great to see Deuce (Cade Cunningham) play the way he played (scoring 39 points), especially down the stretch. That run was the best we have seen since he has been back from his injury,” Bickerstaff said. “That was great for us, and the feel of playoff basketball. Understanding the difference between teams coming to hunt you and you being the hunted. There were a lot of positives. We took a lot from it and learned a lot.”
The Pistons remain confident in their ability to win the series, a feeling that has strengthened after watching Game 1. They felt they had opportunities to mount a comeback, but ultimately couldn’t overcome the obstacles to secure the victory. As individuals or as a team, the Pistons approached every film study with the mindset of improving for Game 2, making them feel more prepared for a bounce-back performance after a disappointing opening.
“For us, it’s about staying focused,” Duren said. “We watched the first game, and we know we are better than what we put forth. I have no doubt in my mind about our ability to bounce back and respond, just like we have all season.”
NBA Playoffs, first round: No. 8 Magic vs. No. 1 Pistons
Orlando leads series, 1-0
Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2: at Detroit, Wednesday, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 3: at Orlando, Saturday, 1 p.m. (Peacock)
Game 4: at Orlando, Monday, April 27, 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock))
x-Game 5: at Detroit, Wednesday, April 29, TBD (TBD)
x-Game 6: at Orlando, Friday, May 1, TBD (TBD)
x-Game 7: at Detroit, Sunday, May 3 TBD (TBD)x-If necessary
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Pistons hit film to prepare for Game 2 response vs. Orlando Magic
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
