{"id":105837,"date":"2024-11-08T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=105837"},"modified":"2024-11-08T18:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T23:00:00","slug":"pistons-rely-on-isaiah-stewart-amid-jalen-durens-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/08\/pistons-rely-on-isaiah-stewart-amid-jalen-durens-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Pistons Rely On Isaiah Stewart Amid Jalen Duren’s Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Pistons<\/a> return home to face the Atlanta Hawks<\/a> after a disappointing one-point loss to the Charlotte Hornets<\/a>. Cade Cunningham<\/a> continues to shine, becoming the first Piston<\/a> since Grant Hill<\/a> to record back-to-back triple-doubles. Yet, the excitement around his achievement was tempered by Jalen Duren\u2019s<\/a> injury\u2014a pivotal setback for Detroit. The third-year center sprained his ankle in the first quarter and didn\u2019t return, leaving a gap<\/a> in the Pistons\u2019 frontcourt.<\/p>\n

In just nine games, Duren has been a major contributor, averaging 8.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks on an efficient 83% shooting. Despite some struggles with consistency and foul trouble, Duren\u2019s impact on the Pistons\u2019 interior presence is undeniable. His injury could prompt a lineup shift, giving Isaiah Stewart<\/a> a larger role.<\/p>\n

Stewart has been the ultimate professional this season, embracing a bench role and thriving in it. Known for his defensive grit and versatility, Stewart has brought stability and intensity each time he\u2019s on the floor, and the Pistons\u2019 defense noticeably improves with him anchoring the middle. His commitment to the role gives Detroit a more consistent defensive foundation, especially in Duren\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n

With Stewart likely to play extended minutes, how will the Pistons\u2019 identity shift on both ends of the floor? And with Stewart\u2019s emergence, could this be an opportunity for the Pistons to experiment with new schemes? Let\u2019s dive into what Stewart\u2019s expanded role might mean for Detroit\u2019s season.<\/p>\n

Pistons Rely On Isaiah Stewart Amid Jalen Duren’s Injury<\/h2>\n

Pistons’ Stewart Offensive Game Differs From Duren<\/h3>\n

Stewart\u2019s style of play has taken a notable turn from last season. Previously, he was one of Detroit\u2019s top three-point shooters, attempting 3.8 threes per game at a 38% clip\u2014one of the highest percentages on the team. This season, however, Stewart has largely abandoned the three-point shot, with just four attempts so far. The shift may be attributed to the Pistons\u2019 offseason additions of shooters, reducing the need for him to stretch the floor.<\/p>\n

Stewart\u2019s ability to shoot threes still provides an advantage for the Pistons when he\u2019s in the starting lineup. His potential as a shooter keeps defenders from sagging off him, unlike when Duren is on the floor. With more spacing, players like Cunningham, Jaden Ivey<\/a>, and Tobias Harris<\/a> can find more driving lanes, enhancing their ability to create inside opportunities.<\/p>\n

Equal Playmaking Abilities<\/h3>\n

Duren has become a reliable<\/a> playmaker this season, averaging 2.4 assists per game. Stewart, though not known for his passing, showed flashes of playmaking potential with six assists on Wednesday night, tying his career-best total. Averaging 1.3 assists during his career, Stewart is now posting a career-high 2.3 assists per game. His ability to execute dribble hand-offs and set solid screens opens up high-quality shots for his teammates, giving Detroit a dynamic offensive option when he\u2019s in playmaking mode.<\/p>\n

Defensive Aggression That Makes The Pistons Better<\/h3>\n

Stewart\u2019s calling card is his defense, and any offensive contributions are a welcome bonus. His gritty style has made him the Pistons\u2019 enforcer, earning respect from teammates and opponents around the league. Off the bench, Stewart leads the team with 1.3 blocks per game, anchoring Detroit\u2019s paint defense and posing a challenge for opponents trying to score inside. His mobility also allows him to guard on the perimeter, making it difficult for opposing centers to drive past him.<\/p>\n

However, Stewart\u2019s physical play has its downsides. Despite averaging just 20.2 minutes per game, he leads the team in fouls with 3.4 per game. Stewart\u2019s impact is valued by head coach J.B. Bickerstaff<\/a>, but for the Pistons to thrive, he\u2019ll need to find a balance. Asking Stewart to slightly dial back his intensity could be essential for the Pistons’ success.<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/h3>\n

Isaiah Stewart\u2019s evolving role is essential for the Detroit Pistons. His shift from a three-point shooter to a more traditional interior presence allows the Pistons to adapt their offense around their new shooters, creating better spacing for Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey to attack the paint. Stewart\u2019s playmaking growth is an added layer to the offense, and his defensive tenacity brings the grit Detroit prides itself on.<\/p>\n

Yet, for Stewart to maximize his impact, finding a balance in his physicality is key. His high foul rate limits his availability, and managing this could make him an even more valuable asset as Detroit looks to compete night in and night out. As Stewart embraces his new role, the Pistons gain both a versatile big man and a defensive anchor who embodies the team\u2019s hardworking identity. If he continues on this path, Stewart could become a crucial piece in the Pistons\u2019 resurgence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Pistons return home to face the Atlanta Hawks after a disappointing one-point loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Cade Cunningham continues to shine, becoming the first Piston since Grant Hill to record back-to-back triple-doubles. Yet, the excitement around his achievement was tempered by Jalen Duren\u2019s injury\u2014a pivotal setback for Detroit. The third-year center sprained […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5168,"featured_media":105843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,1608,62],"tags":[3965,2380,4107,4432],"class_list":["post-105837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pistons","category-basketball","category-nba","tag-cade-cunningham","tag-isaiah-stewart","tag-jaden-ivey","tag-jalen-duren"],"modified_by":"Kenny Kluska","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105837","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105837"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105837\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/105843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}