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Author: David Knopp

  • Star On The Rise: Pistons center Jalen Duren

    Star On The Rise: Pistons center Jalen Duren

    Photo: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire

    There was no shortage of questions surrounding Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons heading into the season. Could the Pistons continue to build off the surprise success they achieved the season prior while bringing in some new faces? Would the inability to come to a contract extension for Duren linger over the team negatively? Could the young core continue to improve?

    Thankfully for Detroit, all of these questions can be answered in a positive way. The Pistons are currently sitting atop of the Eastern Conference with a record of 25-8. Duren has improved his play on both ends of the court, positioning himself well for a lucrative contract extension this summer. Young players have shown signs of growth, while end-of-roster players like Daniss Jenkins and Javonte Green have contributed when called upon.

    A large portion of the Pistons’ early-season achievements can be credited to Duren.

    At Sports Info Solutions, our Video Scouts watch and  track every play of every NBA game in great detail. This includes things like ‘Advantages Created*’ on the offensive end and Altered Shots (in addition to blocked shots) on the defensive end. Thus, we can find and note the improvements in Duren’s game from a statistical perspective.

    Advantage creation is defined by SIS as an action from a player which results in a situation where the team can generate a high-value shot.

    Offense

    Offensively, Duren has honed his self creation and usage while only taking a marginal hit in his efficiency – a worthy tradeoff for a player as efficient as Duren. In Isolation and Post Ups there has been significant improvement, specifically:

    2024-25 2025-26
    Opportunities (per 100 possessions) 3 6.7
    Advantage Created (per 100) 1.1 2.9
    Points Per Chance* (per 101) 1 1.1
    True Shooting Percentage** 62% 59%

    *Points scored per offensive opportunity that leads to a result in the same sequence

    **Scoring efficiency adjusted for value of 3-pointers and free throws

    Physical tools have always been a calling card for the chiseled Duren. This season he has taken pride in utilizing them a bit more. 

    During a recent appearance on The Zach Lowe Show, Duren stated that the Pistons coaching staff and players have frequently repeated the phrase “hand to rim” to Duren in practices and games. It is as simple as it sounds: they want Duren to get as close to the rim as possible when taking a shot. 

    This desire is reflected in Duren’s shot diet so far this season. Duren’s rim attempts per 100 possessions are up from 10 to 13.5, and his paint attempts more than doubled from 1.4 to 3 when compared to his 2024-25 campaign.

    Here Duren leverages his strength advantage to get a good look close to the rim in a self-created setting.

    Additionally, it is impossible to talk about the Pistons without mentioning Cade Cunningham, the all-NBA offensive engine for this young squad. Duren and Cunningham have become a potent duo during their time in Detroit. An off-season wilderness retreat is one of several bonding moments the pair has shared over their time as teammates. When you watch them run a pick and roll, it’s easy to see their shared synergy. Cunningham, a deft passer, and Duren, a tremendous lob target, are a match made in heaven.

    Cunningham is responsible for 2.3 assists to Duren per game, per NBA.com. Several look like the clip above, a pinpoint pass at a height that only Duren can reach.

    Duren’s physical tools do not end there either. NBA teams are utilizing offensive rebounding more than any season in recent history and rebounding has always been his bread and butter. He is currently in the top 15 in Contested Offensive Rebounds per 100 possessions, while placing in the top 25 in the same stat for defensive rebounds, a well-rounded combination. 

    Defense

    On the other side of the ball, Duren is imposing his will more as well. Coming into the league at 18 years old, Duren’s body was far ahead of his feel and awareness. These aspects of his game have slowly improved, as he is more attentive to his help responsibilities. 

    As an off-ball and screener defender he has shown significant growth in his help capabilities, allowing .91 Points Per Chance so far this season as opposed to 1.04 the season prior. 

    Duren’s defense has been enhanced by his improvement as a shot contester. He is also giving up fewer advantages than seasons past. 

     

    2024-25 2025-26
    Shots Defended (per 100) 38 41.2
    Block + Alter Rate (per 100) 4.2 5.3
    Advantages Allowed (per 100) 11.6 7.8

    In the clip below, Duren does his job by rotating early while displaying verticality, altering a shot at the rim by the high flying Shaedon Sharpe.

     

    Things are looking rosy in Detroit. Duren’s ascension has him firmly in the running for his first All-Star spot. The Pistons are looking like real contenders who have filled the void left at the top of the Eastern Conference. Duren and company do not appear to be out of surprises yet.

  • Chet Holmgren: Foundation Of The Thunder

    Chet Holmgren: Foundation Of The Thunder

    After the Oklahoma City Thunder swept their first round matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, it is easy to look back on their season as full of sure things. The Thunder finished the regular season with the best record in the West, led by a finalist for the MVP award. 

    There was not always a belief that the Thunder would achieve to this extent though. The Thunder surpassed their pre-season over/under win total more than any team in the league. No player better embodies this surpassing of expectations more than Chet Holmgren.

    Standing in the middle as a skinny, sound foundation of the Thunder’s identity, Holmgren is having a tremendous rookie year. In a normal season, without the infusion of Victor Wembanyama, Holmgren would be the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year. As alluded to before, this was far from a sure thing.

    Seeing the success Holmgren has had this year, it is easy to forget the trials and tribulations he faced before ever setting foot on an NBA court. The summer he was drafted by the Thunder he suffered a Lisfranc injury to his foot, leaving him sidelined for the entire season. Unfortunately the injury also amplified some existing questions about his durability and ability to thrive in the physical environment of the NBA.

    After playing in all 82 games this past season, Holmgren has effectively put those doubts – fair or not – to rest. Holmgren has blossomed into a two-way stud, impacting both ends of the floor at a high level. With the ability to shoot efficiently from three and put the ball on the floor, Holmgren is able to keep the core beliefs of the Thunder’s offensive philosophy alive as a center. Paired with his elite rim protection, Holmgren has proven to be a rare commodity colloquially referred to as a “unicorn,” a term Kevin Durant once used to describe 7-footers proficient at shooting, protecting the rim, and making connective plays.

    Shooting and Playmaking

    Capable of spacing the floor, Holmgren finished the season shooting a respectable 37% on over 4 3-point attempts per game. He was heavily called upon as a spacer too, ranking in the 90th percentile for centers in a stat we track, on-ball closeout opportunity frequency. With these ample opportunities he has produced:

    Closeouts Average (per 100 possessions) Percentile (regular season among Centers)
    Advantages Created* 2 90
    Advantages Inherited** 9.2 82
    Advantages Maintained*** 3.9 84

    *Advantage Created: Player creates an advantage for their team; an advantage is deemed to be created if the team can generate a high-value shot off of the player’s action.

    **Advantage Inherited: Player inherits at least a semi-advantageous situation in their on-ball chance.

    ***Advantage Maintained: Player inherits at least a semi-advantage and at minimum maintains their team’s advantage on their on-ball chance.

    Simply spacing the floor is not Holmgren’s only offensive responsibility. After catching the ball behind the arc, he is able to put the ball on the floor and make sound decisions. Sometimes these drives end emphatically, like this highlight dunk after his patented spin-move.

     

    Passing has been a budding skill for the young center as well, fitting in well with OKC’s drive-and-kick style of offense. 

    Average

    (per 100 possessions)

    		 Percentile 

    (regular season among Centers)
    Assists 3 68
    Potential Assists* 5.8 71
    Hockey Assists** 1.3 80

    *Potential Assists: Number of shots or shooting fouls directly created for teammates.

    **Hockey Assists: Number of shots or shooting fouls directly created for teammates one pass prior to the result.

    When called upon, Holmgren can potentially be a straw that stirs the drink by creating an advantage for his teammates resulting in a high-value shot. Among centers, Holmgren is in the 69th percentile, averaging 9.3 advantages created per 100 possessions. 

    Defense and Rim Protection

    Holmgren has been able to utilize his elite length and sound mobility to make defense his calling card. A large part of this is his ability to contest shots as a primary on-ball defender and as a help defender off-ball. 

    Holmgren had a block/alter rate that is in the 97th percentile among centers with a contest frequency in 86th percentile and has kept those numbers steady in the playoffs, making him an active and effective defender. Helping this is a utilization of Holmgren’s unique length: the use of two hands when contesting a shot. 

    In February we used pose data to look at Holmgren’s two-handed contest rate. At the time, he had the most two-handed blocks in the league while ranking in the 98th percentile for all players in two-handed contests. 

    Although he is known for his shot blocking, Holmgren provides winning defensive plays in additional areas:

    Average 

    (per 100 possessions)

    		 Percentile 

    (regular season among Centers)
    Advantages Allowed* 10.9 90
    Advantages Prevented** 12.9 93

    *Advantage Allowed: Opponent creates an advantage on an on-ball opportunity.

    **Advantage Prevented: Player significantly decreases the opposing team’s chances of scoring.

    Defensive numbers like these are impressive enough without factoring in Holmgren’s status as a rookie. We track defensive breakdowns, when a player makes a defensive miscue that leads to a significant advantage for their opponent, and Holmgren performs far beyond his years of experience, ranking in the 97th percentile among centers in breakdown frequency. 

    Holmgren’s multi-faceted excellency as a center has given the Thunder a huge boost in their regular season and early playoff success. 

    Playoffs and Beyond

    As the Thunder get deeper into the playoffs, the tests will become more strenuous. Their 2nd round opponent, either the Clippers or the Mavericks, will be a greater challenge than the Pelicans, who were missing their best player. 

    Amid the team’s recent success, it is important to look back and not take this for granted. Holmgren surpassed even the greatest expectations placed on him, delivering quality play on both ends that goes far beyond what is expected of a rookie. 

    In large part, this Thunder team will go as far as their rookie center will take them. Even if it ends in Round 2, this should just be the start of an extended Oklahoma City run and a promising young career for Holmgren.

  • Inside The Rockets’ Late-Season Surge

    Inside The Rockets’ Late-Season Surge

    Photo: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire

    When Alperen Şengün was escorted off the court in a wheelchair it was a common assumption that the Rockets’ season had effectively ended. Up to that day on March 10th, Şengün had arguably been the team’s most impactful player.

    Sitting at 29-35 on the season, the Rockets’ were 4.5 games behind the 10th place Warriors. Instead of having this be a disappointing end to an encouraging season, the Rockets won another 9 games in a row, pushing their streak to an impressive eleven games.

    The Rockets’ streak was largely fueled by their offensive improvement that a new lineup brought forth.

    Increased Spacing

     The Rockets quickly shifted to a starting lineup that featured more spacing and less size. Second year forward Jabari Smith slid down to center, while rookie Amen Thompson was promoted to the starting 5.

    As a result of this change, Houston has seen an increase in operating space on the court. By using player-tracking data, we can gauge how much space the team has on offense based on the location of their players, creating a convex hull.

    Before Şengün went down with injury, Houston ranked 20th in convex hull, with the team being slightly more spaced during minutes where Şengün was on the bench. Since the injury, the Rockets have skyrocketed up to 6th in the league, creating significantly more space on offense.

    As a product of this newfound spacing the Rockets have had the 2nd-best offensive efficiency in the league and are handling created advantages more competently.

    Pre Şengün Injury Post Şengün Injury
    Offensive Efficiency 113.5 (24th) 121.8 (2nd)
    Advantages Inherited* 108.3 (22nd) 113.5 (10th)
    Advantages Maintained** 39.5 (22nd) 20.7 (11th)

    *Advantages Inherited: Player’s inherit at least a semi-advantageous situation in their on-ball chance.

    **Advantage Maintained: Player inherits at least a semi-advantage and at minimum maintains their team’s advantage on their on-ball chance.

    Jalen Green’s Ascension

    Jalen Green has had an up-and-down career throughout his first three seasons in the league. Always an explosive athlete, Green’s shooting and decision making have been two of his biggest areas of improvement since his time with the G-League Ignite.

    Even before the change in the starting lineup, Green was in the process of elevating his game to another level. Throughout the month of March, Green had upped his 3-point volume and percentage. Along with this, his actual effective field goal percentage was an impressive 6.3% higher than his expected effective field goal percentage (something we track).

    The young guard’s improvement is not only due to some hot shooting, he has increased his on ball opportunities and advantages created as shown below:

    Pre Şengün Injury (minimum 1000 possessions) Post Şengün Injury (minimum 250 possessions)
    Ball-Handler Opps* (per 100 possessions) 58 (79th percentile) 70 (88th)
    Advantages Created** (per 100 possessions) 11.6 (72nd percentile) 15.1 (87th percentile)

    *Opps: Number of on-ball opportunities given the user-defined filters.

    **Advantage Created: Player creates an advantage for their team; an advantage is deemed to be created if the team can generate a high-value shot off of the player’s action.

    If Green can come close to sustaining this level of play, it would alter not only their outlook for the end of the season, but significantly brighten their long term future.

    Amen Thompson Fitting In

     Rookie Amen Thompson has been living up to his middle name, “XLNC” (pronounced “Excellence”) with his recent play. Thompson has molded his game to fit the Rockets needs throughout the season.

    Starting off as a steady defender off the bench, Thompson has steadily improved and has been rewarded with a bigger role as the season has progressed. First stepping in for injured starter Fred VanVleet as the team’s nominal point guard. Now Thompson is once again a starter, but this time acting as more of a big than a guard.

    With the absence of a traditional center, Thompson has found a new opportunity to act as the team’s screener in pick & rolls. Putting him in actions as the screener limits his liability as a shooter while placing him in the optimal situation to show off his passing and explosion.

     

    Pre Şengün Injury (minimum 500 possessions) Post Şengün Injury (minimum 250 possessions)
    Screener Opps (per 100 possessions) 2.9 (17th percentile) 18 (75th percentile)
    Advantages Created as a Screener (per 100 possessions) .1 (18th percentile) 1.3 (83rd percentile)

     

    Thompson has proved to be a dual threat on the roll, being able to make passing reads on the short roll or use his explosion to finish through the rotating help at the rim.

    Screening is not the only thing Thompson does like a big man either. Among  guards, Thompson ranks in the 98th percentile in contested offensive rebounds and the 89th percentile in contested defensive rebounds, respectively.

    Amen Thompson has clearly found great success in his new role, which speaks to his multifaceted skill set, and it will be of great interest to see how this role grows and changes into next season.

    Looking Ahead

    The Rockets will continue their strong push towards the Play-In, with a crucial game against Golden State on Thursday. Whether they make the Play-In or not should not be the deciding point on whether this season was a success.

    This team improved massively compared to last season. It withstood and adapted to one of its most important players getting injured.

    There is even a possibility that it found an ideal way to play and can use that information to shape its roster this offseason and beyond.