How the Detroit Pistons’ Center Rotation Drives Winning in the NBA

By Pikraken – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=179537956

Entering the 2025-2026 NBA season with a projected win total of 43.6, the Detroit Pistons have surpassed expectations by March 7th, currently leading the Eastern Conference with 45 wins, thanks to standout performances from Cade Cunningham and contributions from players like Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, Dannis Jenkins, and Javonte Green.

I want to highlight an often-overlooked key to this team’s success: the elite rim protection provided by their center rotation. A significant portion of a center’s impact stems from their rim protection, at which the Pistons excel with Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and Paul Reed. This enables the Pistons to maintain 48 minutes of formidable rim protection, ensuring the team maintains a strong foundation even on nights when their shooting may fall behind.

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Jalen Duren

Starting center Jalen Duren is sporting a 107 defensive rating per 36 minutes, tied for fifth in the league amongst big men who have played more than 40 games this season. Yet one could argue he receives credit for playing alongside great defenders like Thompson, Holland, and Cunningham. So, let’s look at Duren’s per-game rim protection stats: he’s allowing a 54.7 defensive field goal percentage, on 6 attempts per game within 10 feet of the basket. This puts him 21st amongst big men who are contesting 5 or more shots at the rim per game while playing more than 40 games.

While Duren was voted to the All-Star team and is in talks to make an All-NBA team due to his overall performance this season. Following him off the bench are two of the most underrated rim protectors in the league, whose elite rim protection often goes unnoticed by many fans.

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Isaiah Stewart

The team’s sixth man and first big off the bench, Isaiah Stewart’s impact defensively at the rim is the largest part of what sets this team apart from the rest. Tied for fourteenth amongst big men who played over 40 games with a 110 defensive rating per 36 minutes. Only dropping 3 points per 36 from Duren, but it’s in the individual rim protection numbers where Stewart shines. Allowing a staggeringly low 47.3 field goal % on 5.3 attempts within 10 feet of the rim, which is the best dfg% in the league amongst big men who played more than 40 games and are contesting more that 5 shots within 10 feet per game. That’s 0.6% better than #2 Chet Holmgren and 3% better than #3 Rudy Gobert, putting Stewart in the same category with the best rim protectors in the league. A strong sixth man of the year award contestant due to his elite defense, Stewart is one of the best rim protectors in the league coming off the bench.

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Paul Reed

Lastly, rotation center Paul Reed rounds out the Piston’s center rotation. While only averaging 13.4 minutes per game on 45 games played, his impact on the defensive end shouldn’t be understated. Averaging a staggering 104 defensive rating per 36 minutes, tied for 2nd best in the league for big men who have played more than 40 games this season. Not only is his defensive rating elite, but his individual rim protection stats are as well boasting a 51.4 defensive field goal percentage on 4.2 shots contested within 10 feet, tied for 8th amongst big men who contested more that 4 shots withing 10 feet per game on over 40 games played. Putting him 0.1 percent better than the 2023 defensive player of the year Jaren Jackson JR and 1.5 percent better than Victor Wembanyama.

The Piston’s having the top seed in the East and a top 5 defensive rating is due to many factors, including the great play of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, great athleticism on the perimeter from Ausar Thompon and Ron Holland, and great role player acquisition. One of the most unnoticed and underappreciated is the consistently great rim protection and paint defense from their center rotation, specifically Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed. Allowing the Piston’s to maintain a high floor and remain competitive even if they have an off night in other areas of the game and making them a dangerous team to play on any given day.