Make sure to listen and add the 13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts podcast the Shot Clock Pod to your list! This week Steve shares his thoughts after week 5 of the 2025-26 NBA season. Jalen Duren’s Breakout, LaMelo Trade Buzz, and Tyrese Maxey’s Rise
Jalen Duren Proves Me Wrong
I’m wrong about the Detroit Pistons. I didn’t believe they would improve on last year’s record because they didn’t have a second scorer next to Cade Cunningham. The reason I’m wrong is because the Pistons have their second scorer, an emerging star, Jalen Duren. Duren is averaging 20.6 points per game, but that’s only a small part of the picture. He’s also grabbing 11.9 rebounds, and this is in only 28.9 minutes per game.
One more stat that shows his value is as a rim protector. Last year, teams were shooting 62% at the rim against the Pistons; this year, that number has dropped to 52%. Duren will be a restricted free agent next summer, and the Pistons are going to have to pay him. The Pistons have used Duren as well as a physical, tough defense to have the second-best record in the NBA.
New Orleans’ Front Office Shuffle
I don’t want to spend each week talking about the New Orleans Pelicans, but this item can’t be overlooked. Last year, the Pels fired David Griffin as their team president and hired Joe Dumars. Dumars won a title as the GM of the Pistons a while back and looked to be a good hire. Dumars then hired Troy Weaver as his general manager. Weaver, you might remember, was the former general manager of the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons were 54-192 during his tenure, and not many people would say he did a good job. The part that is most interesting, though, is word is Dumars is delegating significant responsibility to Weaver.
LaMelo Trade Buzz and Uncertain Future
LaMelo Ball is open to a trade from the Charlotte Hornets. He now joins Ja Morant and Trae Young as two other expensive point guards that could be dealt. Ball is an exciting player that is popular with younger fans. The biggest question that needs to be answered about Ball is whether he wants to be a part of winning or a showman that can entertain.
Road Trips and Betting Angles
An interesting betting note. Teams that are on long road trips, either going from east to west or from west to east, rarely cover the point spread in their last game of the trip. The latest example of this is the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors just concluded a six-game road trip, winning three of the first five games. Their final game in Miami was on a back-to-back, and the Warriors had their three best players resting. The Warriors were getting 10.5 points. They lost by 14.
Denver’s Depth and Valanciunas
The Denver Nuggets have made themselves into a contender. After last night’s impressive victory over the Houston Rockets, they are 12-3. I think it would be hard to compete with a healthy Oklahoma City Thunder for a title, but give them credit for their improvements, and they do have Nikola Jokic, so anything can happen. This year they have a bench. In the offseason they added Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway, and most importantly Jonas Valanciunas. Valanciunas is playing only a little over twelve minutes a game, but when he plays he gives the Nuggets something they have desperately needed for years, a capable backup to Nikola Jokic.
Miami’s Resurgence Without Herro
The Miami Heat are 10-6, and this is without Tyler Herro. After a rough year last year, they have emerged as a team that could do damage in the playoffs. The addition of Norman Powell, acquired from the Clippers, has helped. He’s averaging 24.6 points per game. The Heat have also gotten production from numerous players and have gotten solid play from younger players, in particular Kel’el Ware, who is averaging over 10 rebounds a game in 24 minutes, and Jaime Jaquez, who has had a strong season thus far, scoring 16.4 points per game with 5.4 assists and 6.8 rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey’s Rise in Philly
Tyrese Maxey has unquestionably become the most valuable player on the Philadelphia 76ers. This on a team that includes Joel Embiid and Paul George. If he continues his outstanding play, he’s a lock as an All-NBA player. He went for 54 the other night in the Sixers’ win over Milwaukee. Overall this season, he’s averaging 33.4 points and 7.9 assists. The Sixers are surprisingly 9-6, and much of the credit goes to Maxey.
