Jalen Duren Sidelined for Two Weeks With Hamstring Strain

Jalen Duren is officially out for at least two weeks with a strained right hamstring, meaning the Detroit Pistons are suddenly missing their anchor in the middle.

Underdog NBA broke the news that the big man is hitting the shelf. This is a brutal blow for a Detroit squad that just dropped 128 points in a win over the Miami Heat and was actually looking to build some early-season momentum.

"Underdog NBA: 'Jalen Duren to miss at least 2 weeks with strained hamstring.'"

Duren has been a reliable interior presence, posting around 13 points and 7.5 boards a night. When you lose a guy who cleans the glass and catches lobs like he does, the entire geometry of the floor changes for the rest of the roster.

A two-week hamstring strain is the NBA equivalent of a check-engine light. You can try to ignore it, but if you rush a 250-pound center back onto the floor too early, you are going to end up stranded on the side of the highway by Thanksgiving.

For the fantasy managers and prop bettors out there, this completely scrambles the board. Detroit has to figure out their frontcourt rotation immediately, which means heavy adjustments to rebound totals and paint defense metrics starting with Sunday night's matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.

After Philly, the Pistons have to deal with the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Someone in Detroit is going to have to step up and eat those available minutes in the paint, or it is going to be a very long two weeks in the Motor City.