\n<\/p>\n
Even if you didn’t know the name, the shot — and the sneer — were evident.<\/p>\n
Daniss Jenkins<\/a>, the generously listed 6-foot-4 guard who didn’t sign a standard NBA contract with the Detroit Pistons<\/a> until February, had just beaten the third-quarter horn with a 3-pointer to push the lead to 19 points in Sunday’s Game 7<\/a> against the Orlando Magic<\/a>.<\/p>\n It didn’t matter who was in his eyesight — random fans in the crowd, his teammates, assistant coaches — they all caught his mouth twisted sideways, feeling the emotion of the moment as the Pistons were completing a comeback from being down 3-1 to win their first playoff series since 2008<\/a>.<\/p>\n “There’s two things about him,” a Pistons assistant coach told ESPN. “He works hard and he talks s—.”<\/p>\n But if Jenkins’ play and passion throughout this postseason have been met with a collective “who’s this guy?” response, it shouldn’t. The 24-year-old former G League call-up has been a key figure all season during Detroit’s rise to the Eastern Conference top seed.<\/p>\n In fact, the Pistons might not have held on without him.<\/p>\n