Cade’s Struggles Hurt Pistons’ MVP Case

Pistons Fall to Cavs, Raising Questions About Cunningham’s MVP Candidacy

The Detroit Pistons, who have enjoyed a comfortable lead atop the Eastern Conference standings, faced a stern test last night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite Donovan Mitchell’s absence for a fourth straight game, the Pistons struggled, ultimately falling 113-109 in a contest that highlighted ongoing concerns about their supporting cast and the impact on Cade Cunningham’s MVP aspirations.

Pistons’ Late Surge Falls Short

The game remained tight throughout, with the Cavaliers holding a nine-point lead with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. A thunderous dunk by Javian Green ignited a Pistons comeback, narrowing the deficit. Defensive plays, including a steal and score by Dana Jenkins, brought Detroit within striking distance, making it a five-point game with five minutes left.

Cade Cunningham, who finished the night with a quiet 10 points, made a crucial defensive play with a block, leading to a Tobias Harris fallaway jumper that cut the lead to two with four and a half minutes to play. However, the Cavaliers, led by Evan Mobley’s 18 points and 5 rebounds, managed to extend their lead back to five with three minutes remaining.

A late surge by the Pistons, fueled by a Jalen Duren pump-fake and score that made it a one-point game, kept their hopes alive. However, a clutch three-pointer from Sam Merrill and a subsequent drive by Dennis Schroder sealed the victory for Cleveland.

Cunningham’s Shooting Woes Surface

While Cunningham contributed with 14 assists, his offensive struggles were a focal point of the post-game analysis. Last night’s 4-of-16 shooting performance marked his fifth game this season shooting 25% or worse from the field, a stark contrast to his efficiency in previous seasons. This has led to a debate about whether these individual struggles, and the resulting team losses, ultimately help or hurt his MVP case.

“I can’t tell whether this helps or hurts Cade’s MVP case because when he struggles shooting the ball, his team loses,” stated host Chasson Aguinaga. “We’ve seen this in back-to-back games against the NBA’s best… And overall, Cade, he’s had a marvelous season, right? But the issue here is that the supporting cast really struggle with shooting threes.”

Supporting Cast and Spacing Concerns

The Pistons’ struggles are exacerbated by their supporting cast’s difficulty with three-point shooting. The team ranks 25th in the NBA in three-point percentage and 28th in made threes per game. This lack of spacing forces Cunningham to shoulder a significant offensive burden, attracting more defensive attention when his shot isn’t falling.

Tim McMahon elaborated, “Elite rim protection. And look, Cade has to be able to score in crowds because the Pistons, their biggest flaws, they don’t have great spacing. This is not a team that has a lot of shooting. This is not a team that has a lot of creation outside of Cade Cunningham. He is carrying a huge offensive burden for them.”

Eastern Conference Landscape Shifts

The loss, coupled with the Boston Celtics’ recent surge, has tightened the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. While the Cavaliers sit comfortably in the standings, the Celtics, with the anticipated return of All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum, are closing the gap. DraftKings still favors Boston to win the East, despite Detroit holding a four-and-a-half-game lead.

Tatum’s Return Looms Large for Boston

The potential return of Jayson Tatum from injury is generating significant buzz. Having been playing five-on-five for weeks, the focus has shifted to his comfort level and how he will integrate back into a Celtics team that has established itself as a legitimate contender in his absence.

McMahon commented on Tatum’s return: “It certainly seems like a matter of when, not if… It’s not realistic to expect Jason Tatum to jump right back in this late in the season, coming off that injury and be the all-NBA player that he’s been for years. Can he be 80% of himself? …Can he give this Boston team that profiles as a a legitimate threat? Can he give Boston a boost? That’s what I think the the question is for Jason Tatum at this point.”

Aguinaga added, “Adding someone that is an all-NBA player, even if he’s not 100%, all Jason Tatum has to be is a threat out there as he finds his game… And so overall, I see Jason Tatum rolling this low, possibly coming off of a minutes restriction, starting with a minutes restriction, coming off the bench and integrating himself. And this to me is one of the most fascinating stories of the NBA so far because this is a team that can truly do some damage out of the rest of the East.”

LeBron James’ Future in L.A. Uncertain

Amidst the playoff race discussions, the future of LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers remains a significant talking point. Kendrick Perkins’ bold prediction of James leaving Los Angeles has sparked debate about the Lakers’ current roster construction and their long-term prospects with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves as potential franchise cornerstones.

Aguinaga addressed Perkins’ comments: “What he’s trying to explain is that right now it’s a lose-lose scenario for the Los Angeles Lakers because in that small sample size of their big three, it just is not working on the court… Maybe it’s because we’re up at the crack of dawn, but most teams have one sun and then the planets revolve around that sun… It feels like the Lakers have multiple sons and they don’t know on a nightly basis who should take the lead.”

Cleveland Emerges as a Potential Destination

Speculation is mounting that Cleveland could be a likely destination for James if he chooses to leave Los Angeles. The narrative of a homecoming reunion, a final run with a contender, and a potential “retirement tour” is gaining traction.

McMahon suggested, “It’s B [LeBron on another team]. And if you ask people around the league, as Chen said, Cleveland is the most likely destination. Think of the storyline, the reunion, coming home again, you know, the hometown kid, one last run, the retirement tour for the ages, being able to play for a contender. And look, in Los Angeles right now with the Lakers, LeBron James is a guest in his own home.”

Lakers’ Roster Questions Persist

The Lakers face the challenge of building a roster around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, with questions about their ability to defend and create for others. The need for a dominant wing player and improved post presence is evident, drawing parallels to the Dallas Mavericks’ past struggles with supporting Kyrie Irving.

Aguinaga noted, “My question is Austin Reeves that could be a little bit of revisiting history with Luca alongside a small guard. I think they have to get a dominant wing that can help them on both ends of the floor on top of improving the post. That to me is looking at the history and saying what can actually be the next step in helping Luca.”

As the NBA season progresses, the Pistons’ ability to navigate Cunningham’s shooting slumps and the Eastern Conference’s evolving power dynamics will be crucial. The potential return of Jayson Tatum and the ongoing saga of LeBron James’ future add further intrigue to an already compelling season.

Source: Do the Pistons' losses amid Cade Cunningham's struggles HELP or HURT his MVP case? | Get Up (YouTube)