Pistons Thrive Without Cade Cunningham: Better Than Before?

Pistons Finding Their Stride Without Star Cunningham

It’s a strange twist of fate for the Detroit Pistons. Their star player, Cade Cunningham, is sidelined, but the team is actually playing better. This isn’t just a small improvement; some analysts believe the Pistons are in a stronger position now than when Cunningham was on the court. It sounds wild, but hear them out.

Cade Dependency Was Holding Them Back

Before Cade Cunningham went down, the Pistons relied heavily on him. He was the main guy who could create his own shot. When your best player is the only one who can score, other players can start to relax a bit. Asar Thompson mentioned this himself, saying the team was too dependent on Cunningham.

Now, with Cade out, other players have had to step up. Dennis Smith Jr. has stepped into a bigger role. Asar Thompson is playing more like a leader. Jalen Duren has become a primary scorer, and Tobias Harris has also contributed. These guys are now unafraid to take scoring chances. They aren’t waiting for Cade to do everything. This shared responsibility is making the team more dynamic.

Defense and Shooting Rebound

What’s really surprising is that Detroit has improved its defense and three-point shooting recently. Over the last 20 games, their three-point shooting has hit 38%. This is a huge jump for a team that was one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league earlier in the season. If they can keep this up, it could lead to real success in the playoffs.

A Rare Positive Outcome

This is a rare situation where a team seems to be better off after its best player gets hurt. Before Cade’s injury, teams were figuring out Detroit’s offense. They would double-team Cade, forcing him to pass, and the offense would break down. The Pistons were struggling to score, often scoring less than 90 points in half-court sets, which is terrible for a playoff hopeful.

Emerging Stars in the Making

Since Cade’s absence, Dennis Smith Jr. has looked like a capable backup point guard. There’s even talk about potentially playing Cade off the ball sometimes, letting Smith run the offense. Jalen Duren has been incredible, putting up 22 points and 10 rebounds while shooting an amazing 75% from the field. He’s playing like a legitimate star player, especially in the half-court.

This setup allows Cade Cunningham to ease back into the playoffs. He won’t have to carry the entire scoring load. The Pistons might actually have a higher ceiling now than they did when their best player was healthy.

Resilience and a Superpower Defense

The Pistons went 8-3 without Cade Cunningham, who missed 11 games due to a collapsed lung. This is remarkable, especially considering the severity of his injury. Shams Charania reported that initially, everyone thought Cade would be out much longer, possibly indefinitely. Getting back to game shape after such an injury is tough, but the team managed to stay strong.

What did we learn about the Pistons without Cade? They showed they could still play at a high level. Their superpower, as described by one analyst, isn’t just scoring; it’s making opponents play below their best. Teams visiting Detroit don’t reach their peak performance. Even without their star, they competed hard, taking overtime losses against tough teams like Oklahoma City.

With Isaiah Stewart back and Asar Thompson looking like an All-Defensive player, Detroit has strong interior defense and rim protection. Add in just enough scoring, and that’s a recipe for playoff success. Their strength is defense, which is unusual in today’s offense-heavy NBA. Teams usually known for defense struggle to score, but the Pistons have Cade Cunningham as a potential 40-point scorer.

A Chip on Their Shoulder

There’s also a sense that the Pistons are angry about last year’s playoff loss to the New York Knicks. This motivation could drive them. Analysts believe they are well-positioned to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, regardless of who they face.

Disrespecting the Pistons?

It seems many people were too focused on Cade Cunningham being the *only* reason for the team’s success. While he’s their best player and the heart and soul, the team’s success is a collective effort. The game against OKC, where they nearly won despite being short-handed, showed this. They had a lead late in the game but ran out of talent.

The most impressive win was against Philadelphia to clinch a playoff spot. Many considered Philadelphia a dangerous team if healthy. Detroit proved them wrong, winning by a large margin. This shows they have players who can make games tough for anyone and play nasty defense.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Contenders with Flaws

The conversation then shifted to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are also considered contenders but have clear weaknesses. Like many top teams in the East, they have flaws. Concerns exist about James Harden’s performance in crucial late-game situations and the team’s defense, which has slipped since Harden arrived.

Mobley and Allen Shine, Mitchell is Key

However, Evan Mobley showed his potential with 19 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 22 points against Atlanta. He dominated the paint alongside Jarrett Allen. This duo, along with Donovan Mitchell’s ability to be the best player in any series, makes them a threat. If these four players can play well together, they can compete with anyone.

Despite these strengths, a Game 6 in Boston or Game 7 against New York would make Cavs fans nervous. But compared to other Eastern Conference teams, Cleveland’s flaws are similar. Mobley is even nicknamed “Slim Duncan” for his potential, though the comparison to Tim Duncan is still a stretch.

Cleveland’s Playoff Strategy?

There’s a belief that Cleveland might prefer facing Detroit in the second round over Boston. This preference was reportedly communicated, which some find surprising. Telegraphing that you want to play a physical team like Detroit seems like a risky strategy. It might be better to let things play out naturally.

Detroit vs. New York: A Rivalry Renewed?

The Pistons are currently battling New York for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. While Cleveland is also close, the idea of a Detroit-New York playoff series is exciting for drama and rivalries. Many believe New York would want to avoid Detroit in the second round.

No Easy Matchups in the East

Ultimately, once you reach the second round of the playoffs, there are no easy opponents. The Western Conference is tough, and the East is no different. While Boston is favored, they also have questions, especially with new players and less experience than in past championship runs. Teams like the Celtics lost in the second round last year, showing they aren’t invincible.

Atlanta Hawks: A Feisty First-Round Test

Before even thinking about the second round, teams must get through the first. The Atlanta Hawks, currently the fifth seed, are a tough matchup. They can give teams like Cleveland serious problems, especially with their versatile wing players and strong guard play from Dejounte Murray. Jaylen Johnson is also seen as an All-NBA caliber player.

A long series against Atlanta would be difficult for Cleveland, especially with James Harden on the roster. Harden’s history in late-game playoff situations raises concerns. Cleveland needs to focus on beating Atlanta first, not planning for the second round.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Contenders or Overrated?

The discussion then turned to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last year, they surprised everyone with 64 wins. But this year, the league has caught up. The NBA moves faster than ever, and teams adapt quickly.

Health and Matchups are Key

The Thunder might not have the same fear factor this year. Health is also a major concern, particularly for Jaylen Williams. If he’s not at full strength, it impacts OKC. They also face potential matchups against tough players like Victor Wembanyama or Nikola Jokic in later rounds.

Looking at recent champions, it’s rare for a team to repeat. Even dominant teams like the Golden State Warriors had trouble. Playoff history shows that even favored teams can face unexpected challenges. While OKC is still strong, they aren’t so much better than everyone else that they should be an automatic favorite over the field.

The Field vs. OKC

When comparing OKC to the rest of the league, you have to be significantly better to pick them over the field. Teams like the 72-win Bulls or the KD-Steph Warriors were clearly superior. OKC’s point differential against top teams like San Antonio, Denver, and Boston isn’t dominant.

Beyond Jaylen Williams’ injury, a key issue for OKC is potentially not having the best player on the court in later rounds. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is clutch, over a full 48 minutes, it’s unclear if he’s better than players like Nikola Jokic.

Spurs and Nuggets: Real Threats

The biggest threat to OKC in the West might be the San Antonio Spurs, surprisingly. Victor Wembanyama seems to have OKC’s number, and this competitive fire has spread to the rest of the Spurs team. They’ve had success against OKC, even when the Thunder were playing at a high level.

Denver is also a major threat. While OKC might avoid Jokic until the conference finals, the possibility exists. The NBA is more unpredictable now, with many teams capable of winning on any given night. Parity is the name of the game.

Source: The Pistons are better now than before with Cade Cunningham’s absence – Vince Goodwill | First Take (YouTube)