NFL
By: Nick Andre
Last season, the Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the NBA. A 29-game losing streak made them looked upon as the most laughable team in the league. Luckily, things are different this year. No, the Pistons aren’t playoff contenders. However, they’ve shown improvements that put the franchise in the right direction for success.
There are a few storylines from the Pistons this season that have hit the NBA surface. The most recent one is Jaden Ivey knocking down the r game-winner to lead Detroit in a win over the Toronto Raptors. Another story has been the continued growth of their point guard, Cade Cunningham. Throughout this early season, Cunningham has done a multitude of things that have played a role in arguably the best season of his young career.
Cunningham has made his impact in multiple ways. Offensively, he continues to be a smooth operator with the way he plays at his pace. Cunningham is always in control on the floor and forces the game to play at his style. His size and skill set as a point guard give opposing teams problems as far as slowing him down.
In his fourth NBA season, Cunningham is proving to be an All-Star in the NBA. When discussing young point guards like Tyrese Haliburton, Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and several others, his name enters the conversation. Cunningham is a dynamic offensive force who can score at will. He’s a great talent off the dribble as he’s effective off-ball screens, great on post-ups, and challenges defenders when attacking the basket.
Luckily, scoring has not been the only way Cunningham has made his mowing on offense. As the starting point guard, he continues to elevate as a decision-maker. I’ve been on record saying that Cunningham could lead the NBA in assists one day. He has terrific vision and his teammates have benefited from his playmaking. Cunningham is averaging a career-high nine assists and has posted several double-digit assist numbers.
Cunningham’s impact as a playmaker has shown in the stat sheet. Aside from him, there are four other players on the Pistons who are averaging 10+ points this season, most thanks to Cunningham’s passing. Cunningham’s backcourt mate Jaden Ivey, is having the best year of his young career playing next to him. They’ve done a great job connecting with one another for perimeter shots and easy opportunities at the rim. Ivey is averaging 18.4 points and has recorded 7 20+ point performances.
Another key player for the Pistons has been Tobias Harris. Harris was a good pickup for the team due to his veteran experience. Throughout his career, Harris has worked well with great passers. Just ask Ben Simmons and James Harden how effective he can be. He does a terrific job with his off-ball movement and is effective on the catch-and-shoot.
Harris is another player who benefited from Cunningham’s playmaking. He’s averaging 13.8 points on 44 percent shooting. Anyone a double-team comes Cunningham’s way, Harris is always ready to shoot. He understands that playing next to a dynamic player will open opportunities for him to score from the perimeter. Harris hasn’t shot the ball efficiently every game this season. However, when he’s in rhythm he’s not afraid of torching the defense offensively.
Through 17 games played, Cade Cunningham has recorded 9 games with 10 or more assists. His playmaking has been the biggest X-Factor behind the Pistons heading in the right direction. A contest that stands out for Cunningham is his triple-double performance with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists in a win over the Atlanta Hawks. It wasn’t the perfect performance as he also had seven turnovers. However, Cunningham proved to the world that he can be in full control of the offense when it matters most.
There’s no telling what direction the Detroit Pistons are going. They have the young talent to one day emerge as a playoff contender. With Cade Cunningham leading the way, anything is possible. Cunningham has been an All-Star in this early season and will continue his high-level play throughout the year. His continued growth can continue to lead the Pistons in the right direction.
