Detroit Pistons: How Cade Cunningham will help Isaiah Stewart
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham will help Isaiah Stewart’s mid-range game
Killian Hayes was injured most of the season but did flash elite ability in the pick-and-roll.
Having another playmaker in Cade Cunningham will open up even more possibilities when it comes to the pick-and-roll.
For the PnR to be effective, both players need to be able to score from all three levels and also be a threat to roll to the rim and finish.
Isaiah Stewart was actually very good in the mid-range last season, shooting 66.7 percent from 15-19 feet and 54 percent from 10-14 feet.
Although NBA teams are trying to phase out the mid-range, having a big man who can knock these shots down is a huge weapon, which is one of the reasons Bam Adebayo has thrived.
Unlike Hayes, Cade Cunningham can finish at the rim and from behind the 3-point line, so teams will have to try and fight over screens to stay in his face, which should open up plenty of space for shooters.
Stewart can use his wide frame to create space for Cunningham to operate and then either roll to the rim or pop out for those mid-range shots.
Teams are going to have to choose their poison, which is going to lead to a lot of wide-open looks for Beef Stew.