Fans of the Detroit Pistons need to embrace the famous quote from the hit TV show Ted Lasso after Cade Cunningham debuted in a 76-72 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Summer League.
“Be a goldfish.” It means to have a short memory and not let things linger.
This is particularly true as it pertains to Pistons guard Cade Cunningham’s performance.
First and foremost, he showed capabilities to fill the stat sheet with a 12-point, six-rebound, two-assist, two-steal and two-block stat line. It wasn’t all positive, but you can see why Cade Cunningham was selected No. 1 overall. He wasn’t afraid to take shots, which came in a variety of ways from on the block to beyond the 3-point line, and he was creative with the ball in his hands.
Despite it being an up-and-down performance, a lot of fans shouted on social media that the Detroit Pistons should have selected Rockets guard Jalen Green.
In before Jalen Green overshadows Cade
— Xerz (@rez0k_13) August 9, 2021
Jalen Green >>> Cade
— Glock Purdy (@quest_for_6) August 9, 2021
Cade will be out of the league next year he’s a bust
— Tatum Goat (@tatumismydaddy) August 9, 2021
Green had a much smoother debut, dropping 23 points, hauling in five rebounds with two assists and a 44 percent clip from downtown in a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham is more than just a scorer
Did we learn anything new, though? Green has been described as a ‘walking bucket’ and he went on to show that in his debut. It’s also much easier to debut as a scorer than to be what general manager Troy Weaver calls – ‘the human connector.’
As a scorer you take the ball and put it in the basket. Cunningham, while he didn’t have the best shooting night, is being looked at to be a do-all type player.
That type of player takes more time to develop because chemistry plays such a big part in court positioning from grabbing boards to knowing where a player will be so you can thread the needle for assists. Cunningham said as much:
"“”It’s our first time being able to get together and be with each other and really try to get this chemistry down,” Cunningham said. “We got a lot from this game that we can learn from. That’s the main thing you want out of your first game. Now we’re going to try to keep building off of that.”"
Sunday night the timing was off. Forward Tyler Cook mishandled a handful of Cunningham passes, and at the end of the night Cunningham had five turnovers. That’s OK.
Chemistry takes time, but unfortunately social media is instant and the overreacting on Twitter is laughable. Especially when it comes from a pot-stirring reporter like Fox Sports’ Skip Bayless.
Did Jalen Green start proving last night that he’ll be better than Cade Cunningham? Now on @undisputed
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 9, 2021
All in all, just be a goldfish, Pistons fans.