The Detroit Pistons need someone to step up when the game is on the line. The obvious choices are Jerami Grant and Cade Cunningham, but others could come through as well.
The Pistons were on the verge of a titanic upset. With two minutes, 15 seconds remaining, the Brooklyn Nets clung to a one-point lead, following a three-pointer by Cade Cunningham.
The Nets were reeling, as they had seen a 16-point lead fritter away to just a point. All the momentum was on Detroit’s side.
And then …. well, nothing. That was the problem.
The Pistons scored one point the rest of the game. And that point was a virtually meaningless free throw by Kelly Olynyk with 12 seconds left. Brooklyn escaped Little Caesars Arena with a 96-90 victory.
It was like a boxing match where the underdog had the champs on the ropes, but doesn’t finish him off. In this case, two jumpers by Kevin Durant sealed the deal for the Nets.
Now, we are not saying Detroit needs someone at the level of Durant to close out games. But the Pistons need a player to deliver the knockout blow, when they have the chance to win a game.
With the score 90-89, on its next three possessions Detroit went: Cunningham miss, Stewart offensive rebound and miss, Saddiq Bey turnover (offensive foul).
By the time Olynyk got to the foul line, Brooklyn was up 94-89 and it was too late.
The Pistons desperately need someone to make a bucket when it counts the most, or this is going to be another season of chasing lottery balls, instead of a play-in tournament berth.
Three best candidates to be Detroit Pistons ‘knockout artist’ to finish games
His history, as well as the fat $37 million three-year deal he signed, says the 6-foot-11 Canadian is not just some role player.
In its win over Orlando, Olynyk had a big three-pointer in the third period to give the Pistons a 14-point lead, and he sank two foul shots that were the nail in the coffin for the Magic. But others scored in the fourth period to keep the Pistons ahead.
Olynyk has the pedigree to be a ‘go-to’ guy down the stretch.
He was a key player for Boston as it made the Eastern Conference finals in 2017, and helped the Miami Heat when it reached the NBA finals in the Bubble in 2020. Olynyk knows about winning and has been around many clutch players.
In crunch time, Olynyk is a player the Pistons could look to, to take shots.
2. Cade Cunningham
It was the No. 1 overall draft pick who led the charge in the fourth quarter against the Nets. While he has not found in general the rhythm for his shot, after a long layoff due to a sprained ankle, Cunningham was able to score eight points on 3-for-6 shooting in the fourth quarter.
As has been well-documented, Cunningham was quite comfortable being ‘the man’ down the stretch for Oklahoma State in college. In the final minutes, Cunningham always had the ball, and was ready to shoot for the Cowboys.
Cade had a chance to give Detroit the lead but missed a long three-pointer. That was his last shot until a meaningless three-point attempt with a second left.
Cunningham would be more than willing to take the tough shots, but the opponents know that too. The other teams are ready to deny Cunningham the ball, or, at least, make sure he is not open at the three-point line.
If Cade Cunningham is going to take the shots at the end, plays need to be drawn up to free him. He is not yet NBA savvy enough to figure out how to get open when he is the focus of the defense.
Everyone on the Pistons with an Olympic gold medal, raise your hands. Only Jerami Grant can do so.
After a big summer playing with the likes of Durant and Damian Lillard, the Mike Tyson and George Foreman of NBA knockout artists, it would have been nice if the 6-foot-9 forward picked up some tips from them on late game heroics.
When Derrick Rose, and then Blake Griffin, left the team last year, Grant really became the Pistons only major offensive threat on a consistent basis. Other players might have a big game here and there, but Grant was the only one scoring 20 points or more all the time.
Despite a 20-52 record, the Pistons had a lot of close games last season. Grant was handed the ‘closer’ role, because no one else was around. In his first season as a major offensive weapon, Grant did not not stand out in that role.
So far, Grant is still in the learning stages of being counted on at the end of games. Against the Nets, he only had two points in the fourth period while Detroit staged its comeback (But Grant was a +10 in the quarter).
As someone with ambitions of making the All-Star team, being a key player down the stretch is something Grant needs to add to his game.
As Detroit enters a more favorable section of their schedule, wins are more possible. However, someone must step up and perform the knockout blow, when they have the opportunity.