The Detroit Pistons were already staring down the barrel of the worst season in team history before they got the news that Cade Cunningham is out with COVID.
First off, I hope the rookie recovers quickly and has a mild case, but the Pistons are going to have to move on without him, and it’s going to get ugly.
They were already missing Jerami Grant, so with their two best players out, the chances of the Pistons winning a game are next to zero unless the other team does not show up.
Since this season is a wash anyway, and 35 percent of their offense is out of the lineup, the Pistons may as well use this time to experiment with some things that they normally wouldn’t get a chance to do.
Here are some things I’d like to see them try while Cade Cunningham and Jerami Grant are out.
Make Killian Hayes the focal point of the offense with Cade Cunningham out
Killian Hayes only has a 14 percent usage rate, which is 8th on the team out of guys who have been a regular part of the rotation.
With both of Detroit’s primary ball handlers and offense initiators out, I’d love to see them turn to Killian Hayes as the focal point of the offense.
Let him run the show, take shots whenever he wants, set up teammates and do everything else, as he is pretty much the only guy left who can break a defense down off the dribble or get his own shot.
I hope Hayes takes around 20-25 shots (yes! that many) in these games, which will maybe be enough to get his offense going.
Who knows, maybe he’ll start making some runners and floaters and the Detroit Pistons will actually get some benefit from this ugly period of team history.