Playing off the ball gets Cade Cunningham different types of shots
When Cade is working with the ball in his hands, he is the focal point of the defense and usually has to beat at least one or two guys to get a shot off.
When he is playing off the ball, teams can’t double team him as easily, so he can either keep it moving with a pass, get off a catch-and-shoot shot or take a couple of dribbles and shoot from the mid-range, where he has been deadly of late.
The Pistons don’t have a lot of shooters to put around Cade Cunningham, and the spacing is usually better when he is off the ball, as he is actually a threat to score unlike some of his teammates.
It’s too easy for defenses to crowd the lane and force Cade to make tough passes, which is one of the reasons his turnover rate is so high.
Cory Joseph has his faults, but he is good at getting into the lane and letting the play develop around him, a skill Cunningham is still mastering.
Playing Cade off the ball can get him easier looks several times per game, make the Pistons’ offense less predictable and easy to stop while saving those legs.