Pistons: Cade Cunningham’s selflessness and Isaiah Stewart’s confidence

The Detroit Pistons got a storybook ending on opening night thanks to Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart.

One possession left. Up one. The franchise player has the ball in his hands. A scenario every fan dreams of.

Cade Cunningham drives to the basket, draws two defenders, sees his five man alone in the corner. Cunningham kicks the ball out to Isaiah Stewart. Stewart calls game, dagger.

Cunningham could have easily went with the take himself, starting to find a groove of his own as the game carried on. Instead, the leader of the young Detroit Pistons elected to put the possession of the game into the hands of one of his bandmates, who happened to be 0-for-3 from 3-point range on the night. Cunningham’s grasp of the situation, and his trust for Stewart, isn’t the first time that we’ve seen the young star’s leadership on display. However, it may be the most encouraging.

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart building trust

Isaiah Stewart generated some offensive momentum of his own in the fourth quarter, seeming to get to the free throw line possession after possession, however Stewart had yet to get it going from the field all night.

Entering the new season, Stewart’s 3-point shooting was a storyline to watch. The third year center didn’t shy away from long range opportunities out of the gate, taking two 3-point attempts during the first quarter, seeing neither fall. Stewart didn’t take another attempt in the first half, trying to get clicking elsewhere on the floor, hoping the three ball would eventually come along.

Not harping on the jump shots not falling, Stewart did not hunt for threes that fans, as well as himself, so desperately wanted him to make. He made it a point to find other ways to score and make an impact, grabbing clutch rebounds and steals, as well as making his way to the line when his team needed points most.

Then, when the moment was there, Stewart answered.

Wide open, in the corner, time to get the feet set and follow through. Money.

This play epitomized the night for the young Pistons, and how we want to see them react moving forward. Finding their backs against the wall early, learning from their mistakes, and finding a way to take control when it mattered.

The selflessness shown by Cunningham and the confidence shown by Stewart should be recalled moving forward, as the win against the Magic on opening night needs to be the one to set the tone. Young teams often find themselves in situations where things aren’t going their way, the Pistons must find a way to respond when they find themselves with their backs against the wall.

If the win against the Magic on opening night was any indication, the Pistons have the pieces to overcome the adversity that all budding teams in this league will face.