The Pistons claimed their place atop the East by blowing out the Knicks on Monday night. Detroit played arguably a perfect game to beat their rivals 121-90. The Knicks have been the second-best team in the East all season, but the Pistons embarrassed them in the playoff rematch. It was the strongest proof yet of the Pistons' formula for success.
Cade Cunningham is an MVP candidate
Cade Cunningham was a shining star in the win. He finished with 29 points and 13 assists, including 15 points in the third quarter alone. Cade's combination of scoring and playmaking make him one of the league's most unstoppable forces.
Cade is a matchup nightmare with his ball-handling, size and tough shotmaking. Not even the Knicks' plethora of wing defenders could do anything to slow him down. Whether it was in the pick and roll or isolation, Cade got whatever he wanted when he was on the court.
In a direct matchup against a fellow dominant East guard, Cade thoroughly outplayed Jalen Brunson. Cade's dominance in the Pistons' most important game yet should elevate him in the eyes of award voters. Given the Pistons' astounding success and Cade's role at the helm, he is now firmly planted in MVP conversations.
The Pistons' depth is one of their biggest advantages
Even before the game became a blowout, the Pistons got huge contributions from multiple bench players. Even when injuries have hit the team this season, they've been able to weather them because of their impressive depth. In this game, it was Javonte Green and Jaden Ivey stepping up the most off the bench.
The Pistons are especially impressive in their bench depth because it spreads across every position. Whether it's Paul Reed stepping in as a starting center or Daniss Jenkins running backup point guard as a two-way player, they're getting the most out of everyone on the roster. Other teams find it hard to keep up with the relentless energy that the Pistons bring every play, regardless of who's on the court.
The Pistons defense is one of the league's best
As the final score shows, the Pistons dominated this game defensively. They held the Knicks to just 42% shooting from the field overall and forced 20 turnovers. The Knicks' offense never got in a good rhythm and had just 15 total assists.
The Pistons are at their best when they can disrupt a team's offensive flow. They're extremely dangerous after forcing turnovers due to the speedy athletes on the team. If they can keep up defensive performances like this, the Pistons won't just be a dangerous team in the East. In fact, they can be a threat to win the championship this season.