It’s arguable that Cade Cunningham was the best player in the playoffs this year (so far), as he racked up the most points, assists and 3-point makes in two series. What’s even more impressive is that he wasn’t close to full strength.
Cunningham was so good in the playoffs that it was easy to forget he was just a few weeks removed from a collapsed lung which kept him off the floor for 11 of the final 14 games of the season.
He had little time to ramp into game shape, and if we are being completely honest, it showed at times, especially at the ends of games when Cunningham looked gassed against the Cavaliers.
On top of the collapsed lung (as if that is not enough) Trajan Langdon revealed in a recent press conference that Cunningham was also dealing with a broken rib.
It’s amazing that he was so good despite these injuries, but you have to wonder if they had an effect on his overall level of play.
Cade Cunningham isn’t making excuses
I noticed Cunningham wearing what appeared to be a bulletproof vest at one point in the playoffs (you can see it in many of the photos from the Cleveland series) but I just thought it was added protection for his lung, as the Pistons never mentioned that Cade had a broken rib as well.
I actually broke a rib playing basketball (shout out, Tena Ecuadorian league!) and it was awful. I couldn’t take a deep breath or lift my arms over my head for a couple of weeks, and as far as injuries go, it was one of those that seems to affect everything you do.
So, to find out Cunningham had a broken rib makes his performance in the playoffs even more impressive, and even more terrifying to opponents who have to wonder what he would look like at 100 percent.
Langdon mentioned that Cunningham wasn’t quite at 100 percent with his conditioning, so some of those brainfart, late-game turnovers make a lot more sense.
This isn’t letting Cade off the hook, as he did turn the ball over too much, and I am sure he’d be the first to say that there are no excuses, so I am not making them, but it is important to have all of the information and context when evaluating a player’s performance.
All players are dealing with nagging injuries in the playoffs, which is why health is often the X-Factor, but Cunningham was playing through more than he let on and was still able to dominate, which is a great sign for the future.
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