The Detroit Pistons have played four straight games without All-Star Cade Cunningham, who is still listed as day-to-day on the injury report with a calf contusion.
The Pistons have managed well without him so far, going 3-1 in that stretch and even beating the Eastern Conference leading Cavaliers in the process. They might have made it four in a row last night had three of their guys not been kicked out of the game, but that’s a different rant.
While the Pistons may be able to steal a few games without Cade, it’s obvious they aren’t going as far without him, so getting him back, healthy and in a rhythm before the playoffs has to be the goal.
When Cunningham first went out, I assumed the Pistons were just trying to get their star some rest, as they had back-to-back games against lottery teams, and he had an opportunity to get a full week off without it hurting them.
Now, it’s looking more and more like this is a concerning injury.
Cade Cunningham injury update: “If Cade is able to play, he plays.”
It’s one thing to miss games against the Pelicans and Spurs, and entirely another to miss games against Cleveland and Minnesota, two playoff teams with something at stake.
That’s when we knew for sure that the Pistons weren’t just getting Cade some rest, and that he is actually hurt.
Coach JB Bickerstaff confirmed as much after the win over the Cavs, saying “If Cade is able to play, he plays,” which can be interpreted as “Cade Cunningham isn’t able to play.”
This isn’t just rest or precaution.
I was watching Cade closely last night as he cheered his team from the bench, and did notice a slight limp when he was moving around. I am no doctor, so take that for what it is worth (not much), but he did appear to be laboring slightly.
Coach Bickerstaff also mentioned that Cade’s health was the priority and obviously it has to be, as he is not only the key to this season but for many to come, so they can’t mess around or try to bring him back early.
Playoff seeding won’t matter if the Pistons don’t have Cunningham, so as long as he needs to sit is as long as he needs to sit and when he’s ready to play, he will.
But with each passing day the anxiety for fans is growing as we wonder if this injury is going to derail an otherwise magical season.