The Pistons have cooled off recently, but Cade Cunningham certainly hasn't. Detroit's All-Star point guard has rediscovered his outside shot and is shooting 43% from three on nearly 7 attempts per game since the All-Star break. His shooting resurgence helps answer one of the Pistons' biggest playoff questions and gives him more ammo to carry the Pistons' offense in the postseason.
Cade has been dominant this season as a scorer and shooter but bizarrely struggled shooting the ball from outside. His overall shooting percentages weren't the crazy part; it was the fact that he was shooting worse on easier looks compared to difficult contested pull-up threes. Now, he's connecting on all sorts of attempts from deep and it should help the Pistons regardless of their playoff matchups.
Cade Cunningham's shooting can be the final puzzle piece
The Pistons' defense has been utterly dominant this season when fully healthy and locked in. They've slipped a bit recently due to inconsistent effort and the loss of Ausar Thompson to injury, but defense is not a question mark for this team. When the chips are down and the stakes ramp up, the Pistons fully expect their defense to be a strength.
Their offense is the big question mark with lots of uncertainty. The Pistons have been great scoring in transition this season, and their defense only helps there. But their halfcourt offense will also need to be solid if they want to make a deep playoff run. And strong shooting from their star guard will help that effort greatly.
Cade Cunningham has a lot of tools in his scoring arsenal. He's improved as a finisher and maintained his usual smooth scoring from the midrange, both on pull-ups and in the post. But the best defenses will also force him to shoot threes in the playoffs. Last year, the Knicks' only real answer to his scoring in their first round series was making him take outside shots. Unfortunately, Cade only shot 18% from three and the Pistons lost in 6.
Cade can change the playoff narrative this year
This year, Cade will have a chance to right his flaws from last season. He's more prepared for the playoffs after competing in them for the first time last year. And he's showing good pacing with his jumper, only getting better as the season wears along. If he can bring his recent form to the postseason, it'll give the Pistons another unexpected level in their halfcourt offense.
Without an abundance of great shooting around him, Cade has been forced to take some tough shots this season. But his success on both assisted and self-created threes proves his superstar talent. In the playoffs, those shots are what separate the best in the world from their lesser counterparts.
And Cade Cunningham is ready to prove he's one of the best in the world.