Two of the Detroit Pistons’ goals coming into the season were to reduce their turnovers and reduce the workload for Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham was the only focal point of the offense last season, and it took its toll over the course of the year. He not only initiated everything but often had to finish what he started, and it made the Pistons very easy to defend in the playoffs.
It also led to a ton of turnovers for Cunningham, so these two priorities are related, as reducing Cade’s workload and sharing the ball more should lead to reduction in turnovers.
The results so far have been promising and point to some lineup changes we may see more of in the future.
The Pistons are going small and turning it over less
On paper, Cunningham has a similar usage percentage as he did last season, so he is still handling the ball plenty, and at times, that has been a problem. In their two recent losses, the Pistons slipped into some bad habits of trying to force everything through Cade.
This year’s Pistons have been at their best when they are sharing the ball, which they did last game for 31 assists to just 10 turnovers, a ratio that usually ends in a blowout win.
Detroit’s assists on the season are up slightly per game, currently sitting at 7th in the NBA, even though Cunningham’s individual assist numbers are down, which is a good sign for the Pistons, as it means more people are touching the ball and creating.
To go along with more team assists, the Pistons have been turning it over less, down a turnover from last season and currently sitting at 8th in the league after being 22nd last season.
Over their last five games they’ve been even better, the Pistons have averaged 27.6 assists to just 12.5 turnovers, both of which would be near the top of the league.
Even though Cunningham is still the focal point of the offense, he is being tasked less with intimation, as coach JB Bickerstaff has used Ausar Thompson and most recently Daniss Jenkins and Kevin Huerter, to take over some of those duties.
Over time, it will matter, as it’s less work for Cade that will hopefully save him from some of the bumps, bruises (and collapsed lungs) he had last season.
The Pistons are at their best when Cunningham doesn’t have to do everything, and so far, the results have been promising, as the Pistons are turning it over less. We’ll have to see how this changes when Jalen Duren gets back, and the Pistons are using more traditional lineups around Cade.
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