Cade Cunningham and his recovery from a collapsed lung have dominated discussion around the Detroit Pistons lately, as their season hinges on whether he can make it back, but he’s not their only crucial injury.
Isaiah Stewart’s injury has been completely overshadowed by Cunningham’s to the point that few people are even talking about it, but Beef Stew’s calf is just about as important to the Pistons’ future as the health of Cunningham’s lung.
The Pistons have been here before with Isaiah Stewart
The Detroit Pistons were without Stewart for most of their first-round playoff loss to the Knicks last season, and it showed at times, so much that it’s easy to predict the Pistons would have won that series if Beef Stew had been in there.
Not only is he one of the best rim protectors in the league and a guy his teammates feed off of, but Stewart’s defensive versatility would have come in handy trying to check Karl-Anthony Towns.
We’ve not gotten an update about Stewart since coach JB Bickerstaff said he would be out for “some time” without giving any timeline for his possible return.
There are only six games left, and it would be great if Stewart could make it back for some of them, but if not, the Pistons are heading into the playoffs with the same glaring absence as last season, though this year, they are better equipped to handle it.
The Pistons aren’t playing the Knicks in the first round and have better backups
The good news is that even if Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart are not ready to go for the first round of the playoffs, the Pistons could potentially still win in the first round.
They’ll be playing the 8th seed, and even though there are no gimmes in the NBA, it’s a far easier first-round series than the one they had last year, as they will at least have home court advantage and not be playing a top four seed.
It’s not something they want to have to prove, but the Pistons have played well without Cunningham and Stewart this season and have confidence in their backups if they need them.
That includes Paul Reed, who has had a much larger role this season with all of the injuries and suspensions. He’s played well off the bench and in the starting five, so BBall Paul will be ready when and if he is needed.
Even Tolu Smith has shown he can fill in and offer rim protection in a pinch, so the Pistons are in a better position this season when it comes to the potential absence of Stewart.
While Detroit may be able to eke out a first-round win without two key players, it’s not going any further than that, so getting both Cunningham and Stewart back is paramount to their playoff hopes.