Pistons need surprise switch to save Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham looked gassed at the end of game five after carrying the Detroit Pistons on his back for four quarters and JB Bickerstaff will have to do something to help. 

After dropping 39 points and keeping the Pistons alive for most of the game, Cunningham missed several tough shots down the stretch and made crucial mental errors that looked to be the result of fatigue. That’s not an excuse, as the Cavaliers deserve a ton of credit for wearing Cade out on both ends, which has clearly been part of a game plan that has been effective. 

The Pistons need to counter with a surprise that can hopefully keep Cunningham fresh enough to close out game six on the road and save the season for Detroit. 

Get Cunningham off the ball more 

JB Bickerstaff has already been doing this, and it was effective for much of game five, but as time ticked away, the Pistons got stagnant and went back to the All-Cade offense, coming up empty for 2:30 minutes without even getting a good look. 

Whether it is Jenkins, Thompson, LeVert or even Sasser, someone other than Cunningham has to initiate the offense in the half court at times. Cunningham is working far too hard to even get a shot off, and everything has been contested physically, which is taking a toll. 

But the bigger change needs to come at the other end. 

Cunningham is doing too much on defense 

Not only does Cunningham have to do everything on offense, he then has to turn around and play ball-stopping defense, often on James Harden or Donovan Mitchell. Cunningham has held up well on that end, proving himself as a true two-way superstar, but this may be the area they can get him some rest. 

Cunningham is a good help defender off the ball (though he has a tendency to overhelp at times) as well as a good shot blocker, so stick him on Dean Wade and let someone else chase one of the other two guards around. It will also reduce the chances Cade gets into foul trouble early in the game, which would be killer in a do-or-die situation. 

The overburden on Cade Cunningham two years in a row in the playoffs has been glaringly obvious, and it’s something the Pistons have to address in the offseason, but if they want to hold that offseason at bay for a few more days, they need to find ways to get Cunningham a breather. 

Since they can’t take him out of the game for long stretches without falling apart, JB Bickerstaff will need to find ways to reduce his burden, at least early in the game, otherwise we may see another late collapse. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow