Even though the Detroit Pistons have been in first place for most of the season, the two questions that still routinely get asked about them are whether they have enough talent behind Cade Cunningham and whether they have enough experience to win in the playoffs.
The Pistons are starting to answer both as they continue to roll with Cunningham out with a collapsed lung and continue to come up big in the biggest moments.
The Detroit Pistons aren’t just try hards behind Cade Cunningham
Depending on who you ask, the Detroit Pistons not named Cade Cunningham are just a rag-tag group of overachievers who try hard but aren’t that talented or they have one of the deepest teams in the league that is propping up Cunningham’s MVP case.
Sometimes it’s both in the same day.
The truth is closer to the latter assessment, as the Pistons have leaned on their depth all season with guys continually stepping up and embracing the next man up mentality. We’ve seen it from Daniss Jenkins, who got his shot this season because of injury, and when the Pistons have needed him most, he’s been huge as he was last night with a career high against the hated, crybaby Lakers (seriously, I don’t know who is worse, Luka or their nutty fanbase who truly believes every single play deserves a foul).
We’ve seen it from Javonte Green, Paul Reed and even the much-maligned Caris LeVert of late. Kevin Huerter is starting to roll and the entire Pistons’ starting five has stepped up with Cunningham out, especially Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, who have been huge in the last three games.
Yes, the Pistons are a bunch of try hards who dive on the floor and go all out on every possession, but they also have a deep and talented group behind Cunningham, evidenced by their 8-2 record without him and positive net rating with him off the floor.
This isn’t a sign that they are better off without Cade obviously, but is the sign of a good, balanced team that has plenty of talent aside from him.
The Detroit Pistons have the clutch gene
There’s been so much talk this season about playoff experience and whether the Pistons have enough to make a deep run. Talking heads like Marc Stein have used this to write the Pistons off, but this makes no sense to me.
We just saw an even younger and more inexperienced OKC team win the title last season, so there is no mandatory minimum for experience or age.
This entire Pistons team went through a playoff series last year, so got a taste of what it is like and didn’t back down. They will be even more prepared this year.
And they have players like Tobias Harris, Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert who have all been parts of deep playoff runs, so the Pistons aren’t completely lacking in playoff chops.
They also tend to thrive in clutch moments. The Pistons lead the NBA in single-digit wins this season and have guys other than Cade Cunningham who are not afraid of the big moment. Jenkins showed last night that he is willing and able to take and make a big shot, and he also stepped up to the line and knocked down key free throws late in the game that were never in doubt.
They have a quiet confidence even when the game is tight that will serve them well in the playoffs, especially if they have their best player back.
The Pistons may still need more star power, but they have a deep and talented team that rises to the occasion, so they have answered the biggest questions hanging over them at just the right time.