Can the Detroit Pistons survive without Cade Cunningham? It’s a question no one wanted to ask, but one Detroit will have to answer immediately.
Cunningham was diagnosed with a collapsed lung that will keep him out for an “extended period of time” according to reports, a nebulous and scary diagnosis that puts the Pistons’ season on the brink.
In the short term, all thoughts are with Cade’s health and recovery, but the games will go on without him and the Pistons don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves.
Without speculating too much, it’s a health issue that has a wide range of recovery times depending on the severity, so we just have to hope Cade’s collapsed lung is on the minor side of the timetable.
The Pistons have to face their nightmare scenario, which may extend beyond the regular season.
Can the Pistons win a first-round playoff series without Cade Cunningham?
I think we have to brace for the possibility that Cade may not return this year, which would be a catastrophe for so many reasons for him individually and for the team.
The Pistons certainly have to face that scenario, so will have to find ways to pick up the considerable slack that will be left in Cade’s absence.
But even if Cade does return at some point this season, the Pistons may have to try and win a first-round playoff series without him, a daunting task no matter who they end up playing.
I always try to stay positive, so I do believe the Pistons could potentially win a series without Cade, as they have players who have stepped up all season.
But anything beyond that is a pipe dream, as the Pistons barely have the offense to keep up with the best teams in the Eastern Conference even with Cade Cunningham in the lineup.
His absence will certainly shine a light on their biggest problem, which is the lack of a second star who can consistently create shots and provide consistent scoring.
Jalen Duren has been that guy of late and this will be his opportunity to secure an even bigger raise this season, as he’ll be the featured man in the offense and will get a chance to put up monster numbers that can carry the Pistons through the regular season.
The Pistons will be missing two key players for the foreseeable future in Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart, so if they don’t want this season to be a complete loss, they will have to rally around their injured teammates and show the Pistons are truly more than the sum of their parts.