Determined Pistons secure Eastern Conference’s top seed without Cade Cunningham
PHILADELPHIA — Securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a week left in the regular season appeared improbable when franchise player Cade Cunningham suffered a lung injury that is likely to sideline him for the remainder of the regular season.
However, following another decisive win, a 116-93 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers that grants the Pistons homecourt advantage throughout the Eastern playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season, they have found renewed momentum.
Cunningham is anticipated to undergo evaluation in a week as he recuperates from the collapsed lung, but all signs suggest he will be prepared for the Pistons’ playoff opener in two weeks. The Pistons have recorded a 7-2 record in the nine games without Cunningham, with both defeats occurring in overtime — one against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Cunningham had a significant offensive role, averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists with a usage rate that ranked in the top 10 in the NBA. His absence has been addressed collectively by the team.
All-Star center Jalen Duren has stepped into a more prominent offensive position, averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds on 66 percent shooting since Cunningham’s injury. Backup point guard Daniss Jenkins has emerged from a midseason slump to capitalize on increased playing time, contributing 19.3 points and over seven assists. On Saturday, Jenkins recorded 14 assists, just one shy of his career high.
“With Cade here we were more relaxed, we knew we had more of a superstar to get us to wins,” Pistons swingman Ausar Thompson stated to ESPN Saturday night. “But since he’s been gone we all gathered around and knew we had to be more gritty, missing such a big piece. We had to make up for less offense on the defensive side.”
Thompson, who leads the NBA in steals per game and has received the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month award twice this season, believes the Pistons required a bit of a wake-up call, and they have recommitted to their defensive efforts. This was evident on Saturday against a 76ers team that needed a victory to maintain the sixth seed and avoid the Play-In Tournament.
The 76ers’ scoring diminished in every quarter, culminating in a 12-point fourth quarter that allowed the Pistons to extend their lead.
“We’re just slowing the other team down, making them run their stuff late,” Thompson remarked. “My goal is holding every team under 100. We did that tonight.”
In addition to Cunningham’s absence, the Pistons have also been without defensive anchor Isaiah Stewart due to a left calf strain since March 13. They have ranked as the league’s third-best defense since Cunningham’s injury, and their shooting — a persistent issue throughout the season — has improved. They have shot 38.8 percent from 3-point range after spending most of the year in the bottom third of that category.
“Cade goes out. We didn’t take the backseat mentality,” Pistons forward Tobias Harris stated. “I was like, let’s go show everybody we can ball. Let’s go show everybody what our style is made of. We continued to preach it every day. I think the way we play, we’re continuing to take huge strides.”
Harris spent over five seasons with the 76ers before rejoining Detroit two years ago and faced boos throughout the game. He responded by leading the Pistons in scoring with 19 points in 26 minutes and felt the atmosphere served as a valuable test for what the Pistons will encounter when fully healthy.
“It’s a good opportunity to go out there and play and figure it out,” Harris noted. “It gets you ready for the playoffs, high intensity basketball. In any other arena, they boo the other team, not specifically you. For me, I view it as a challenge. Use it as training, really.”
The Pistons believe this stretch without Cunningham has enhanced their versatility, but they will be more than prepared for his return for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
“Super excited,” Thompson told ESPN. “I miss him throwing me lobs sometimes, that’s my guy. I can’t wait to have him back. The energy is going to stay the same. He’s going to lead us.”
