Cunningham’s solitary burden defines Pistons’ playoff survival
With the Pistons trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-2, Cade Cunningham’s historic individual output stands in stark contrast to the structural weaknesses surrounding him.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has emerged as the most impactful player of the current NBA playoffs, leading the postseason in points, assists and minutes played. Despite carrying the offensive load with limited support from teammates, Cunningham was not named an MVP finalist. The Pistons trail the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-2 in their second-round series and face elimination in Game 6.
Cunningham’s performance has been historic, particularly in overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Orlando Magic in the previous round. He scored 109 points in the final three elimination games, tying records for points scored in Games 5-7 while overcoming a 3-1 deficit. He became the first player in history to record at least 30 points, 10 assists, two blocks and two 3-pointers in a Game 7, finishing with 32 points, 12 assists and four 3-pointers.
The NBA and NBPA waived the 65-game threshold rule for Cunningham due to a collapsed lung that sidelined him for 12 regular-season games, allowing him to remain eligible for awards. His 360 points in the first 12 playoff games are the fourth-most in history for a player aged 24 or younger.
The Pistons are plus-53 in net rating with Cunningham on the floor and minus-20 when he is off, a stark contrast to other teams whose offensive ratings often improve or remain stable when their stars rest. Teammate Jalen Duren’s offensive output has dropped significantly from 19.5 PPG in the regular season to 10.1 PPG in the playoffs, raising questions about his value as a restricted free agent.
The Pistons acquired Kevin Huerter at the trade deadline, but he played only three minutes in Game 5 against Cleveland. The team’s reliance on Cunningham remains absolute as they prepare for a potential elimination game on Friday night.
