Cade Cunningham made his presence felt in his playoff matchup against the New York Knicks.
On April 21, the Detroit Pistons tied up their first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks with a game apiece. While Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 37 points, Cade Cunningham showed out in his second-ever playoff game, scoring 33 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Cunningham, the face of the once-proud franchise, secured Detroit its first postseason win in 17 years.
With the series heading to the Motor City, belief is at an all-time high that the Pistons can upset the Knicks and advance to the second round.
Pistons are built perfectly around Cunningham
While the Pistons still have a ways to go before they are seen as bona fide Finals contenders, the blueprint is set. Cunningham is a superstar, youngsters Ron Holland and Ausar Thompson provide defense and athleticism, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart protect the rim and serve as enforcers, and Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Tobias Harris all space the floor.
Detroit has sent a message: they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and Cunningham is at the center of it.
“He’s got everything,” praised Carmelo Anthony. “He get one or two things, ‘good riddance’, 6-foot-6, the height, big guard-ability. I see him trying to get down there in the post. If you get a spin, fade, bump, learn how to be patient down there, shawty is tough I give him that.”
The Pistons have turned Detroit into a destination, with free agents likely looking favorably on the franchise, signaling even more improvement to come. Detroit has a real identity and culture, with Cunningham at the center of it.
“He just fit so seamlessly into what Detroit has going on, they built that team the right way, physicality, athleticism, shooters, they can defend, and you got a really good coaching staff over there, and you got Cade, who can lead now, that’s scary,” continued Anthony.
“I don’t like that they beat my Knicks, came in and took that game, they took the game.”
Pistons are playing with house money
The Knicks, after adding OG Anunoby midway through last season and Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns this summer, entered the year with title hopes.
Their 0-9 record this season against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Oklahoma City Thunder solidifies them in the second tier of contenders, and a first-round loss at the hands of the Pistons would be nothing short of an embarrassment.
Detroit, meanwhile, had an expected win total of 25.5 games entering this season. They won only 14 games last season, and fans would have been thrilled with just a play-in appearance.
Instead, the Pistons earned the sixth seed and are a team to look out for moving forward. Before the series started, Knicks fans took to social media with bold predictions, but Detroit faithful were unfazed; they were just happy to be there.
Now, it appears New York will have trouble advancing past the Pistons, which just adds fuel to the growing fire in the Motor City.
