A new threat may be amassing in the East: the Detroit Pistons . The playoff drought is over for Detroit as they made the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 NBA season. There was no Cade Cunningham back then, but these Pistons playoffs rest in his hands. It’s a very different reality for a franchise that hasn’t experienced a winning culture since the days of Chauncey Billups , Ben Wallace , and others in the early and mid-2000s. That group managed a title in ’04, followed by a second consecutive finals appearance and three conference finals later. Since then, Detroit has managed just three postseason berths , all ending in the first round. Thanks to Cunningham, the Pistons future appears much brighter, and with it, the prospect of many years of playoff rounds to come. For Cunningham, though, this season marks his first taste of playoff experience, and he’s ready for it.
Rising Pistons Superstar Expects ‘War’ In First Playoff Series
Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham ready for his first taste of the NBA playoffs
The Pistons will meet the New York Knicks in round one of the Eastern Conference playoffs . For the Knicks, it’s been an up-and-down season filled with expectations that weren’t met in the way they likely wanted. For the Pistons, they’re one of the best surprises of the year, and Cunningham has his fingerprints all over it. Detroit finished with a 44-38 record, and Cunningham led them, averaging 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists in 35 minutes per game—a career-high just like his points per game. Cunningham had such a remarkable season that his name is in the conversation for Most Improved Player honors.
However, Cunningham is seeking more than an individual award as he’s about to lead his team against the Knicks. It will be a hard-nosed, feisty series sure to include a lot of attitude and emotion. According to The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Cunningham sees his first playoff series as “war, ” and he’s embracing all the physicality that may come with it.
“It’s going to be a war,” Cunningham said. “It’s going to be highly physical games — defense, battling it out on the glass, all of those different things. I think it’s going to be a super exciting series for people at home to watch, and it’s going to be a great test for us as far as first round, first series in a long time for the organization. So it’s exciting, and I think it’s going to be a great one for us.”
A first-round upset in the making?
Die-hard Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith admitted over the weekend on NBA Countdown that the Pistons ‘scare the hell’ out of him. Rightfully so, they should. Detroit will be no walk-over for New York. In fact, the Knicks are guilty of being a potential first-round upset—them being the ones upset, of course. Given Detroit’s youth and lack of postseason experience, it wouldn’t surprise many if they bow out in round one. However, what would surprise many is if they defeated the Knicks—that would be a huge upset, considering the Knicks made the trades they did last offseason with championship aspirations in mind.
If the Pistons bounce the Knicks, does it say more about Detroit or New York? In Detroit’s case, it says that the Pistons are an even bigger threat than many believed. It also says Cunningham has arrived, and he’s ready for war.
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