Cade Cunningham Sparks Pistons Turnaround
Cade Cunningham is credited with energizing a defense-first culture and sparking one of the fastest team turnarounds in recent NBA memory. His leadership and adaptation on both ends of the floor are positioning him as a cornerstone for the franchise's future. The surging Pistons are now part of the competitive 4-8 seed race in the Eastern Conference.
- The Pistons' current 40-13 record is a dramatic shift from the 2023-24 season, where the team won only 14 games and set an NBA record with a 28-game single-season losing streak. - Now in the MVP conversation, Cade Cunningham is averaging 25.3 points and 9.6 assists per game, earning him his first-time starter selection for the All-Star game this season. - A key to their success is a league-leading defense, with the Pistons holding the second-best defensive rating in the NBA at 109.2. - Cunningham personally contributes on the defensive end, with opponents shooting just 43.2% when he is the primary defender. - This turnaround began last season when the team made a 30-win improvement, finishing with a 44-38 record before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. - The team's recent performance includes winning 8 of their last 10 games, with a point differential of +12.3 per game during that stretch. - Even during the record-breaking losing streak two seasons ago, Cunningham and a core group of teammates reportedly discussed their championship aspirations.
