The Detroit Pistons seem to have picked up right where they left off last season, and potentially taken an even bigger step forward. Near the top of the Eastern Conference, their young roster appears to have improved in virtually every facet from last season, and this improvement is reflected in their record.
Perhaps the biggest reason for their success this season has been their performance in the clutch. Five of their eight games this year have been decided by 10 or fewer points, with Motor City coming out on top in four of those occasions. The reason for their success, though, is as simple as having Cade Cunningham on the roster.
Cade Cunningham’s Fourth-Quarter Brilliance Fuels Detroit’s Rise
A 6-2 start has the Pistons standing behind only the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings. Despite losing key bench contributor Malik Beasley this offseason, they have been able to sustain and build upon their success from last year.
The main reason for this is the jump from their young players, especially Jalen Duren, while Duncan Robinson has seamlessly fit into the Beasley role. But the biggest piece of the puzzle remains Cunningham.
After averaging 26.1 points and 9.1 assists last season, his raw numbers have taken a slight dip this year, with averages of 24.5 points and 9.6 assists. However, where he’s excelled is in the clutch.
It was brought to life by a post from the official Pistons page on X, where they broke down his numbers in the fourth quarter. As he leads the league with 86 points in the timeframe, 12 clear of second-placed Tyrese Maxey, the dominance hasn’t come purely from scoring.
In the period, he’s averaging 12.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, with impressive shooting percentages of 50% from the field and 45% on 3-pointers. It has directly resulted in some spectacular wins for the team, as they continue their ascension in the East.
Cunningham’s strong two-way play has anchored Detroit’s defense, helping the Pistons post the third-best defensive rating in the league, trailing only Oklahoma City and San Antonio.
Still, the real test lies ahead.
After a promising 2024-25 campaign and an electric first-round battle with the Knicks, Detroit’s next step is clear: turn regular-season progress into postseason results. For that to happen, the team must keep building around Cunningham as the heartbeat of a poised, clutch-ready squad.