Cade Cunningham Is Starting To Figure Things Out
From a battle between the top two picks of this year’s draft to Tom Thibodeau’s comments about the starting lineup, there was a lot to talk about from Wednesday’s night of NBA action. And I broke everything down.
Detroit Pistons (112) vs Houston Rockets (104)
The Pistons and Rockets aren’t trying to hide what they’re doing. They are trying to rebuild around the franchise stars that they drafted this past season. For Detroit, that’s Cade Cunningham. For Houston, that’s Jalen Green.
We haven’t seen these two face off in a meaningful game, until now. Let’s talk about how this matchup went.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons looked good in this game. Albeit against the Rockets, they looked competent for once. Cade Cunningham is starting to get his legs under him, playing better with each passing game. The Pistons played well all-around and picked up a rare win.
Certainly didn’t think I would be saying most of this during any point of this season.
Cade Cunningham Is Getting There
Unlike most people, I have avoided talking about Cade’s “struggles” to start this season. There are a lot of reasons for that, but I think the main one is that he hasn’t played that much. He couldn’t play in the preseason/practice to start the season due to an ankle injury.
Cade has played just 5 games in the NBA thus far. Last night against the Rockets was easily his best one.
Over the first few games of the season, Cunningham’s main struggles offensively were his outside shooting and inability to score in the pick-and-roll. Some of those problems seemed to get some answers in this game.
Driving Ability
Cade Cunningham’s patience is so well-defined early on in his career. Similar to Luka Doncic, he plays at his own pace and doesn’t let the defense rush him. You saw that in this game, as Cunningham bullied people on his way to the rim.
He had a few nice drives and finishes by just powering through defenders. With the game on the line in the 4th quarter, Cunningham came off the pick and roll and made a pretty spin move in the lane. He then just muscled in the layup over Jae’Sean Tate, who isn’t exactly a featherweight.
That combination of handles, strength, and patience makes Cunningham a lethal driver. Cade didn’t use the pick-and-roll too much in this game, but he’s been able to break guys down one-on-one. Not bad for just your 5th game in the NBA.
Outside Shooting
Cunningham was a good shooter coming out of college. He struggled early on, but his outside shots started to fall in this game.
Cunningham shot 4/8 from downtown in this game. He looked very comfortable off the catch, where three of his long-distance shots came from. His jump shot is fluid and quick, so it was about time some of these shots started to fall.
Cade’s one three-pointer that wasn’t off the catch was also a beauty. He attacked a retreating Theis off the dribble, backed up, and then calmly sank the 3.
Maybe this guy can shoot after all.
20 points – 2 steals – 44% FG – Win
Expect more games like this from Cade down the line. He’s a fun player to watch and he’s going to take the Pistons to new heights down the line.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have been…disappointing. I am aware that they are supposed to be bad, but I feel like we haven’t seen as many results from their young core. From Jalen Green to Kevin Porter Jr, the Rockets’ franchise pieces haven’t stood out yet.
While the Rockets were supposed to be bad this season, this start was even worse than expected.
The Jalen Green vs Detroit Saga Continues
Jalen Green does not like the city of Detroit. His pre-draft comments about the city were insulting. He seems to dislike Cade Cunningham simply because he plays for the Pistons. And I find the whole thing rather unnecessary.
In regards to his pre-draft comments, why even say stuff like this?
Why would you even say that? Sure, Detroit isn’t a “sexy” city. But there’s no reason to trash it just because you’re not going there.
Green had previously said in interviews that he wanted to be the #1 overall pick. He also said stuff like this about the city holding the #1 overall pick. My head hurts.
In this game against the Pistons, Jalen Green seemed to be talking to Cade after this monster dunk that he had in the 3rd quarter;
Yeah, it’s an impressive dunk. I wish I could do that. But if you watch the last few seconds of that video, it’s clear that Jalen had predetermined what he was going to do after the dunk. Talk trash to Cade.
Unless Cade has been doing the same thing to Jalen (I haven’t seen proof of it), why is Green doing this? Maybe he’s a hyper-competitive guy, but other than that, the only explanation has to be that he just hates Detroit. That has to be it.
But, as Green tries to trash the city of Detroit, Cade Cunningham does not care in the slightest.
You might want to try harder Jalen.
Have The Rockets Ever Heard Of Ball Movement?
The Rockets have some talented offensive players. They were supposed to be an exciting team, but it’s very frustrating to watch them.
The Rockets still have a lot to figure out with their rebuild. A lot of their young guys haven’t been performing as well as you’d like. Their offense doesn’t feature a lot of passing or movement. It’s a lot of hoping shots fall, which isn’t a recipe for success. Trust me, I’m a Blazers fan.
These numbers will never spell success in the NBA. They just won’t.
Houston Rockets “Offense” In 2022
266.5 Passes Made Per Game (25th)
21.1 Assists Per Game (25th)
54.8 Points Per Game off of Assists (27th)
8.7 Isolations Per Game (10th)
8.1 Isolation PPG (9th)
41.4% In Isolation (17th)
The Rockets aren’t passing the ball much and they aren’t creating for others. They isolate the ball at pretty high rates without much success. This is why you see guys like Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green struggling. These stats make their 1-10 start look even worse.
The first 11 games of their rebuild have not gone smoothly, to say the least.
Portland Trail Blazers (119-109 L)
We just lost to Frank Kaminsky. *slams head against desk*
Are We Sleeping On The San Antonio Spurs?
Going into the season, not many people were keeping an eye on the Spurs. The Spurs have always been a bland team, but we talked about them because they were good. Now that they were headed for a rebuild, everybody forgot about them. I think it’s time we start paying attention again.
While it’s still early, the Spurs have looked decent this season. They just whipped the Kings, improving to 4-7 on the season. Their youngsters are stepping into a larger role nicely. Their defense has been one of the better units in the league.
Did I mention that nobody is talking about them? It’s time to change that.
Spotting Youth
After years of not showcasing their young talents, the Spurs are embarrassing their young brass. It’s working.
Dejounte Murray
With the departure of DeMar DeRozan this offseason, Murray was expected to take over for his team. An elite perimeter defender and playmaker, I was looking for a jump in scoring from the Washington product. So far, so good in that regard.
18.4 points – 7.9 rebounds – 8.2 assists – 2.2 steals – 45% FG – 33% 3-PT
If you noticed a lot of bold, it’s because Murray is having a career season. He’s now the main option offensively and he’s been taking off. His combination of defense, rebounding, and playmaking is rare in the NBA. He is in the running for Most Improved Player, but nobody is talking about it.
Keldon Johnson
I think I could tell that Keldon Johnson was going to be good when he was getting minutes in the Olympics. Johnson might not be at the top of your list when it comes to young talent, but he’s a really good player.
A bruising forward who loves to get downhill, Johnson has been getting more shots this season. The results have followed him.
15.5 points – 6.4 rebounds – 1.4 steals – 45% FG
Johnson is also seeing good results in a more expanded role. Johnson lives in the paint, as he hardly ever attempts anything outside of the paint. Unlike Ben Simmons, he’s finding ways to score. While I think a mid-range jump shot would help him a lot, he’s found success bullying people inside.
Devin Vassell
Vassell didn’t do much as a rookie last season. While he was a consistent bench player, he didn’t flash much of that lottery-pick potential. He has done a lot more of that this season.
Vassell, a great 3&D wing, has gotten a huge uptick in minutes and field goal attempts. Now he’s showing you his potential.
11.6 points – 1.3 steals – 45% FG – 38% 3-PT
I’ve been impressed with Vassell’s efficiency. He’s taking a lot more shots, but he’s been a lot more efficient than he was last season. He’s a good shooter and we’ve seen flashes of his off-the-dribble stuff as well. And he still gives Gregg Popovich and the Spurs some great defense on the other end.
There’s a lot to like about Devin Vassell.
Drew Eubanks
WHO?
That was probably most of your guys’ reactions when I just said that name. For the most part, people have never heard of Drew Eubanks. You likely don’t even know who the starting center for the Spurs is (Jakob Poeltl). But it’s time that we changed that because Drew Eubanks deserves it.
6.5 points – 1.2 blocks – 57% FG – 74% FT
Eubanks emerged as a solid backup center for the Spurs last season. With Jakob Poeltl missing time with injury, Eubanks has been solid as a starter for the Spurs. He’s a good rebounder and not a terrible defender.
In a game against OKC earlier this season, Eubanks had 14 points on 7/8 shooting. He lives around the rim, lurking for 2nd chance points and timely passes from his driving teammates. He’s a smart player and I think he’s carved himself a nice role in San Antonio.
These 4 guys have been great this season for the Spurs. They’ve all gotten bigger roles and they’ve been succeeding. Who knew that players other than veterans could succeed with the Spurs?
Outlook
While I don’t think the Spurs are going to be great, they could easily win 30-ish games. That would be pretty impressive for them, considering they were expected to be closer to 20 wins. Their young guys have been great and their defense is 9th in the NBA.
You can win games with that combo in the NBA. The Spurs rebuild is off to a good start.
Maybe Tom Thibodeau Has A Point About The Knicks’ Starting Lineup
The New York Knicks took on the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks last night. The Bucks have been hit hard with injuries and this seemed like an easy win for New York at home. Instead, the Knicks played two different games wrapped in one.
Early on, the Bucks dominated. The starters for the Knicks looked dead on both sides of the ball. The Bucks took a 24-point lead in the 3rd quarter.
Like most teams in this situation, the Knicks put their bench unit in. But this change wasn’t waiving the white flag, it was the changing of the guard. The lead was cut to 16 entering the 4th quarter, as the bench unit brought a lot more energy.
Then Tom Thibodeau put his foot down. He didn’t play his starters a single minute in the 4th quarter. The Knicks’ best players just sat there and watched. Instead of watching a blowout, they watched the Knicks’ 2nd unit roar back and tie the game in the 4th.
While the Knicks eventually lost, the only reason the game was close was because of the bench unit. Thibodeau’s decision has opened our eyes to a growing problem with the Knicks; their starting lineup.
Tom Thibodeau didn’t like what he was seeing from the starters. So he made a change. It might be unpopular, but he was taking a stand. The starting unit might feature big names, but the same big results have not followed suit.
Tom Thibodeau is now realizing this and certainly didn’t hold back in his post-game presser. Be prepared for a lot of brutally honest quotes.
{Read in gravelly voice}
“You know what they say: When it’s 10 games, they say you need 20,” Thibodeau said. “When you say 20, they say you need 30; at 30, you say 40.
“And before you know it, the season is over. So that’s a bunch of bulls—.”
“Yeah, just they didn’t play well,” Thibodeau said of his decision to sit the starters, none of whom spoke to the media after the game. “That’s it. We’ve gotta figure it out. And right now we’re playing well on the road and we’re not playing well at home, which is unusual. So we’ve gotta get that straightened out.”
“We were just searching,” Thibodeau said, in explaining his decision to keep the reserves on the court. “Once we got the intensity into the game, got some stops, shared the ball, got some easy scores, got a good rhythm going, I thought the bench played well.”
All of that is, as surprising as it is to say, true. The Knicks currently sit at 7-5 on the year when they should be one of the best teams in basketball. With their new additions, I expected them to be incredibly well-rounded. But their elite defense from last season has disappeared.
Their defensive rating of 119.3 would be by far the worst defense in the NBA. The bench unit was, at one point, on a 29-7 run that tied the game. They were doing things that you expected the starters to be doing.
And to be honest, I like Tom Thibodeau’s stance on this. Sticking with the same thing when it’s not working is stupid. Hoping for results is a bad way to play in the NBA and Thibodeau isn’t waiting for the Knicks to dig themselves a hole. He’s trying to fix the problem.
While this seems obvious, there are a lot of coaches who wouldn’t think of doing this. Now comes the time where we see some changes from the Knicks. From their rotation to their schemes, something has to change for them to get better.
Bing Bong is on pause for now.
What Are Your Thoughts From Last Night’s Games? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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