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Cade Cunningham is proving he belongs in the postseason
Since being drafted in 2021, Cade Cunningham has been viewed as a future star. Unfortunately, the Detroit Pistons had failed to build around Cunningham's skill set until this past summer. Now, with legitimate floor spacing and a roster designed to accentuate his talent, Cunningham is thriving.
On Monday, Cunningham proved he was capable of being a serious threat in the postseason. The one-time All-Star put the New York Knicks to the sword. He ended the night with 33 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals while shooting 11-of-21.
Cunningham's performance was so impressive that legendary point guard Magic Johnson felt the need to praise him.
“Pistons guard Cade Cunningham showed America he’s a superstar in the making scoring 33 points tonight in their win over the New York Knicks!," Johnson posted on X. "Dennis Schroeder scored 20 points and hit the biggest shot of the game to break the tie that helped the Pistons pull it out in the stretch 100-94. This Pistons vs. Knicks Series is great to watch!”
Johnson's comments likely reflected the thoughts of the broader NBA fan base. Cunningham has been impressive all season. However, it's far more challenging to produce at that level during the postseason. The fact that Detroit managed to secure the win on the Knicks' home floor further emphasized Cunningham's overall impact.
Detroit and New York are now tied 1-1 to begin their first-round series. Both teams are capable of progressing to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cunningham will undoubtedly have a significant role to play in the remainder of the series. And while the Pistons may not overcome the Knicks, what we saw on Monday is certainly a sign of things to come in the future. Cunningham is clearly ready to take the next step toward stardom.
More must-reads:
- Pistons break NBA-record playoff losing streak
- Three stars from Monday's slate of NBA playoff games
- The '2023-24 NBA PPG leaders' quiz
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