The Detroit Pistons enter Game 4 of the NBA playoffs in their series against the Orlando Magic at 1-2, so their Monday, April 27 game is a must-win for both momentum and advancement.
The Pistons have a superstar in Cade Cunningham, but he had an off game in Game 3, just 8-of-23 from the floor with 27 total points by the end of the matchup. Even with Cunningham’s shaky performance, he still delivered when it mattered, making a free throw with 2:52 left to give the Pistons their first lead of the second half.
But, without Cunningham at his best, the Pistons couldn’t overcome the Magic.
“One game at a time,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the loss, according to ESPN. “That’s what playoff series are. If we win on Monday, we take home-court advantage back. Today’s game, we’ll learn from it, but it’s over with.”
Pistons vs Magic: Detroit Gets Warned About Cade Cunningham Ahead of Before Game 4
So, what’s the lesson to be learned from Game 3? The Detroit Pistons should be happy that they have Cunningham, but they also have to be able to deliver when he’s having an off night.
Aaron Kellerstrass of Pistons Powered makes that point in a feature out on Saturday, April 25, following their Game 3 loss. He says that when he’s not good, they can’t win.
Kellerstrass says that while the Pistons “could have lived with the poor shooting night Cade had,” what they “can’t live with is nine turnovers, and yes, you can say some of them came from overuse and the Pistons not having another reliable ball handler, but some of them were just egregious mistakes that can’t happen in playoff games.”
He adds that “two of Cade’s turnovers in particular changed the momentum of the game. The Pistons can’t win with this version of Cade, but I doubt we see him again, as he was spectacular in the first two games.”
So, what do the Pistons need to do going into Game 4? They have to make sure Cunningham has an energy boost, sure, but they also have to be ready for if he’s down again. Detroit can absolutely still take this series, but not if they don’t work together as a team.
“It’s becoming painfully clear that the Pistons can’t win in the playoffs unless Cade is perfect or the supporting cast steps up,” Kellerstrass says.
Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren Gets Some Shade
Meanwhile, Jalen Duren is also getting some shade in this series. “No doubt about it, the Pistons young center, Jalen Duren, has struggled in the first three games,” Steve Aschburner of the NBA’s official website states in a feature on Game 4. “A finalist for Kia Most Improved Player, his series stats (9.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg) are down near his rookie levels.”
Aschburner adds that Duran “has been limited mostly to alley-oops and put-backs on offense, and even the want-to work of rebounds has been a challenge.”
But, nobody should discount Duran yet. The playoffs bring butterflies, and he’s young, so if this team can get some of its footing back, Duran could certainly rebound just in time to pull off some Magic, pun intended.
Pistons Get Cade Cunningham Warning Before Game 4