The Detroit Pistons faced a tough blow on Thursday morning with the announcement that Cade Cunningham has suffered a collapsed lung, sidelining him for an extended period. This development raises concerns about his availability for the postseason, but there's a silver lining when we look at CJ McCollum's history with the same injury.
CJ McCollum, now playing for the Hawks in his 13th NBA season, has experienced a collapsed lung twice before - once in 2021 and again in 2023. He was out for six weeks and three weeks, respectively, during those times.
Despite these setbacks, McCollum returned to the court with his skills intact. Remarkably, he was traded shortly after his first recovery and averaged 24 points per game in 26 appearances with the Pelicans, a pace that would have set a career high over a full season.
This offers hope that Cunningham can bounce back just as strongly.
For the Pistons, the challenge is to stay competitive until Cade's return. If we consider a six-week recovery period, he could potentially rejoin the team as the first round of the playoffs concludes. Without him, Detroit might struggle to win a series, given their lack of depth in perimeter playmakers, but there's still a chance for a deep playoff run if everything aligns.
Should Cade recover more swiftly, he might even make an appearance before the regular season ends or during the early playoff rounds. Ideally, he would ease back into action with a lighter workload, though finding such opportunities in the playoffs is challenging.
In Cade's absence, the Pistons will lean heavily on fellow All-Star Jalen Duren. He must elevate his play, not just by scoring but by facilitating and creating opportunities for his teammates.
Duren showcased his potential recently, scoring a career-high 36 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a win against the Wizards. Detroit will need more performances like this from him to keep their offense viable.
While the news of Cade’s injury is far from ideal, there remains a glimmer of hope for playoff contention. It hinges on his recovery and the team embracing a "next man up" mentality to keep their postseason dreams alive.