Cade Cunningham's Unfortunate Setback: What It Means for the Pistons
Cade Cunningham, the driving force behind the Detroit Pistons' high-octane offense and a standout in this season’s MVP race, is facing a significant setback. The team announced Thursday morning that Cunningham will be sidelined for an extended period due to a collapsed lung.
The incident occurred during the Pistons' last matchup, when Cunningham exited the game early in the first quarter after a collision with Wizards’ rookie Tre Johnson while chasing a loose ball. Initially believed to be back spasms, further testing revealed a pneumothorax, or collapsed lung. This diagnosis was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Pistons have stated that Cunningham will be re-evaluated in two weeks, though his absence is expected to extend beyond that timeframe. While a pneumothorax is rare in the NBA, it’s not unheard of-CJ McCollum has experienced it twice.
According to Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes, players with this condition typically miss around 26 days and 11 games. With only 25 days left in the season, Cunningham's return might be cutting it close.
Notably, McCollum missed 18 games during his first bout with the injury.
This development is a tough blow for both Cunningham and the Pistons, who currently lead the Eastern Conference with 14 games remaining. Cunningham's presence on the court is crucial; the Pistons boast a stellar 121.5 net rating with him, which plummets to 112 without him-a figure that would rank among the league’s bottom five. However, Detroit’s elite defense has managed to maintain a +2.7 net rating even in his absence.
Holding a 3.5 game lead over Boston for the top seed in the East, the Pistons' position now feels more precarious. Their remaining schedule is fairly balanced, featuring a .502 winning percentage among opponents, including matchups against some teams in rebuilding phases, like the Washington Wizards.
If Cunningham's recovery mirrors McCollum’s first experience, he could miss the start of the playoffs. However, there is optimism, as reported by Charania, that Cunningham could return in time for postseason action.
Cunningham’s season has been nothing short of remarkable, with MVP discussions and potential All-NBA first-team honors on the horizon. Having played 60 games, his chance to meet the 65-game threshold for postseason awards is now uncertain due to this unexpected interruption.