Cade Cunningham’s Unrivaled Playoff Impact Positions Him as League’s Most Valuable Postseason Performer

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, despite being deemed ineligible for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award this regular season, has emerged as the most indispensable player to his team in the ongoing playoffs. Cunningham’s eligibility for regular-season accolades, including All-NBA selections, was granted through a waiver of the standard 65-game threshold by the NBA and NBPA, following a collapsed lung that sidelined him for 12 games late in the season. While he is widely projected for an All-NBA team, the league announced Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama as the three finalists for the MVP trophy, a distinction Cunningham did not achieve. However, as the postseason progresses, the argument for Cunningham’s unparalleled value to his franchise has solidified, particularly given the Pistons’ deep playoff run against considerable odds.

The Detroit Pistons currently face a 3-2 deficit against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their second-round series, necessitating a victory in Friday night’s Game 6 to extend their season. Throughout their playoff campaign, Cunningham has been the singular engine driving Detroit’s offense. His usage rate of 32.5% leads all players in the postseason who average at least 20 minutes per game, underscoring his central role. Statistical analysis indicates that Cunningham has either scored or assisted on nearly half of Detroit’s total field goals and points, a testament to his comprehensive offensive contribution. This level of involvement is maintained despite Cunningham consistently drawing the full attention of opposing defenses, which have often deployed multiple physical defenders to contain him.

A prime example of Cunningham’s profound impact was evident in the first round against the Orlando Magic. The Magic, known for their robust and physical defense, presented a significant challenge, frequently throwing multiple large defenders at Cunningham. The Pistons found themselves trailing 3-1 in the series, a precarious position that historically few teams overcome. It was in these elimination games that Cunningham delivered a performance for the record books. He amassed 109 points over Games 5, 6, and 7, tying LeBron James (2016 NBA Finals against Golden State) and Jamal Murray (2020 first round against Utah) for the most points ever scored in Games 5-7 of a series while overcoming a 3-1 deficit.

His individual performances in that series were critical:

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• Game 5: 45 points (13-23 FG, 14-14 FT)
• Game 6: 32 points (10-23 FG, 10-12 FT)
• Game 7: 32 points (10-18 FG, 8-10 FT)

In Game 6 against Orlando, the Pistons faced a 24-point deficit. Cunningham single-handedly outscored the Magic 24-19 in the second half, spearheading a historic comeback. Two days later, in the decisive Game 7, he became the first player in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 10 assists, two blocks, and two three-pointers in a Game 7, finishing with 32 points, 12 assists, and four three-pointers.

Through the current playoff proceedings, Cunningham leads all players in total points, assists, and minutes played. His 219 assist points, as tracked by PBP stats, also rank first, further highlighting his role as a primary facilitator. He has maintained an impressive shooting efficiency, connecting on over 42% of his three-point attempts in the playoffs, a figure that rises to 46% in the ongoing series against the Cavaliers. His accumulated 360 points through the first 12 games of this postseason run rank as the fourth most in history for a player aged 24 or younger, placing him in the company of historical greats such as Michael Jordan.

Despite these individual heroics, the Pistons’ offensive rating of 110.8, which would have ranked 25th in the regular season, stands seventh in the postseason. Among the teams still active in the playoffs, only the Minnesota Timberwolves possess a lower offensive rating. This metric underscores that while Cunningham elevates Detroit’s offense to a passable level, the team’s overall offensive ecosystem remains challenged.

The stark reality of Detroit’s reliance on Cunningham becomes most apparent when he is off the floor. Throughout these playoffs, the Pistons boast a plus-53 net rating with Cunningham on the court. Conversely, in the minutes he rests, the team registers a minus-20 net rating, accompanied by an abysmal 96.7 offensive rating. This significant on/off split illustrates the chasm in offensive production without their star guard. For context, the Denver Nuggets, even without Nikola Jokić, maintained a 104.4 offensive rating in their first-round series against Minnesota. Even more strikingly, the Oklahoma City Thunder have registered a 126.6 offensive rating with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench, a figure that actually surpasses their 124.4 rating with him on the floor, demonstrating a depth of offensive talent that Cunningham’s Pistons simply do not possess.

The lack of a credible secondary offensive option has been a recurring theme for Detroit. In Game 5 against Cleveland, Cunningham delivered a stat line of 39 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, including 6-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Despite this, the Pistons lost the game. His second-leading scorer in that contest was Daniss Jenkins, a player who did not secure a full-time NBA contract until February. All-Star wingman Jalen Duren, who averaged 19.5 points per game in the regular season, managed only nine points in Game 5 and was benched during the fourth quarter.

Duren’s offensive production has notably declined in the playoffs, averaging just 10.1 points per game. This postseason exposure has revealed a significant dependency on Cunningham’s creation for Duren’s offensive output, raising questions about his ability to generate offense independently in high-stakes situations. This situation could have considerable financial implications for Duren, who is set to become a restricted free agent this summer and was previously considered a lock for a maximum contract.

The Pistons’ precarious playoff standing is largely a testament to Cunningham’s individual brilliance. Had he not delivered his extraordinary performances against Orlando, Detroit’s season would have concluded much earlier. With the team trailing Cleveland 3-2 and facing Game 6 on the road, Cunningham is once again tasked with delivering two more elimination-game victories to keep their conference finals aspirations alive.

The burden carried by Cunningham is arguably the heaviest among all players in the league, and certainly in these playoffs. The drop-off in offensive capability from other top players to their second-best teammates is not as steep as the one Detroit experiences from Cunningham to Tobias Harris. Players like Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander operate with deeper supporting casts. Jalen Brunson has the benefit of players like Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby, while Donovan Mitchell is supported by James Harden, and vice versa. Anthony Edwards, while shouldering a significant load, still benefits from teammates like Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels, even if their efficiency has varied.

In the crucial closing stages of Game 5 against Cleveland, the Cavaliers explicitly designed their defense to deny Cunningham one-on-one opportunities, frequently deploying double and even triple teams, daring other Pistons players to convert. The results highlighted Detroit’s dependency:

• Cunningham found Jenkins after being doubled in the post, resulting in a missed shot.
• He created a 4-on-3 advantage for Reed after drawing two defenders beyond the three-point line, but Evan Mobley blocked Reed’s attempt at the rim.
• Another double-team at the point led Cunningham to Jenkins, who then kicked out to Harris for an open three-pointer, which was missed.
• With under 30 seconds remaining and the score tied, Cunningham, again doubled, set up Caris LeVert for a one-on-one opportunity against Harden, which resulted in an airball.

While these instances are not intended to diminish the efforts of teammates like LeVert, who scored 24 points in Game 5, or Reed, who has provided some relief for Duren, they underscore the fundamental issue. Cunningham lacks the consistent offensive support that his star counterparts enjoy. The Pistons’ limited activity at the trade deadline, notably the acquisition of Kevin Huerter who played just over three minutes in Game 5, did little to address this critical deficiency.

As the Pistons prepare for Game 6, the team’s immediate future hinges entirely on Cunningham’s ability to once again deliver historic performances. The upcoming offseason will present opportunities to address the roster’s composition, including Duren’s contract situation and potential trades for additional help. However, in the present context, Cunningham’s singular influence on Detroit’s ability to compete makes him, through the lens of indispensability, the most valuable player in the current NBA playoffs. He may not be the league’s most skilled player, but no other player carries a comparable burden or is as vital to his team’s very ability to contend.

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