Cade Cunningham’s Health Update and Impact on the Pistons
The Detroit Pistons’ standout player, Cade Cunningham, has experienced a “mild” lung collapse and will be sidelined for what is expected to be a significant period. This news comes from various reports, including ESPN.
The NBA playoffs are set to start on April 18, which leaves questions about how long the 24-year-old might be out of action. However, there’s a glimmer of hope that he could make a return in time for the postseason.
Cunningham, who was the first overall pick in the draft, is recognized as an MVP contender. His performance has helped the Pistons attain a 49-19 record, placing them at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Currently, he averages 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game, and he was recently selected for the All-Star team for the second consecutive year.
His last game was against the Wizards, during which he had to leave early in the first quarter due to what the team reported as back spasms after diving for a loose ball.
If he can’t return before the regular season concludes, he would miss the cut-off of 65 games needed to qualify for the MVP award. That’s a concern because, while he’s certainly a candidate, he’s not leading the race—currently held by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder.
Not having Cunningham would certainly hurt the Pistons, who were looking hopeful about making a deep playoff run, something they haven’t achieved since 2005. The team remains 3.5 games behind the top-seeded Celtics, with a gap of four games in the loss column. They’re also five games back from the third-place Knicks.
After this news, the Pistons’ odds of clinching the Eastern Conference appear to have dropped significantly. They are now at +700 on DraftKings, with the Celtics at +160, Cavaliers at +330, and Knicks at +370 trailing behind.
Cunningham is in his fifth NBA season and was instrumental in bringing the Pistons to the playoffs last year for the first time in six seasons, although they were defeated by the Knicks in a tight first-round match-up. The Pistons haven’t won a playoff series since 2008, which marks a streak of five consecutive losses in such matches.
