There is also the looming concern of timeline. While the team has offered no indication that Cunninghamâs injury is long-term, any wrist issue raises questions about shooting comfort and ball control once he returns. Detroit will be carefulânot just because Cade is their present, but because he is undeniably their future.
Still, games donât pause for ideal circumstances. Tipoff is coming, and the Pistons must answer with effort, discipline, and belief. This is where growth reveals itselfânot when everything aligns, but when it doesnât. Young teams are defined by how they respond to adversity, especially when leadership is temporarily removed from the equation.
Cade Cunninghamâs absence changes everythingâbut it also offers the Pistons a chance to prove that their progress isnât dependent on one name alone. With momentum on the line and adversity front and center, Detroitâs response may reveal just as much as any game Cade plays.
