Pistons preseason observations: Cade Cunninghams return, Ausar Thompson starts
DETROIT — Here are thoughts and observations following the Detroit Pistons’ first preseason game, a 130-126 overtime loss Sunday to the Phoenix Suns.
Cunningham is back
It’d been 11 months since Cade Cunningham last donned a Pistons uniform on an NBA floor. The 2021 No. 1 pick missed all but 12 games last season after dealing with a shin injury that led to season-ending surgery.
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Sunday night’s loss was Cunningham’s return, and though Detroit’s starters left a lot to be desired, not all was bad.
Cunningham looked like the Cunningham you last saw. He dictated the pace in the half-court offense, processed the game well and had no issues getting to his spots. The shots didn’t fall, though. Cunningham (5-for-15 from the field) had several clean looks in his favored midrange area but was unable to capitalize on the majority of them. The low conversion rate isn’t worrisome, though. There was a decent stretch just before Cunningham went down last season when he was shooting 58 percent on pull-up jumpers, per NBA.com, and he converted over 50 percent of his shots taken between 5 and 19 feet. He’s had moments throughout his short career when he’s shown he can be a legitimate threat in that part of the floor, so I’m not overly worried that the shots didn’t go in during his first taste of NBA action in nearly a year.
It’s more encouraging that Cunningham had no issues getting to his spots and that he had several clean looks in that area. Those shots will fall eventually.
1️⃣0️⃣ first-half points from @CadeCunningham_ pic.twitter.com/1CtQzM816l
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 8, 2023
If you’re looking for something more optimistic to take from Cunningham’s performance, he knocked down two of his four 3-point attempts. Cunningham was a tremendous 3-point shooter in college, but it hasn’t yet translated to the NBA. It will with time. Distance shooting is what Cunningham said he worked on often this summer. If he can become at least a 36 percent 3-point shooter on high volume, things should go much better for Detroit this season.
Thompson starts, Ivey doesn’t
The biggest “surprise” of the first preseason game (unless you’re a subscriber) came about 30 minutes before tipoff, when it was announced that rookie Ausar Thompson, selected No. 5 in June’s NBA Draft, was in the starting lineup and second-year guard Jaden Ivey, selected fifth in last year’s draft, would come off the bench. This does not mean Ivey won’t be in the starting lineup on opening night, but it is worth monitoring throughout preseason play.
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Coach Monty Williams started Cunningham, Thompson, veteran Alec Burks, Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren against Phoenix. Three of those players — Cunningham, Stewart and Duren — weren’t a surprise if you’ve been paying attention. With Bojan Bogdanović missing Sunday’s game with a minor calf strain, it was to be expected that Thompson would be in the starting lineup. Burks being in over Ivey was the surprise, which somewhat signals that Williams is seriously considering bringing Ivey off the bench to start the season.
Before the game, when asked what people should read into the starters, Williams reiterated what he said last week — “We have an idea” — but remained noncommittal to anything definitive. He also added this: “We’ll know more once we get a few guys back.”
I interpreted that as Bogdanović, assuming his injury isn’t that serious, will be an opening-night starter, though Williams has not said as much. It feels like that last starting spot will come down to either Thompson or Ivey. The fact Burks started over Ivey, which obviously was to help with the spacing, signals to me that Thompson is the leader in the clubhouse. Bogdanović would be the spacer when he returns, so I’d assume Burks would get bumped back to a bench role. I don’t know for certain, though. Maybe we’ll have more clarity after Thursday’s preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As for the performances, Thompson and Ivey stood out in their roles. Thompson’s all-around activity from summer league translated to the preseason. He finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists (also four turnovers) in 39 minutes. Defensively, he was charged with marking Devin Booker for most of the night. That’s a tough ask of any player, let alone a rookie. Booker hit some tough shots over Thompson, but he made him work.
Offensively, Thompson made good reads with the ball in his hands, was active cutting and found himself around the basket a lot, whether crashing the glass or hanging out in the dunker spot.
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However, while Williams was impressed with his rookie, he noticed areas he needs to improve.
“He’s got to play with force all game,” Williams said. “I thought there were times when he thought he was in position, and I got to show him on the film that if he sprinted to the spot and used his athletic ability to shift out as opposed to walking to the backside of the defense … he’s going to be much better.”
Ivey was the most efficient guard for the Pistons. The 21-year-old had 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, which included 3-for-6 on 3-point attempts. Offensively, he was explosive, decisive and confident.
Defensively, though Ivey competed, there is still work to do. He got beat off the dribble a few times. He gambled once or twice when he had no shot at getting the ball, which mucked up the defensive rotations. As was the case for everyone who touched the floor, there was good and bad.
Defense still has work to do
Let me just say this first: Not many teams, young or old, are going to be able to slow down that Suns offense with regularity. Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Booker looked near midseason form during the first preseason game; they combined to go 12-for-21 in the first half for 35 points. Phoenix scored 70 points in the first half. Were the Pistons bad defensively to start? Yes. Are the Suns the best measuring stick? Probably not.
Phoenix hit tough shots but also was fairly comfortable. The Pistons didn’t do a good job of making the Suns feel them, and it allowed several guys to get into an early rhythm.
Detroit also fouled 18 times in the first half. That’s a recipe for disaster.
“We were on our heels,” Williams said. “Instead of being in position to dictate a move, we were catching actions and reacting as opposed to already being in position.”
The Pistons fouled jump shooters more than once. Pump fakes got them in the air. Discipline has been a key focus throughout camp, and there wasn’t a ton of it Sunday.
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Other notes
• Duren, who left the game at halftime with an ankle injury, was used as a hub offensively. There were many instances when he’d initiate offense at the top of the key, wing or elbow. He made a nice entry pass to Stewart in the post for the team’s first score. Duren’s passing is an underrated skill, and it looks like something Williams will utilize often this season.
• Marvin Bagley III made a big statement in his battle with James Wiseman for the backup big minutes. Bagley didn’t play until the second half but finished with 25 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes. Bagley can score around the basket. He’s been able to do that his whole career. He knows his role in the pick-and-roll and does it well. He can step out and hit jumpers. If Wiseman’s defense isn’t going to be noticeably better than Bagley’s, it’s tough to see how the latter doesn’t win the job because of his ability to put the ball in the hoop.
• Lastly, Williams said Killian Hayes has had a good camp, and the performance against the Suns backed that up. Hayes finished with 13 points, seven assists and five steals in just 21 minutes. He and Bagley were big in helping Detroit climb out of a 20-point deficit. Hayes still can’t find much luck with his jumper, but there were a few aggressive takes to the basket that haven’t always been there in his three-year career. Veteran guard Monte Morris missed Sunday’s game with an injury, so maybe a consistent camp will give Hayes an opportunity to be in the rotation come the start of the regular season.
(Photo of Cade Cunningham: Chris Schwegler / NBAE via Getty Images)
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