Pistons get one good sign while awaiting Cade Cunningham injury news after collapsed lung
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The Detroit Pistons look like they'll hold on to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference despite Cade Cunningham's injury absence.
But his collapsed lung still looms large in the Eastern Conference as the playoffs approach.
Will Cunningham be set to play in the postseason? That'll play as big a role as you might expect, except that the Pistons have one good sign working in their favor.
"One positive sign is that the Pistons haven't missed a step in Cunningham's absence, going 8-2 with a plus-11.9 net rating in that span," ESPN's Zach Kram wrote in a new article this week. "Both losses came in overtime. Detroit would be in great shape if its supporting cast keeps playing that well -- with a healthy Cunningham back in the fold."
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That last phrase there is the key. A supporting cast can only take a team so far without the superstar to support.
There are plenty of questions about Cunningham's status, of course, from whether he'll be available to play at all to if his play will be impacted by the extended absence and the unfortunate injury.
It's the kind of thing that can derail a season if it doesn't turn around in time for Cunningham to lead Detroit to the promised land.
On the flip side, if Cunningham does return, he's gotten to watch his teammates hit an incredible stride even without him. The whole team likely benefits from certain players having to understand how things work in a bigger role.
The Pistons surely can't go all the way without Cunningham. But missing him for a while may not have been a totally bad thing.