Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham Feels A ‘Better Tempo’ From Playing Off-Ball

Once Jalen Duren made his triumphant return to the Detroit Pistons lineup on Wednesday night, the squad finally looked like an all-together complete, dangerous team as they trounced the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 128-106 preseason victory. 

With Duren anchored down low, Cade Cunningham was able to find the big man in a number of lethal positions as the All-Star center put up an 8-for-9 mark from the field against Minnesota. In fact, Duren’s only miss came from a rogue three-point attempt, so the fifth-year player was locked in from start to finish in his 24-point exhibition debut for the Pistons. 

While JD’s return took the headlines in Detroit’s 22-point victory, the squad as a whole looked both deep and dynamic, two qualities that will take the Pistons a long way during the 2026-27 campaign. At times, Detroit used both Duren and John Collins as the roll-man for screen sets against the T-Wolves, which gave Cunningham an extra above-the-rim target to hit in the painted area. 

Prior to JD’s return, the Pistons had tried out a few new offensive concepts during the preseason, such as their propensity to use Cunningham in off-ball situations to better disguise his movement patterns and catch defenses off guard. Though that wrinkle is still in its infancy, Cunningham spoke optimistically about what it could mean for the Pistons this season. 

”I think it’s good,” Cunningham said after practice today. “I feel good about it. I think it makes us be able to play a better tempo and get us easier shots no matter who’s on the floor, so I think that’s the main thing. Whatever group [J.B. Bickerstaff] puts out there, we can all find a style that we all can play with. I think it’s going to be good for everybody, so I’m excited about it. I’m excited for us to continue to get better at it.”

During Detroit’s first three preseason games, the Pistons have experimented with how the team functions offensively with Ausar Thompson at the one as a point forward, using his speed and ball handling to make plays as an initiator in the half-court. That strategy was productive in Detroit’s exhibition opener against the Phoenix Suns then showed some holes in their second matchup with the Washington Wizards after that, but it’s a layer that both Bickerstaff and Cunningham feel could help the team. 

In the playoffs last year, the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers were able to key-in on Cunningham since he spent so much time on-ball, so using Thompson as a pseudo-floor general makes the defense work harder to keep track of the Pistons’ All-NBA First-Teamer. When reviewing last night’s win, Cunningham was effective regardless of his usage pattern with nine assists during Detroit’s cross-conference exhibition victory, which can only bode well for the Pistons moving forward. 

Now standing at 2-1, the Pistons had a film session earlier today with their preseason finale coming tomorrow night at home against the Toronto Raptors. Tip-off is slated for 7 pm at Little Caesars Arena.