Cade Cunningham effect leads Detroit Pistons to landmark they hadn’t achieved since 2015

Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons to victory over the Los Angeles Clippers leading to a special achievement for the team.

Cade Cunningham effect leads Detroit Pistons to landmark they hadn’t achieved since 2015

Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons to victory over the Los Angeles Clippers

Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons have everything going their way lately. They have been amongst the best teams in the league over the last two months, and Monday night’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers was even more special as it became a part of Pistons history. The win marked their seventh consecutive victory, a feat the franchise hadn’t accomplished since the 2014-15 season.

For years, the Pistons have been on the outside looking in when it comes to playoff contention. The last few seasons were especially rough, with the Pistons roster riddled with injuries and the team’s apparent inability to win a single game for over 2 months. But the turnaround from the Pistons this season has been nothing short of remarkable, and it has been spearheaded by none other than Cade Cunningham.

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The Pistons just won 7 games in a row for the first time in over a decade
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It’s been nearly a decade since the Pistons put together a winning streak like this. The last time they won seven straight games, Stan Van Gundy was coaching on the sidelines, and players like Greg Monroe and Brandon Jennings were the stars on the squad.

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That streak, which spanned from December 26, 2014, to January 7, 2015, was a rare bright spot in what was otherwise a forgettable season. Now, with Cade Cunningham at the helm, this streak feels less like an anomaly and more like a sign of things to come.

The Pistons currently hold a 32-26 record ahead of their game against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. During this seven-game stretch, the Pistons are outscoring opponents by an average of 16.2 points per game with a 125.6 offensive rating. This newfound balance has propelled them from 11th place in the East at Christmas with an 11-17 to a 21-9 record since then.

12-Year NBA veteran teammate equates Cade Cunningham to Luka Doncic

Among those taking notice of Cade Cunningham’s rise is his veteran teammate Dennis Schroder, who recently joined the Pistons after a tumultuous end to his tenure in Golden State. He has played alongside some of the game’s biggest stars, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Anthony Davis. But when asked who Cunningham reminds him of the most, Schroder had a surprising comparison.

I mean, I played with (LeBron). I think he can do anything… (Cunningham) reminds me of a Luka Doncic a lot. I’ve followed his game very closely because I like to watch basketball games. It’s really, really impressive how he just picks a defense apart.

Dennis Schroder told The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson

For Schroder to mention LeBron James and Luka Doncic in the same breath as Cunningham is high praise. His influence on the Piston’s offense has been undeniable, orchestrating plays with a level of poise that mirrors some of the league’s best facilitators.

His stat line over the last seven games supports Schroder’s comparison. Cade Cunningham has averaged 28.7 points, 9.4 assists, and 6.4 rebounds, while shooting at an efficient clip. More importantly, he’s controlling the pace of games in a way that few young players can. With each passing game, Cunningham is proving that he’s the type of franchise cornerstone Detroit has been searching for.