Cade Cunningham strengthened his case for Most Valuable Player with 42 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds in Detroit’s Thursday win in New York, a result that kept the Pistons in first place in the Eastern Conference at 41-13.
“It comes from doing the things I said I needed to do to be in that conversation,” Cunningham told reporters. The guard said he prefers voters to “look at the game for themselves,” but added, “I think I am [MVP]. And if you don’t agree with me, that’s your opinion.”
Cunningham sits 12th in the NBA in scoring at 25.7 points per game and second in assists at 9.7. Forward Tobias Harris praised his teammate’s approach, calling him “a winner” whose priority is championships over individual awards.
Pistons front office
Owner Tom Gores credited president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon for Detroit’s rapid turnaround after a 14-win season two years ago. Speaking to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, Gores said he interviewed roughly 20 candidates before choosing Langdon, citing the executive’s “CEO-level” execution and analytic skills.
Rotation notes
Kevin Huerter has averaged 12 minutes in four games since arriving from Chicago at the trade deadline. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before Saturday’s contest that he expects the guard’s role to grow, noting Huerter’s playmaking and ball-handling ability in addition to his shooting reputation.
Bickerstaff also discussed trading Jaden Ivey, who was seeing limited action while returning from a fractured left leg suffered last season. The coach said the organization anticipated a full recovery but was unsure about timing, adding that regaining confidence after such an injury is “part of it, especially when you’re that explosive.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
