Welcome back to POP On the Clock! This week was an important (and stressful) one for Pistons fans as Cade Cunningham had to go through the second, third, and fourth picks of the draft in consecutive games. In what was an eventful week for Pistons fans, we bring you a recap of everything that went down.
The Week In Games: Pistons Go 2-1
Cade Outshines Jalen Green in the Clutch, Pistons Win 112-104
Oh man was this an intense matchup.
We all know the jabs that Green has taken at Detroit and Cade since he was not selected first overall in the 2021 NBA draft. We all know the reactions from fans around the country when Jalen and his young Rockets defeated the Pistons convincingly in the Summer League. But when push came to shove, the Pistons showed up in a big way against the Rockets and Green, with Cade and Jerami Grant leading the way.
Cunningham, who finished with 20 PTS, 4 REB, and 3 AST, was matched up head to head with Green. Both went back and forth on buckets until Green threw down a slam late in the third quarter, where he received a technical foul for taunting Cunningham right after.
Well, that dunk turned out to be Green’s last points of the game. Cunningham went on to force Green into two air-balls, and even took a charge on Green to swing momentum late in the 4th quarter. Cade put the seal on the game with a go ahead bucket to put the Pistons up 108-104.
Pistons Suffer Brutal Defeat in Cleveland, 98-78
While the matchup with Jalen Green turned out well for the Pistons the same could not be said about Detroit’s bout with fellow top-three pick Evan Mobley and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons’ offense was anemic against the lanky Cavs, mustering only 78 points and coughing up 23 turnovers. There was one point in the 4th quarter where Detroit only had one more made field goal than turnover, a dubious microcosm for the rest of the contest. Luka Garza, filling in for the injured Kelly Olynyk as the first sub off the bench, got posterized twice by Jarrett Allen in a two minute span.
Pistons Defeat Toronto On Late Game Heroics From Cade, 127-121
Cade really is that dude.
Despite only having 10 points in the contest, Cunningham had two of the game’s most important buckets late in the fourth quarter. However, he wasn’t the only guard who had a notable performance. Killian Hayes silenced a lot of haters with a strong outing and multiple key shots to secure the Pistons a win.
Hayes finished with 13 PTS, 10 AST and 7 REB, while Jerami Grant led the Pistons with 24 PTS.
Weekly Awards
Player of the Week: Cade Cunningham
When you go through the gauntlet, you get the player of the week. Simple, really. Cunningham averaged 9.7 PPG this week, but I’m nominating him because in both wins for the Pistons, he made crucial plays that turned the tide of the game. Cunningham showed his ability to perform in the clutch, and that makes this his first POTW award.
Play of the Week
Up Next
The Pistons will begin a five game home stand, with four of those games being this week.
Sacramento Kings vs. Pistons – Monday, 11/15
Indiana Pacers vs. Pistons – Wednesday, 11/17
Golden State Warriors vs. Pistons – Friday, 11/19
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Pistons – Sunday, 11/21
Palace of Pistons Podcast
After just around 10 games, where do the Pistons stand and how do they look? On the latest edition of the Palace of Pistons Podcast, we helped break it down:
(Featured Image by Nic Antaya/Getty)
Palace of Pistons 