BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — The Knicks’ defensive game plan on Cade Cunningham is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.
Cunningham, who lit up New York during the regular season — averaging 31 points on better than 50% shooting from the field and three-point range across four matchups — has struggled to find the same rhythm with the stakes raised in the playoffs.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s straightforward but critical adjustment — assigning OG Anunoby to shadow Cunningham as his primary defender — has paid off. Through three games, Cunningham is shooting just 43% from the field and 31% from deep. He posted 21 points on 8-of-21 shooting in Game 1, exploded for 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting in Game 2, then labored for 24 points on 10-of-25 shooting in Game 3.
When it’s not Anunoby, it’s Mikal Bridges applying the clamps. Cunningham missed all four of his attempts when guarded by Bridges in Game 3.
“I think it’s two different looks. He’s going against elite guys. Any guys that’s going is gonna get a different look from me and OG,” Bridges said after practice at Seaholm High School on Saturday. “I definitely think if you give good guys, really good players the same look sometimes, they’ll be able to beat it. But mixing it up sometimes will help.”
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged the uphill climb for his star guard after Saturday’s practice session.
“Obviously, they want to keep Anunoby matched up as much as they possibly can. They’re going to put two bodies on him when we are in the pick and roll,” Bickerstaff said. “I felt they did a good job offensively finding the spaces and getting to his spot. So, again, things we work on we see and we will go out and use again tomorrow.”
The Pistons knew Anunoby would be a problem on defense. Bickerstaff laid it out plainly.
“He’s just physical. He’s got great feet. He’s strong. He’s got a dogged mentality,” he said. “But again, we’ve seen Cade be able to get to where he wants to get to and do what he needs to do. We give him [Anunoby] respect because he’s earned it, but I still like Cade’s chances.”
Cunningham’s leap this season has been undeniable. A first-time All-Star and now finalist — and betting favorite — for Most Improved Player of the Year, the fourth-year guard averaged 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds while appearing in 70 games for Detroit.
But the Pistons’ record when Cunningham has gone nuclear offers a reality check. Detroit is just 9-14 this season when Cunningham scores 30 or more — though notably, two of those wins came against New York.
Still, the Knicks’ evolving defensive blueprint could force Detroit into an uncomfortable pivot: putting the ball in other players’ hands and making someone besides Cunningham carry the scoring burden. It’s the same tactical bind Detroit has tried to impose on Jalen Brunson — but without quite the same offensive arsenal around their own star.
“Well, that’s the thing with Cade. It’s not always going to be about scoring,” said Bickerstaff. “It’s going to be the setup. So if they put two guys on him, it’s how we create the four-on-three situations. I like our chances when we’re playing four-on-three versus anybody. The first game he had 12 assists. He’s figuring out how to manage the game and I think what hurt us this last game was our defense than anything we did offensively.”
