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As Game 2 between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic wrapped up, with the Pistons winning 98-83, one thing proved clear, yet again.
The Pistons, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, can either smoke teams or find themselves in an absolute dogfight. There does not seem to be a middle ground with this group.
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Here are the top takeaways from Detroit’s runaway victory:
Is this the NBA version of the Spider-Man meme?
OK, this is already unfair. Detroit is a much better defensive team than Orlando, which was evident in Game 2, as the Pistons pressured the ball, forcing turnovers and creating good looks in transition.
Orlando can mimic such success, but struggles to do so consistently, which is where the two differ.
Yet, the teams share strengths and weaknesses, and that’s why this series could have staying power.
Neither team offers elite spacing, nor are they particularly efficient.
Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero, the two primary names for either team, have star-level quality in an overall package, but both find themselves with just so-so efficiency, shooting in the mid-40s overall, and neither being strong 3-point shooters.
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Even Cunningham’s 11-of-19 shooting performance in Game 2 — while impressive — isn’t necessarily the norm.
While this might be too simplistic, it’s almost tempting to call the series winner the team that can unlock its star the quickest, with the Pistons, so far, having the better odds of doing so.
Where is Detroit’s supporting cast to start games?
For the second straight game, Cunningham was the main driving force, with little contributions elsewhere, in the first half.
All-Star center Jalen Duren has had awful starts to these games, and needs to come out far more aggressive in Game 3, if Detroit is to feel good about this series.
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But his performance — 11 points, nine boards — isn’t the only one lacking.
No one on the Pistons, outside of Cunningham, can consistently create their own offense, which puts enormous pressure on effective ball-movement.
In Game 2, the Pistons came out in the second half and showed they’re capable of just that, as they…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/magic-pistons-takeaways-cade-cunningham-shines-but-questions-remain-about-consistency-and-detroits-supporting-cast-021037790.html
Author : Morten Stig Jensen
Publish date : 2026-04-23 02:10:00
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