DETROIT — In the quiet aftermath of another disappointing playoff exit, Cade Cunningham stood at his locker in Little Caesars Arena, jersey still damp with sweat, and let loose a sentiment that has echoed through Detroit basketball for years.
“Wir sind es leid,” the Pistons’ All-Star guard said in German, a phrase he picked up during his time playing overseas — “We’re tired of it.”
The words, raw and unfiltered, came after Orlando stunned Detroit 106-99 in Game 4 of their first-round series, completing a sweep that ended Detroit’s hopes of advancing beyond the opening round for the fifth consecutive season.
For Cunningham, the frustration runs deeper than a single loss. It’s the culmination of a rebuild that has promised much but delivered little in postseason success since the Pistons last won a playoff series in 2008.
“We position in the work. We believe in what we’re building. But when you keep falling short at the same hurdle, it wears on you,” Cunningham said, his voice steady but edged with exhaustion. “This isn’t about one game. It’s about the pattern. And we’re tired of being the team that almost gets there.”
The loss capped a series in which Orlando exposed Detroit’s defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in transition and perimeter rotation. The Magic averaged 112.3 points per game, shooting 48.1% from the field and 39.4% from three — numbers that would have ranked among the league’s best in the regular season.
Detroit, meanwhile, struggled to generate consistent offense outside of Cunningham, who averaged 28.5 points, 7.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds across the four games. No other Pistons player averaged double figures in scoring for the series.
“Cade carried us,” said Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley in his postgame press conference. “But we made him work for every shot. We switched everything, made him beat us with tough contested looks, and when he did pass, we rotated to stop the kick-outs. That’s how you win a series like this.”
The Pistons finished the regular season as the Eastern Conference’s No. 5 seed with a 44-38 record, securing their first playoff berth since 2019. It was a milestone for a franchise that had endured three consecutive losing seasons before hiring Troy Weaver as general manager in 2020.
Under Weaver, Detroit rebuilt through the draft, selecting Cunningham first overall in 2021, followed by Jalen Duren (13th in 2022) and Ausar Thompson (5th in 2023). The core is young, athletic and under team-friendly contracts for several more years.
Yet the playoff ceiling remains elusive. Since returning to postseason play in 2023, Detroit is 0-8 in playoff games, having been swept by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023 and now the Magic in 2024.
The contrast with Orlando is stark. The Magic, led by Paolo Banchero (25.8 ppg in the series) and Franz Wagner (21.5 ppg), played with a cohesion and defensive discipline that belied their youth. Orlando finished the regular season as the East’s No. 7 seed at 47-35, relying on elite perimeter defense and versatile wing play to upset the higher-seeded Cavaliers in the play-in tournament before facing Detroit.
“They earned this,” Cunningham said of Orlando. “They played harder, smarter, more connected. We have to look in the mirror and question why we couldn’t match that intensity for 48 minutes.”
Defensively, Detroit allowed Orlando to score 1.18 points per possession in the series — well above their regular-season average of 1.09. The Pistons surrendered 42.3% of Orlando’s three-point attempts, a fatal flaw against a team that attempted 41.3 threes per game in the series.
“We know what we require to fix,” Cunningham said. “It’s not a secret. We have to guard better, rebound better, make smarter decisions with the ball. But knowing and doing are two different things, especially when the lights are brightest.”
The loss raises immediate questions about Detroit’s offseason priorities. With approximately $28.5 million in projected cap space for the 2024-25 season (per Spotrac), the Pistons have flexibility to pursue veteran help via free agency or trade.
Target areas include a true starting center to pair with Duren, a veteran playmaker to alleviate pressure on Cunningham, and additional 3-and-D wings to improve perimeter defense.
Head coach Monty Williams, in his second season with Detroit, faces scrutiny despite leading the team to its first playoff win since 2008 in Game 1 of this series — a 108-106 overtime victory that briefly raised hopes.
“Monty got us here,” Cunningham said. “Now we have to take the next step. That’s on all of us — players, coaches, front office. We’re not satisfied with moral victories.”
The Pistons’ next checkpoint is the NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, where Detroit will have a 10.5% chance to win the No. 1 overall pick (per NBA odds), though they are projected to select in the top four regardless.
Free agency opens June 30, with the moratorium period beginning June 22. The NBA Finals are scheduled to conclude no later than June 24, giving teams a clear timeline for offseason moves.
For now, the focus shifts to reflection and recalibration. Cunningham, who turns 23 in December, enters his fourth NBA season with a clearer understanding of what it takes to win in the playoffs.
“We’re not far off,” he said. “But ‘not far off’ doesn’t gain you banners. We have to close the gap — and we’re tired of waiting.”
What’s next for the Pistons? The official start of the 2024-25 NBA season is scheduled for October 22, 2024, with training camp opening in late September. Until then, Detroit will evaluate its roster, attend predraft workouts and begin shaping the next chapter of a franchise eager to finally turn the corner.
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