Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Duren, Jenkins, Injuries, Robinson
With Cade Cunningham likely to miss out on postseason awards, Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said this week that he’d like to see some alterations to the current rules.
Cunningham was diagnosed with a collapsed lung this week and won’t be reevaluated for two weeks. He needs to play in five more games to reach the 65-game minimum to be eligible for most postseason awards. He had been a candidate for Most Valuable Player, as well as a surefire pick for an All-NBA team.
“There are so many different things now that you have to take into consideration that you shouldn’t have to take into consideration,” Bickerstaff said. “The guys are good enough. They deserve certain things. They play a certain way. Guys shouldn’t have to feel like they have to play hurt or injured to make something like that happen.
“I don’t have an answer for you as to what the best thing is moving forward, but I do think if you have serious injuries and you’ve played a certain way throughout the season and you’ve played a certain amount of games, a certain amount of minutes, whatever it may be, you should still be able to qualify for those awards. Again, I get the intent behind it. I just think there has to be a better way.”
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- Detroit’s other All-Star, center Jalen Duren, had a team-high 23 points and six rebounds in Friday’s 115-101 victory over the Warriors. Duren, who is averaging 19.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest, has led the team in scoring during their three-game winning streak. “For me, I’m just proud of my group. Proud of where I’m at now,” said Duren, who will be a restricted free agent after the season. “This is something that I’ve always known I can be. I’ve always known I can be one of the better players in this league, and I’ve still got a lot of room to grow. I don’t feel like I’m anywhere near as good as I can be. There’s still a lot of things I can get better at, but I’m proud of everybody… From where we’ve started to now, I’m proud of everybody who has been a part of it.”
- Starting in place of Cunningham, Daniss Jenkins supplied 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against Golden State. It’s the fourth time this season Jenkins has reached the 20-point mark. “It’s just a different challenge,” Jenkins said during a TV interview regarding the loss of Cunningham. “We get to test ourselves, how can each guy take their game to the next step to pick up for that missing piece in Cade. We know he’s a big piece – that’s our guy. So we’ve just all got to step up in different ways to pick up for his loss. That’s all we’re trying to do. It’s a challenge.” Jenkins was promoted from a two-way deal to a two-year contract last month.
- Along with Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart (left calf strain), they played the second game of a back-to-back without guards Marcus Sasser (right hip soreness) and Kevin Huerter (right shoulder contusion).
- In case you missed it, the Pistons clinched a playoff spot with their victory on Friday. Detroit was knocked out during the first round by the Knicks last season and Bickerstaff believes that experience in the postseason will pay off this spring. “I do still believe that you have to have experience,” Bickerstaff said, per Jeff Zillgitt of NBA.com. “But that experience that we had last year versus the Knicks is enough. That experience gave our guys an opportunity to understand exactly what playoff basketball looks like and how to win in the playoffs. Our guys were able to go on the road and win two playoff games in the Garden, with all the allure that comes along with that and the pressures of the moment. That says our guys have what it takes to do it and then do it again. That’s the thing that gives me such belief that we’re capable of doing that.”
- Duncan Robinson wasn’t on the roster when the Pistons won a league-low 14 games two seasons ago. He sees the franchise’s dramatic turnaround as part of a culture shift, he told Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. “Having an identity is a big piece,” Robinson said. “We know who we are, and we know what’s required night to night in order to win games. Having guys you can really rely on on a night-to-night basis. A guy like Cade, that’s your leader. (Duren) has obviously flourished into that role as well. So it’s fun, man.”
Pistons Notes: Depth, Cunningham, Jenkins, Sasser, More
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has used an extended rotation for much of the season, with 11 players currently on the roster averaging at least 16.8 minutes per game. As Hunter Patterson of The Athletic details, that depth will be tested in the short term, with two of the team’s most important players – Cade Cunningham (collapsed lung) and Isaiah Stewart (calf strain) – currently unavailable.
“We’re so comfortable with the depth and the guys that we have, and they’ve proven they can help us,” Bickerstaff said earlier in March. “Typically, in the past, nine is a great number (for a playoff rotation). But, s–t, we’re struggling to get away from 12. Because there are so many guys that have played for us this year that have helped us win. So, there’s going to be some situational decisions.”
In those comments to the media a couple weeks ago, Bickerstaff went on to single out Paul Reed, Marcus Sasser, and Daniss Jenkins as reserves who have made the most of opportunities to play rotation roles. As Patterson points out, all three of those three players – along with Kevin Huerter – have received DNP-CDs at times when Detroit is closer to full health, but they’ll likely be relied upon for regular minutes with Cunningham and Stewart out.
In addition to looking to help the Pistons maintain their spot atop the Eastern Conference, players like Reed, Sasser, Jenkins, and Huerter could also be making their cases for places in the team’s playoff rotation based on how they perform in the next couple weeks, Patterson adds.
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- When they confirmed today that Cunningham is dealing with a collapsed lung, the Pistons ruled out the star guard for two weeks. How much more time might he miss beyond that initial timeline? That remains to be seen, but Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press spoke on Thursday to Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos – a pulmonologist at Johns Hopkins – about what causes a collapsed lung, what the recovery process looks like, and what needs to happen before Cunningham returns. “The big thing I would make the case of is recognizing a collapsed lung is serious and what’s frustrating for an athlete is they’re going to feel good the second it re-inflates and they’re going to want to go back out there,”Galiatsatos said. “What we need to be mindful of is the lung is going to still take a few weeks to fully heal, because it is an injury because the tissue got torn. You want it to not just heal over, you want it to be fully secure.”
- Patterson, Jay King, and James L. Edwards III of The Athletic take a look at how Cunningham’s health condition will impact the Eastern Conference playoff race, with all three reporters predicting that Detroit will hang onto the No. 1 seed for the rest of the regular season — the Pistons currently have a 3.5-game lead over second-place Boston. Cunningham’s ability to return before or during the first round of the postseason could be crucial, The Athletic’s trio notes, since there are some dangerous teams near the bottom of the East’s playoff picture.
- In a separate story for The Detroit Free Press (subscription required), Sankofa looks at three areas of concern for the Pistons to shore up in the final 14 games of the regular season. In addition to outside shooting and finding the right balance between shooting and defense, one of those areas Sankofa highlights is “non-Cunningham ball-handling.” In the wake of the star guard’s diagnosis, there should be plenty of opportunities to go around for players like Jenkins, Sasser, Huerter, Ausar Thompson, and Caris LeVert.
Pistons Notes: Jenkins, Rotation, Cunningham, Thompson
Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins has been one of this season’s biggest surprises, but he’s gone through a difficult stretch since receiving a standard contract on February 8. That changed on Tuesday against Washington as he was forced into a larger role as a result of an injury to Cade Cunningham, Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press writes in a subscriber-only story.
Jenkins entered the game at the start of the second quarter and posted 15 points, seven assists and two steals in 21 minutes. With Cunningham’s return date still uncertain, Sankofa notes that Jenkins will have an opportunity to reclaim his normal role before the playoffs begin.
“That’s what life is about,” he said. “Don’t get too high, don’t get too low. It’s a part of it. I shot out of a cannon and then you hit some rough patches. It’s all good, that’s what life is about. I take it on the chin and I keep working. I don’t shy away from nothing. Stay ready so when my number is called I do what I’m supposed to do.”
Sankofa notes that injuries to Jaden Ivey, Caris LeVert and Marcus Sasser gave Jenkins a shot at regular playing time early in the season, and he responded with several huge scoring performances. He quickly used up his 50 games of eligibility as a two-way player and was promoted shortly after the trade deadline passed. An extended slump followed, but he received reassuring words from coach J.B. Bickerstaff after being benched following a March 7 loss to Brooklyn.
“He just told me just to be me because that’s what got me this position,” Jenkins said. “Try to do nothing extra, try to do nothing different other than who I am. I just look myself in the mirror every day and I just stay with it, good, bad and ugly.”
There’s more from Detroit:
- Bickerstaff has been forced to tinker with his rotation because of injuries to Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart, who’s expected to miss at least another week with a strained left calf, Sankofa adds. Sasser and Kevin Huerter have been seeing rotation minutes lately after being kept on the bench through most of February, and backup big man Paul Reed has seen an increase in playing time with Stewart unavailable. “It’s one of those things that, unfortunately, we’ve dealt with a lot this season and had to call on different guys throughout the year,” Bickerstaff said after Tuesday’s game. “Tonight was an opportunity to do that, give guys the minutes, give guys the opportunities to see what they can do. It’s extremely important trying to find the right combinations for the different situations that we might face. And we’ll continue to grow.”
- Cunningham has already been ruled out of Thursday’s rematch with Washington due to a left back contusion, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic (Twitter link).
- Ausar Thompson was limited to four points and three assists in 23 minutes on Sunday in his return to action after spraining his right ankle, notes Coty M. Davis of The Detroit News (subscription required). “Being on a minutes restriction is hard,” Bickerstaff said. “Trying to figure out how to keep him in a rhythm, getting back to playing with the group. His effort was great — his ability to defend was great. He is just working his way back. He’ll be fine.”
Pistons’ Cade Cunningham Exits Early Due To Back Spasms
Pistons All-Star guard and Most Valuable Player candidate Cade Cunningham departed his team’s game against the Wizards on Tuesday during the first quarter due to back spasms, according to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press.
He asked to sub out with 6:40 remaining in the quarter. Moments earlier, Cunningham collided with Wizards rookie Tre Johnson when the two were attempting to corral a loose ball, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic.
Afterward, coach J.B. Bickerstaff did not provide an update on Cunningham’s condition or availability for upcoming games. Detroit defeated the lottery-bound Wizards 130-117 behind a career-high 36 points from its other All-Star, Jalen Duren.
Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons. He needs to play in at least five more games to meet the NBA’s 65-game rule regarding eligibility for major awards. Detroit has 14 regular season games remaining.
The Pistons play the Wizards in Washington, D.C. once again on Thursday before beginning a four-game home stand against Golden State on Friday. If Cunningham needs to miss some time, they will have to rely on Marcus Sasser and Daniss Jenkins to run the point. The duo combined for 24 points and 11 assists on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, we’ve dealt with a lot this season and had to call on different guys throughout the year,” Bickerstaff said, per Patterson. “Tonight was an opportunity to do that, give guys minutes and give guys opportunities to see what they could do.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Pistons announced that key reserve Isaiah Stewart would miss at least a week of action due to a calf strain.
“The most important thing is health and habits,” Bickerstaff said of approaching the postseason. “We’ve got to make sure, this month has been a lot of games for us, it will be a lot of games for us. So, making sure that we’re doing things right on the off days, how we’re recovering and all those things, to get guys opportunities to get on the floor, so that we can continue to work those habits. That’s priority number one for us.”
Pistons Notes: Sasser, Winning Streak, Holland, Huerter
Marcus Sasser took advantage of extended playing time for his highest scoring output since New Year’s Day. The Pistons guard, who has been starting with Ausar Thompson sidelined by a right ankle sprain, scored 16 points in a 126-110 win over Memphis on Friday.
“Again, this isn’t new or a surprise. It’s just opportunity,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “I give Sass a ton of credit because he’s always ready when his number is called. He works to be prepared for the moment. He’s an NBA basketball player, that’s clear. It’s just about the opportunities for him, and he’s getting them now, and he takes advantage of them like he always does.
“But he’s a dogged defender, he’s another ball-handler, play-maker. Obviously, his ability to shoot the basketball. How he can space the floor for us. Again, he’s a good player whose opportunity numbers have just kind of not bounced his way. But the more exposure he gets the more opportunities he gets, and we’ll continue to give him chances.”
Sasser is signed through next season after the team exercised a $5.2MM club option on his contract for 2026/27 in October. He’ll be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the coming offseason.
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- The Pistons have won three straight after a season-worst four-game losing streak. In addition to the victory over Memphis, they also defeated the Nets and the injury-riddled Sixers this week. “It’s no secret that we went on a little run. We were losing games in the stint, but coach told us to stay together throughout all this,” reserve wing Ron Holland said. “We had a lot of success throughout the season so far. I mean, we weren’t getting big-headed or anything, but every team goes through [losing streaks] in the NBA. So, he was just telling us to stay together, to keep running the course and everything will be fine. We’re back on track now, so hopefully we can stay rolling.”
- Holland continues to struggle from deep — he’s made just 15.8 percent of his three-point tries this month — but he’s still been an offensive threat during the winning streak. He’s averaging 14.3 points over the last three games. “I love watching Ron on and off the court. Just his work ethic,” Bickerstaff said. “There are not many guys that are in the gym working as hard as Ron is working on his game, his want to get better, his commitment to this team, his willingness to sacrifice for this team. But then on court, he’s understanding where his spots come and how he can be even more impactful on both ends of the floor where his strengths lie. And then he understands the moment, too. We’ve seen our team not have the energy, or be on the downswing, and then we put Ron in the game and he comes in with that energy to be instantly impactful. And that means a lot to us.”
- Trade deadline acquisition Kevin Huerter has averaged 21 minutes over the last six games. He’s posted double-digit points in his last two outings — 12 points against the Sixers and 11 against the Grizzlies. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Duren, Sasser, Huerter, Stewart, Jenkins
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff detailed during his pregame press conference on Friday his reasons why Cade Cunningham should receive the Most Valuable Player award.
“I wish I could (state Cade’s case MVP) with a better, stronger voice…I mean, he deserves it,” Bickerstaff said. “Right now, again, if the season were to end today, the best player on the team with the best win percentage, to me, is the guy that deserves to be the MVP.
“What he does for us on both ends of the floor; he doesn’t take nights, or times, or possessions off defensively. We’ll put him on the other team’s best perimeter player, and he’ll go down on the offensive end and score his 25 points but create for his teammates. He’s second in the league in assists and makes his teammates better also. And, then the game’s on the line, you can give him the ball, and he’s one of the best clutch players we have in this league. So, I’m hard-pressed to find a better example or statement of who the MVP should be.”
Cunningham is averaging 25.4 points, a career-high 9.8 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game for the East-leading Pistons, whose 44-14 record is the NBA’s best mark.
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- All-Star center Jalen Duren said he never wanted to leave the organization, even during its franchise-worst 14-win season in 2023/24. “That’s not my character. That’s not me. I’m super loyal,” Duren told Marc J. Spears of Andscape. “I hang my hat on loyalty. I was raised on loyalty. These are my brothers, man. Honestly, I don’t just say that just because we’re all on the same team. I honestly love these guys. So, in my head, looking at it, I didn’t see a bad team. I was young. I knew we had pieces. We were just missing something. Experience would be the easy thing to say. We were just missing something. We were missing a lot, actually. But for me, I just never saw it as this is not going to work. I always knew that once we figured some things out, grabbed a couple pieces, established a culture, maybe we can be something.”
- Marcus Sasser and trade deadline acquisition Kevin Huerter haven’t cracked the rotation, but Bickerstaff said there will be opportunities for both players to earn minutes next month. “We got a heavy March, right? We got a ton of games in March where everybody will get an opportunity to play,” he said. “And because of our depth, we feel confident that we can still compete at a high level with the depth that we have and get those guys some chances to play.” Sasser played 11 minutes during Friday’s overtime win against Cleveland but didn’t score.
- Isaiah Stewart, who is still serving a seven-game suspension for his involvement in a pre-All-Star break brawl with Charlotte, says he patterns his game after Hall of Famer Ben Wallace, who earned four Defensive Player of the Year awards with Detroit. “He paved the way for us undersized guys,” Stewart told Vince Goodwill of ESPN. “I’m trying to live up to that and put my name somewhere positive in this organization.”
- Daniss Jenkins, who was promoted from his two-way contract with a two-year, $8MM deal earlier this month, hit three clutch free throws after getting fouled on a three-point attempt in the closing seconds of regulation on Friday. That allowed the Pistons to steal a game against the Cavs in overtime. “He’s been mature. I hate to say that, but it’s not surprising anymore what he’s done,” Bickerstaff said. “When his number has been called, whatever the moment has been, he’s been a productive for us and effective for us.”
Pistons Notes: Stewart, Secondary Scorer, Ivey, Sasser, Bickerstaff, Duren
Last month, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff declared that Isaiah Stewart is “the best defensive center in the league and it’s not close,” adding, “I think it’s time that everybody who watches basketball recognizes it.” Stewart is averaging a career-high two blocks per game in 23.6 minutes per game and he explained in detail his shot-blocking prowess and defensive mindset to The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson.
“It’s kind of like a fight,” Stewart said. “You can’t be scared to get punched, you know what I mean? So for me, it’s just like, OK, you got your dunk. You got your little punch in, but I’m still here and I’m not fading away. I’m going to be here and I’m going to challenge you every time. A lot of it is heart. As much that goes into skill and having the patience, you’ve got to have this (patting his heart). There’s a hundred possessions, at least, in a game. You can’t pick and choose when you want to guard the rim.”
Stewart has his sights set on the Defensive Player of the Year award. However, the 20-minute requirement within the 65-game rule could come into play in his case. To qualify for end-of-season awards, a player must play at least 20 minutes in 63 or more games (and between 15-20 in at least two others).
“It is the goal,” Stewart said. “I truly believe I am the best defender in the league. … I may not always get the block. But I’m altering shots, I’m taping holes in our defense. So that’s my goal, that’s something I’m working toward.”
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- Detroit’s loss to the Rockets on Friday displayed the need for a second scorer to complement Cade Cunningham, Patterson opines. Houston packed the paint when he had the ball in his hands and blitzed him in pick-and-roll actions as Cunningham was held to 12 points by a quality opponent. That reinforced the notion that the Pistons need another player they can count on for a steady 20 points per game.
- With next week’s trade deadline looming, the Detroit Free Press’ Omari Sankofa II listed the team’s trade assets, breaking down the players into a various categories. He views Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser as “young players worth surveying the market for,” noting that Ivey is headed to restricted free agency and that Sasser’s role has been minimized by the emergence of two-way player Daniss Jenkins.
- Bickerstaff has already been named as one of the head coaches for the three-team All-Star Game. Center Jalen Duren believes he should receive the league’s postseason award as well. “Coach of the Year. I think it’s obvious at this point that he should be,” Duren said after the team blew out Sacramento on Sunday. “They might as well give it to him now, because he deserves it. I mean, he’s put us in position to be where we are now. He’s a part of the culture, the main part of the culture that we’ve built these last two years. And he’s very deserving for everything that comes his way. I mean he’s an amazing coach. He’s an amazing mentor, an amazing leader. I think as we continue to do what we do, the world is just going to continue to see it.”
Pistons Share Injury Updates On Harris, Duren, LeVert
The Pistons have issued updates on a trio of injured players, making the following announcements on Saturday (Twitter link):
Forward Tobias Harris has been diagnosed with a left hip sprain and will be reevaluated in two weeks.- Center Jalen Duren has a sprained right ankle and will be reevaluated in one week.
- Guard/forward Caris LeVert remains day-to-day due to right knee inflammation, but won’t travel to Cleveland for Sunday’s game vs. the Cavaliers as he continues to receive treatment.
The timeline for Harris, who already missed Thursday’s contest against Miami, suggests he’ll remain sidelined for a minimum of five more games, starting with intra-conference showdowns against the Cavs on Sunday and the Knicks on Monday. His absence may extend beyond that five-game stretch, since there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to return when he’s evaluated on January 17.
Harris, 33, has been a full-time starter since arriving in Detroit as a free agent during the 2024 offseason. In 23 games this season, he’s averaging 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 27.4 minutes per night, with a .455/.333/.848 shooting line. Due to his expiring $26.6MM contract, the 15th-year forward is considered a potential in-season trade candidate.
While Harris’ recovery period may last longer, Duren’s absence figures to have a greater impact on the Pistons’ lineup in the short term. The 22-year-old is enjoying a breakout season ahead of his restricted free agency in 2026, with averages of 17.9 PPG and 10.6 RPG through his first 31 games (28.4 MPG).
Reigning Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month Isaiah Stewart will likely take on a larger role with Duren out, and Paul Reed is a capable backup too. But Detroit has been much better with Duren on the court (+8.9 net rating) than off it (+2.4) so far this season.
Javonte Green, Jaden Ivey, and Marcus Sasser are a few of the other players who figure to see minute bumps while the Pistons’ injured players get healthy.
Pistons Notes: Ivey, Harris, Thompson, Sasser
Jaden Ivey has played 18 straight games for the Pistons after missing the start of the season due to knee surgery, but has only surpassed 20 minutes twice in that stretch. Detroit is likely to keep Ivey coming off the bench for the near future while he continues to adjust to a full workload, writes Hunter Patterson in a mailbag for The Athletic.
“[There’s] a plan in place for him to ramp up where he’s comfortable, where he’s confident, so that he can get back to playing the bulk minutes,” Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff recently said of Ivey.
Advanced stats show Ivey to be a promising backcourt complement to Cade Cunningham, Patterson writes, citing their plus-13.3 net rating over 137 minutes on the court together. However, Patterson notes that the gravity Duncan Robinson commands as a shooter could keep him in the lineup over Ivey for the time being.
Ivey is averaging 8.4 points per game on .470/.407/.808 shooting splits, carrying over the much-improved shooting he displayed last season, which was cut short by a leg injury.
We have more from the Pistons:
- Tobias Harris left Tuesday’s win over the Lakers after playing just six minutes due to a hip strain, according to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link), who says it was unclear when the injury was sustained. Harris is considered doubtful to play in Thursday’s game against the Heat due to left hip soreness, per Patterson (via Twitter).
- Ausar Thompson is committed to improving his body and his game during his time away from the court, he tells Mark Medina of Essentially Sports. Whether it’s working out in the weight room post-game or watching film after shootaround, the defensive-minded wing keeps grinding. “He’s one of those guys that does so much homework for each individual matchup,” Bickerstaff said. “You can tell it pays off for him.” One of Thompson’s main focuses this season has been finding ways to stay aggressive without taking himself out of his own game. “It’s definitely a process. You still have to have an aggressive mindset. You got to know how to play basketball the right way and not force shots,” he said. “Being aggressive doesn’t always mean shooting the ball. Sometimes it means just touching the paint or getting shots for one of your teammates. When I think of aggressive, that’s more of what I mean. It’s about getting paint touches and making my man guard me. I’m not necessarily thinking about the amount of shots I take.”
- Marcus Sasser missed the start of the season with a right hip impingement, but in Tuesday’s win over the Lakers, he reminded the team that he can be a valuable contributor, Sankofa writes. Sasser had 19 points, five assists, and two steals. “I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what Marcus Sasser did tonight, after not playing but somehow always seeming to find himself ready for the moment,” Bickerstaff said. “Both ends of the floor, I thought he was great defensively. Obviously hit some big shots for us offensively. What he did isn’t easy. It’s not easy to not play a ton and then come out and be as effective as he was.” Sankofa notes that Sasser’s three-point shooting ability could prove very useful to the Pistons’ second unit, as the team ranks 21st in three-point percentage and is in the bottom five in attempts.
Central Notes: Giannis, Bucks, Cavs, Pistons, Duren
While trade speculation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo has picked up again this month, a number of rival executives around the NBA believe there may not be resolution on the Bucks star until the offseason, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic.
The outlook on Antetokounmpo could change if he makes an explicit trade request ahead of the February 5 deadline, Amick acknowledges, but he notes that teams would be better positioned to make a blockbuster deal during the summer, when they have more cap and roster flexibility and there’s less mystery surrounding draft picks.
Asked this week about the rumors swirling around his teammate, Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. referred to them as “false information,” per Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link).
“At the end of the day, everyone needs to wait until Giannis says something,” Porter said. “Because all this is just he say, she say, and I guarantee when we start winning as we go 8-0, 9-0, you won’t see nothing about the Bucks. You won’t see, ‘Oh, the Bucks are 8-0, 9-0, they’re flourishing and Giannis is…’ We’re not going to see any of that positive news. So at least for me, this is the last time I’m going to answer anything false.”
We have more from around the Central:
- The Bucks, who vowed during their four-day layoff to remain competitive and get back in the playoff picture with Antetokounmpo inactive, backed up those comments on Thursday with a 116-101 win over Boston. After scoring 31 points in that game, Kyle Kuzma said the 11-15 team still has plenty of work to do, according to Nehm. “We gotta do it again,” Kuzma said. “This all does not mean anything if we come out soft (the next game). If we come out not playing hard, then we’re two steps back. … Be aggressive, both ends.”
- The Cavaliers have had five days off since losing to Golden State last Saturday, but that hiatus was hardly a vacation. As Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required) details, the team – which is off to an underwhelming 14-11 start – held an “uncomfortable” film session on Tuesday in which head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t hold back his criticism. “He just called us out,” forward De’Andre Hunter said. “He broke down exactly what we needed to do, exactly what we haven’t been good at. We watched it. As a whole team, it’s not the easiest thing to see when you’re not doing well, but we saw a lot of that. It was definitely a tough, tough, hard film session. But I think we needed it. I think it’s gonna help us in the long run.”
- In a mailbag for Pistons.com, Keith Langlois explores whether there’s room in the Pistons‘ rotation for Marcus Sasser, considers what Jaden Ivey‘s role will look like going forward, and explains why he’s dubious about the idea that Detroit would make a real play for Anthony Davis this season.
- Esfandiar Baraheni of The Athletic (video link) breaks down film to explain how center Jalen Duren has emerged as the Pistons‘ second star ahead of his restricted free agency in 2026.