Cade Cunningham scored 45 points to keep the Detroit Pistons alive against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. Stephen A. Smith spent Wednesday on First Take warning Pistons fans that the headline number is not the comforting story it looks like.
"Everybody can look at Cade Cunningham and what happened last night. I don't look at it as a good sign. I look at it as a bad sign," Smith said. "This brother is a star. This brother is something special, make no mistake about it. Where the hell is everybody else?"
The context for Smith's hot take is Magic forward Franz Wagner, who limped out of Little Caesars Arena late in Game 5 with what looked like a serious lower-body issue. With Detroit now down 3-2 and heading back to Orlando for Game 6, the broadcaster argued the series hinges almost entirely on Wagner's availability.
"Very simple for me. If Wagner is not available, which it looks like it's not going to be, Detroit can certainly force a Game 7," Smith said. "If that brother steps out on the court, Detroit is done."
Cunningham's 45 came in a duel with Paolo Banchero, who matched his total — only the second time in NBA history two No. 1 overall picks have each scored 40 or more in the same playoff game, the other being Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson in the 2001 Finals. Smith refused to spread blame to Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff for the lack of secondary scoring.
"You don't have Tim Hardaway Jr. You don't have Malik Beasley, even though that's his fault more so than the organization's. What have you given him to work with?" Smith said. "J.B. Bickerstaff did a great job once Cade Cunningham went down with that lung injury. The point I'm making is that he can't be the only guy."
Tobias Harris helped Cunningham with 23 points in Game 5. Smith called the production essential, but warned it cannot be a one-night cameo.
"Tobias Harris showed up last night. Thank the good Lord — 15 years in the league, his experience came through, and he certainly made a contribution," Smith said. "But you need a bonafide, reliable contribution. Tobias Harris is going to have to do that again and help out Cade Cunningham, or somebody is — Duncan Robinson. This brother ain't some inexperienced novice. Show the hell up and help out Cade Cunningham."
Forward Jalen Duren, the second-year big who looked like an All-Star caliber player during the regular season, has averaged just 10 points in the series. Smith argued Duren is not the missing piece in any case.
"He's only averaging 10 points in this series. He has not been impressive at all. He certainly hasn't been the All-Star caliber player we saw during the regular season. But that's okay because his upside is tremendous," Smith said. "He's a big man on your front court. That's not who you're looking for. You're looking for somebody on the perimeter who can put the ball on the floor, create their own shot, wreak havoc that way, and not allow Orlando to feed off of that crowd momentum."
The historical comparison Smith reached for cut to the heart of what Cunningham still needs.
"We've seen the great ones, whether it's Kobe, it's Shaq, it's MJ, or anybody else. There was always someone else that stepped up on the road," Smith said. "At home, you could put forth a performance like Cade Cunningham did last night and offset Paolo Banchero's 45 points, who was sensational in his own right. But on the road, you need help."
The verdict Smith left for Pistons fans before Game 6 in Orlando was as much warning as forecast. "I have no doubt Cade Cunningham is going to show up. It might not be for 45, but he will show up. Who the hell is going to help him? Detroit better have an answer to that question or they're going home."
