The Detroit Pistons, facing a historic losing streak, are grappling with the challenges and lessons that come with such a difficult phase. Coach Monty Williams and star guard Cade Cunningham recently discussed the experience of losing and how to grow from it. Williams emphasized the value of learning from adversity, a lesson often reserved for playoff experiences.
“As we go through this, there’s a deep pain that comes from this,” Williams said. “You typically don’t get that until you get into the playoffs. We have a chance to go through this now, and we’ve always referred to this as we go forward; we never want to go back to this once we get out of it. I think these kinds of moments allow for you to grow properly as you understand how important discipline is every single day.”
Cunningham, relatively new to the NBA and coming off an injury-riddled season, is experiencing this level of defeat for the first time, along with his teammates. The Pistons’ record, at 2-24, is one of the poorest in NBA history, posing a test of motivation and unity for the team.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons Updates
Despite the struggles, Cunningham, the 2021 No. 1 draft pick, is trying to extract lessons from this period. He expressed disappointment but emphasized the importance of perseverance and staying engaged. His absence due to injury last season has given him a unique perspective and a sense of gratitude, even amidst losses.
“We all hate where it’s gotten,” Cunningham said via Detroit Free Press. “We can’t believe that it’s gotten to this point. But it is what it is. We gotta fight through it. That’s one of the main things that I’ve been trying to challenge myself with, is fight through it every day, through bumps, and bruises.
“I don’t want to allow that to take me away from it. I know how hard it is for the group,” Cunningham explained. “For everybody, we just need all hands on board. I’ve been trying to personally take that on and just weather the storm. It’s hard, but I don’t want to hide from it. There’s nowhere to hide.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons Updates
Cunningham has also taken on a leadership role, encouraging his teammates. However, the team’s morale has visibly suffered, with players struggling with performance and Cunningham experiencing off nights.
“Missing those games, I was in a way more dark spot than I am right now, playing and being able to do this,” Cunningham said. “I’m having a lot of fun. Losing the games is the worst thing ever; I hate it more than anything. But every day, in warmups, I’m like, ‘I’m blessed to do this. I have another opportunity to play and try to win.’ That’s where it comes from, is just being healthy and being able to play.”
A key issue for the Pistons has been their poor shooting, particularly from 3-point range, where they rank last in the league. Despite having skilled shooters, the team has been unable to capitalize on open opportunities.
“I have a lot of responsibility with the ball in my hands, so with that, a lot of responsibility is on me for our flow and everything,” Cunningham said. “Because of that, I have no choice but to make sure everybody knows that I’m with them. And we gotta keep our spirits up.
“We can’t get broke by this,” Cunningham explained. “We’ve all been through terrible things in our lives, and losing basketball games, this is the worst thing that all of us have ever been through basketball-wise. We gotta stay together and keep our spirits up. That’s what I try to bring every day.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons Updates
Cunningham remains hopeful that their shooting will improve, which is crucial for breaking the losing streak. The team’s defense has also been impacted by their offensive struggles, making it hard to set up effective defensive plays.
“You gotta figure out how to win,” Cunningham said. “It could be any day that something clicks for us and then we can ride that out. We’re just trying to figure out what clicks and what works for us.
“We can play two weeks of strong basketball and be right back in the hunt of trying to get something going this year,” Cunningham explained. “It’s a lot of basketball left to be played. We just have to stay grounded, keep working at it and keep trying to learn from it.”
As the Pistons continue through this tough period, they aim to keep their morale high and remember that many successful teams have faced similar challenges. Cunningham is focused on finding the right approach to turn the situation around, knowing that a breakthrough could be imminent. The team is determined to stay positive and learn from this experience, with plenty of season left to play.
