After his disaster class yesterday, I’ve seen a lot of reactionary comments that he’s not the guy or will never be the guy. But all I’m trying to say is that this is basically his SECOND year. How was Ant in his second year? How is Paolo? And who were their teammates and how much spacing did they get compared to Cade now?
Image Cade on the Magic right now instead of Paolo who has Franz, Suggs, Fultz on the side. Look at Paolo’s first 4 games this year and how much spacing he gets yet he still had those stats. Now imagine if Cade had Kat or Gobert and actual vets who can score like Ant has. Ant is currently making his massive leap in his FOURTH year. He doesn’t have teammates like Hayes, Stew, etc.
Looking at Cade’s games this years, I would honestly say that he’s doing FINE for being his second year only with the team he has. He’s exhausted forced to play 38-40 minutes a night. We’re overreacting because we’ve been losing for years and since Cade has been out for a year we FORGOT that this is his second year. Also, having 3+ crucial teammates out for several of his games doesn’t help either.
Isn’t this Chet’s first season by your reasoning? Dude missed out an entire season and is now arguably balling like a 50/40/90 guy. But when it comes to Cade we need to keep making excuses right?
Chet joined a play-in team that’s only missing piece was a starting Center.
It’d be like if Cade joined the Timberwolves, they are not even remotely in a similar situation.
This is spot on. Cade is fine. His shot is vastly improved and with a little more spacing he will be unstoppable in the paint.
I’m not even a Pistons fan and it’s pissing me off. Cade is doing fantastic as basically a second year player on the worst team in the league.
I just wonder how the internet would’ve reacted to Kobe growing up? Dude took 4 years before he started to look like a bonafide superstar, before that he airballing multiple times in a playoff game, getting swept every series he was in., coming off the bench. Kobe was never to most liked player but everyone understood the greatness and potential.
Right now everyone just wants the best and don’t have time to wait. We have been blessed with Lebrons, Lukas and Iversons. Cade is doing exactly what a number 1 should be doing, if not better.
Just be patient guys
He’s not a heliocentric point guard like Luka. When he and the team get this he will improve in all facets. He should play off ball and receive it on the go and not in isolation or regular pick and role. In a stagnant offense he’s very bad. Even for a second year. As his career progresses he can be more on-ball. Right now everyone’s expecting him to score 23-25 points a night so he is forcing shots.
This is not a learning curve issue. His speed won’t get better. His handle is loose because of his coordination level not just bad decisions. He fumbles balls in tight spaces that highschool point guards don’t. Because he’s not a point guard. The reason he plays worse in the 2nd half or 4th quarter is not fatigue. Other teams adjust while he doesn’t. He gets doubled because it’s effective. I believe his shot will get better with proper shot selection and his turnovers will go down if he is more of a scorer on the go who can pass and not a player that has to create in a stagnant offense.
Cade might max out as a #2 or #3 option on a championship team. It’s certainly possible that is his ceiling. He might not be that guy. However, we have no way of knowing that at 22 coming off a lost season to injury.
The issues he has are fixable with not trying to be Luka while playing with non shooters most of the time. I love Duren and Ausar, but one of them needs to improve their range (likely Ausar) and the other two need to be knock down shooters (i.e Bogey or Burks) and/or be the type of guy who can generate their own offense (i.e. Jaden Ivey or Sasser).
We may have to trade for a complimentary piece. Stew seems like he can become a knock down shooter, but teams still don’t respect him. He might max out as an elite backup big with range (ex Naz Reid) which is a great thing to have.
Also more time can lead to his jumper improving and him making less careless turnovers. The biggest thing is having someone else he is playing with that defenses HAVE TO respect. A Zach Lavine type player (ideally with less injury history). If he’s not trying to carry bad offensive lineups where noone else is perceived as a threat his efficiency, turnovers, and production drop off in the second half could evaporate almost instantly.
People forget, but Cade was a guy who let the game come to him. One who gets his teammates going and takes over games in the 3rd and 4th. Out of necessity we have made him our offensive engine, which may not be his best role (particularly at this stage of his development). He could become great, but he obviously needs more talent around him or to play with some currently injured vets.