Pistons Rookie of the Year candidate Cade Cunningham played just eight minutes on Friday but he wasn’t injured. Head coach Dwane Casey gave Cunningham a chance to rest in the second game of a back-to-back, as Keith Langlois of Pistons.com notes. Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart also only made cameo appearances.
A handful of other rotation players missed the game due to rest or injuries.
“It gave us the opportunity to play the young guys and that’s what we wanted to do,” Casey said. “If we were competing for a playoff position, they could have definitely gone out and played. But we wanted to make sure we didn’t risk anything.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- Pacers rookie guard Chris Duarte is unlikely to play the rest of the season, Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files tweets. Duarte has been dealing with a sore left toe since February and last played on March 15.
- Don’t rule out a possible reunion between the Cavaliers and Ricky Rubio, according to Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Rubio was a key part in their success before he tore his ACL and his expiring contract was traded, Fedor points out. Cleveland targeted Rubio last offseason but a reunion may depend on whether he’ll accept a one-year, prove-it deal after his latest knee injury.
- Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman received two DNPs, then got a chance to reclaim a rotation spot. He responded with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes on Thursday, Fedor notes. “Cedi’s a good basketball player and we need him to be his best, so we can be our best,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
In other words, Detroit was trying to lose so they benched Cade after realizing had they played him they would have won by 30 easily.
Didn’t work….thunder are literally playing dudes from the local Y at this point.
Which is messed up considering Cade had family and friends he invited to the game.
Cunningham hasn’t been that good this year… by that I mean he is “only” the 4th best rookie, not such a difference maker as to influence a win by 30 points, that is for sure!
BTW he played so horribly bad in those 8 minutes he played, that if DET wanted to lose they should have played him 48 minutes & then they would have lost by 30 make no mistake about it!
They’re just keeping Cade fresh for their playoff run- oh wait…
Rubio is going to warriors next year as Curry’s back up.
NEW ORLEANS SHOULD TAKE A FLYER ON RUBIO, a professional point guard, Graham as a Combo guard backing him up.. Add a healthy ZION… NO NEEDS A PASS FIRST POINT GUARD, but can score as well…
Like Lonzo Ball?
Sorry, Lonzo and Jrue Holiday?
Great now rookies are resting. Thanks lebron for starting this
Knicks need Rubio, having 48 minutes of Rose/Rubio is about perfect for a Thibs coached team. Rubio makes people move and Randle and RJ needs someone to keep them from iso ball.
Yes, RUBIO WOULD FIT WELL WITH THE KNICKS… RANDLE WORKS TO HARD FOR HIS SHOTS, to much iso… Veteran point guard would get ball in Randle’s spots, get the ball out of his hands, ball movement… PRIORITY FOR KNICKS THIS OFF SEASON IS VETERAN POINT GURAD… RESOLVE CENTER: RESIGN ROBINSON or go for Veteran difference maker, shed Kemba’s contract, get RANDLE BACK ON TRACK MENTALLY/ HAPPY( to be determined)…
Rubio better heal up, to take advantage of this popularity!