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JB Bickerstaff's Honest Take on Cade Cunningham After Pistons-Heat

JB Bickerstaff explained his trust in Cade Cunningham after the Pistons' win over the Heat.
Justin Grasso|
Feb 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff talks with guard Cade Cunningham (2) during a Charlotte Hornets foul shot in the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Feb 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff talks with guard Cade Cunningham (2) during a Charlotte Hornets foul shot in the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

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Detroit PistonsMiami Heat

Since taking over the Detroit Pistons, head coach JB Bickerstaff has had full confidence in Cade Cunningham’s ability to take matters into his own hands when the game is on the line.

Despite being a young guard with a lack of experience in meaningful games, Cunningham once again proved to Bickerstaff and the rest of the Pistons’ organization that he certainly can be trusted when the game is on the line.

“I mean, you just got to get him the ball,” Bickerstaff said after Wednesday’s matchup between the Pistons and the Miami Heat. “Just get him the ball and get out of the way.”

Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro managed to get to the free throw line to knock down two shots and tie up the game at 113 during the fourth quarter on Wednesday. The Pistons had one more offensive possession to put the game away or see it get sent into overtime.

Miami’s Bam Adebayo did all he could to shake up Cunningham in that moment and prevent a successful shot from getting off, but the one-time All-Star guard was able to get the ball and find just enough space to get a clean look to knock in a game-winning three.

“You try to get the ball in his hands, occupy the guys around him, and you know that Cade is going to be able to get his shot off,” Bickerstaff added. “He’s got the size, he’s got the skill, you know he’s going to get his look. We told him to go win the game, and he went and got it done.”

Trust in Cade translated to a victory for Detroit on Wednesday night. The veteran guard’s big shot helped him cap off a triple-double outing in Miami, as he scored 25 points and came down with 12 rebounds, while dishing out 11 assists.

The Pistons defeated the Heat 116-113. Miami dropped its ninth game in a row, while the Pistons tied with the fifth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the win column on Wednesday.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

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