Cunningham scoreless in second half of Game 7
Dan Patrick recaps Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons with Cade Cunningham kept scoreless in the second half, James Harden struggling in another game 7 and the Pistons' lack of auxiliary scoring.
Video Transcript
The, the Detroit Pistons, I think, got a tap on the shoulder to let them know you can be really good during the regular season, but if you wanna be really good in the playoffs, you ne- need to take a couple of swings, and Detroit did not.
if you're adding Kevin Huerter and that's it, you're not scaring anybody.
We knew that they needed another consistent scorer.
Cleveland at least took a swing and went out and got James Harden.
Now, I didn't like the trade, just because if you're getting him for the postseason, we know he's not a big-time postseason performer, and he wasn't yesterday either in Game 7.
So here you go.
He had nine points, two of 10.
Now they won, so we're not gonna focus or most people won't focus on this.
But let me factor in the last six times James Harden has played in a Game 7.
Last night, two for 10.
2026, let's see.
Toronto, three for nine.
Denver, two for eight.
Now these are the teams that he faced.
Boston, he went three for 11 in 2023.
2021, five for 17 against Milwaukee.
2020, four for 15.
He was on the winning team in three of the six, but these are all subpar performances for a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Two for 10, three for nine, two for eight, three for 11, five for 17, four for 15.
But for the Pistons, you know, they were a pleasant surprise last year.
And then you thought, okay, they've been there, tough battle against the Knicks.
And then they proved it wasn't a fluke because they were great during the regular seaso- regular season.
But Cade Cunningham, as much as everybody wanted to include him in the MVP conversation, this is, this is where legacies are built.
This is where you validate that.
When somebody says, "Man, that guy played his heart out.
He played great."
Well, he didn't.
When you don't score in the second half of a Game 7, unless you're injured Injured?
Man, I got a problem with that.
I got a big problem with that.
But, you know, J.B. Bickerstaff had a wonderful year as the head coach of the Pistons and, doesn't sound like he's too disappointed his team didn't advance.
Based off this year, playing at home, Game 7, especially what you've just done in Cleveland, how big of a disappointment was it for you?
It's not a disappointment at all.
I'm not ever will I be disappointed in these guys.
These guys every single day give us what they got.
you know, so it is not a disappointment.
It's a loss, and it's a tough loss.
but, you know, that adjective will never be used as th- this group.
I don't like the direction of your question, and I'll be honest with you.
like, these guys have improved massively and done a great job.
No, look, they're both right.
He's protecting his players, but the reporter is saying is, like, "Are you satisfied that you got this far?"
'Cause I would be disappointed.
We have the number one seed.
W- we're hosting Game 7.
Your best player didn't score in the second half.
Yeah, I'm disappointed.
Now, you don't wanna throw your team under the bus, but I think you've gotta be honest with the fans and say, "Yeah, and you know what?
We'll be back here next year.
We will learn from this moment."
But I think really Detroit has to go out and be aggressive here.
I-- You know, whenever, ever somebody talks about, "Well, you know, they got draft picks for three years down the road," everything is now.
Your moment is now.
Cleveland's moment is now.
That's what you have to go for now instead of, "Well, you know what?
We're, in good shape down the road."
No, you know who's in good shape down the road?
Oklahoma City.
They're really good now, and they're ready to go for the next couple of years.
The Spurs, they're in a win now mode, but they're set up for the next couple of years.
Go for it now.
That's the key.
'Cause you can sit here and go, "Well, we don't wanna take that chance.
We don't wanna spend that money.
We don't wanna make that trade."
But then you might be right where Detroit is, and if you said to them, "Should you have made another move or two?"
Then the answer is obvious.
It's yes.
