Detroit — Over the course of his 10 years on the sidelines, J.B. Bickerstaff has established himself as one of the most outspoken coaches in the NBA. From the moment he steps onto the court, Bickerstaff isn’t shy about voicing his frustration throughout a game, whether it’s to the officials or his players.
Nearly 48 minutes of non-stop screaming have left Bickerstaff hoarse on several occasions. However, not even a raspy voice after the Pistons’ win over Cleveland on Friday night could prevent Bickerstaff from explaining why Cade Cunningham deserves MVP honors this season.
“He deserves it. If the season were to end today, the best player on the team with the best win percentage, to me, is the guy that deserves to be the MVP,” Bickerstaff said. “I’m hard-pressed to find a better example or statement of who the MVP should be.”
Bickerstaff can be expected to advocate for his players. However, there is no denying that Cunningham’s credentials make him a worthy MVP candidate. He has led the Pistons to the league’s highest winning percentage, 75.9%. With their thrilling 122-119 overtime victory against the Cavaliers, the 44-14 Pistons have already equaled last season’s win total in 24 fewer games.
The Pistons’ dominance this season has been a team effort, but Cunningham has been leading the charge with averages of 25.4 points on 46.1% shooting, 5.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists.
Cunningham’s case for league MVP honors has extended beyond his offensive production due to the steps he has taken on defense. The two-time All-Star has developed into one of the league’s best two-way players. Cunningham has averaged a career-best 1.5 steals through 52 games. Among guards, he ranks fourth in blocks, with a total of 50 rejections.
“What he does for us on both ends of the floor … he doesn’t take nights, or times, or possessions off defensively,” Bickerstaff said. “We’ll put him on the other team’s best perimeter player, and he’ll go down on the offensive end and score his 25 points, but create for his teammates. He’s second in the league in assists and makes his teammates better. Then, with the game on the line, you can give him the ball, and he’s one of the best clutch players we have in this league.”
Winning MVP would be a significant milestone for the Pistons as a franchise, as they have never had a player win the prestigious honor. Grant Hill came the closest during the 1996-97 season when he finished third, behind Michael Jordan (second place) and Karl Malone (first place).
Receiving MVP honors would not only signify that Cunningham has led the Pistons to the franchise’s best regular-season campaign in 20 years, but it would also serve as a celebration of the All-NBA guard’s ongoing growth with the team. His accomplishment would showcase the Pistons’ progression through years of hardship before becoming championship contenders
“It would be special for Cade because of what he has gone through,” Bickerstaff said. “What this organization has gone through over the last few years and what that recognition would mean.”
Pistons at Magic
Tipoff: 6 p.m. Sunday, Kia Center, Orlando
TV/radio: FDSN/97.1
Outlook: Following their loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, the Orlando Magic are still holding onto a play-in tournament spot. They enter Sunday’s game ranked as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 31-27. Orlando has won six out of its last eight games behind Desmond Bane, who has averaged 27.1 points on 61.1% shooting from the field and 54.2% 3-point shooting.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons’ J.B. Bickerstaff explains why Cade Cunningham deserves NBA MVP
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
