3 things to watch as Milwaukee Bucks take on pesky Detroit Pistons

Cade Cunningham will be a problem for the Milwaukee Bucks tonight (and for years to come)

Admittedly, when the Bucks rest guys like this, I almost enjoy watching the games more because there’s no pressure to win and I like watching guys like Mamukelashvili, Jordan Nwora, and Lindell Wigginton get minutes when they typically don’t.

It also lets me focus on guys from the other team and I can admire them a bit more as well. While there are a few players on the Pistons I’ve enjoyed watching (Saddiq Bey, Marvin Bagley’s turnaround has been fun, and Killian Hayes), Cade Cunningham is just phenomenal.

He got off to a very slow start to his rookie season, shooting under 25 percent from 3 in his first 15 games, but has come around in a big, big way and has the Pistons looking like a pesky team heading into next season.

Since the All-Star break, Cunningham is second in rookie scoring with 21.5 points, eighth in rebounds with 5.6, and first in assists at 6.4. He’s still struggling with his 3-point shot (29.1 percent on 4.5 attempts per game), but has shot over 52 percent on 2s and is over 62 percent in the restricted area.

As Cunningham continues to grow along with the rest of the Pistons’ young players (including another high draft pick this season), it will be fun to see them become more competitive against the Bucks.

It’s unfortunate we won’t get to see Cunningham against the entire Bucks roster, but take this game with no one playing to appreciate a fun young player before he becomes a real thorn in the side of the Bucks in the coming years.