So we can all agree that the Wizards are an awful team. They're one of the teams that the currently 2-13 Detroit Pistons seem like they can beat and they face them on Monday. But after that, it cannot be understated how tough their schedule will be for the remaining calendar year.
Here is the Pistons upcoming schedule, from today up to December 31st (Technically the 30th is their last game for 2023):
2x Pacers
1x Wizards
1x Lakers
2x 76ers
2x Nets
1x Jazz
1x Cavs
1x Knicks
1x Bucks
1x Hawks
1x Celtics
1x Raptors
With the exception of perhaps the Jazz - who are also in the midst of a rebuild albeit one where they snapped their recent losing streak - that is 14 games which seem difficult to win given they are against playoff teams or teams aiming to make them.
The Detroit Pistons are currently on a 12-game losing streak. They have won less games in the calendar year of 2023 (9) than the city's NFL team, the Lions (10; they went 2-0 in January 2023)
TLDR at bottom.
The only other players in the last 20 years that would have faired better in this position is Luka and LeBron. Cade gets guarded like a top-15 player since day-1 when he was injured to even start. This is not pretty but let’s give it some time because we are so young and injured.
We have had 3/5 bigs injured most of the season. As well as 2/4 guards. Livers Bogi Duren all either play some 4 or the 5. No Monte and Burks been hella injured. Arguably our best 4 shooters have been out almost this whole time.
Missing at least 2 starters and 3/6 of your bench will make any team look worse. Cade hasn’t played in a year and it seems like Monte has side quests disciplining Ivey (which has been looking like a potential career altering change in approach) and Killian Hayes is seeing if his unique skillset has a place in the game. It’s tough because it’s not like we can put our backup point guard that we signed in Killians spot.
Stew being the floor spacer on the court for Cade means Cade is going to shoot worse because of defensive attention. Cade has to be in potentially the worst spot in the NBA. Doesn’t mean his teammates are terrible it’s just insane all the shooters have literally been injured.
I’m still surprised we looked so good in the beginning. Our D looks half decent when we have Duren. And hot take incoming; this team is going to look entirely different when we half our rotation and literally all of our established shooters.
Not to mention Cade & Duren play well off each other.
TLDR: this teams looks bad because no established shooters and missing defensive anchor. Cade has been guarded like a top-15 player since day-1 and those things will make him significantly worse.
The whole point of being the man is it doesn't matter who guards you
I already names the only two names that would have played better in that position. How much more do you want from him?
If he was that good he'd make it work. I don't care about the 'defensive attention' or the shitty team around him. I like cade and hope he progresses into a cornerstone for Detroit, but he is not cut out to be a leader or number one option.
Seriously. People make every excuse in the book for Cade but great players make it work.
Shai showed out playing with some horrible, horrible lineups when he was coming up.
Haliburton was amazing playing with the trash 2022 Kings roster when Fox was out.
Garland played amazing in 2022 with the amazing spacing of Okoro/Mobley/Allen starting together.
Even someone like Anfernee Simons was much better than Cade playing with similarly bad lineups.