Detroit Pistons storm Madison Square Garden at the pace of a Cade Cunningham MVP level

Declarations are made at Madison Square Garden. From team and star. And the Detroit Pistons sent a strong message by sweeping the season series against the New York Knicks with a 126-111 win, reinforcing their status as the best team in the NBA at the moment, led by Cade Cunningham at an MVP level.

They did it without their two main big men, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, who were suspended after the altercation prior to the All-Star break in Charlotte. The context heightened the challenge. The response was even greater.

Cunningham's Night

Cade Cunningham scored 42 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds. He added two blocks and a 5-for-11 from three-point range, surpassing all defenders presented by New York: OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and even the newly arrived Jeremy Sochan.

In the preseason, he stated that the MVP was not a direct goal but a consequence of collective success. Now he doesn't shy away from the debate.

"I believe I'm the MVP. If you disagree, it's your opinion," he stated after the game. He doesn't want to campaign publicly. He prefers the voters to "watch the game for themselves."

His coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, reinforced the idea: it's not an isolated performance but a reflection of the entire season. "He's dominated on both ends of the court and made a huge impact on the win."

A Team with Identity

Detroit not only won. They controlled the game through defense. The Knicks, one of the teams that shoot the most and best from three, were 8 for 35 from long range, with a streak of 15 consecutive misses in the first half.

Bickerstaff played down the context: it's not personal against New York but the same competitive identity they show every night. The Pistons believe in their depth and ability to win even when not at full strength.

The record supports it: 41-13, the best in the NBA, ahead of the reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. They lead the Boston Celtics by six games and boast a 19-7 record on the road, one win away from the best away record.

Against direct rivals from the East, the message is also clear: 3-0 against New York, 3-1 versus Boston, and 1-1 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Historical Precedent

Since the media started voting for the award (1980), no Detroit player has won the MVP. The best result was Grant Hill's second place in 1997, behind Michael Jordan and Karl Malone. Isiah Thomas was fifth in 1984.

Cunningham averages 25.3 points (14th in the league), 9.6 assists (second), and 5.8 rebounds. His impact goes beyond the numbers. In the past playoffs, he averaged 26 points, 7.6 assists, and 8.6 rebounds in three games in New York, leading to two wins in that series.

For Tobias Harris, the difference is mental: "Some players want to win the MVP, and others want championships." It hasn't been a constant topic in the locker room, but the point guard's growth in the conversation is evident.

Statements

When asked if the victory was a definitive statement, Cunningham responded naturally: "We are the best team in the East. I don't know what more statement.".

The statement was not rhetorical. Detroit competes every night with the conviction that, as long as they have their franchise point guard, they can aspire to everything. The message at the Madison was clear: it's not just about individual stats, but about a team that doesn't stop until the opponent surrenders.

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