The Athletic NBA Daily – March 4, 2026

Episode Title: Can Cade Cunningham Do It By Himself?

Overview

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily dives deep into the struggles of the Detroit Pistons with Cade Cunningham shouldering the offensive load, breaks down the Cleveland Cavaliers’ resurgence, and analyzes the limitations facing the Toronto Raptors. The hosts—Dave DuFour, Esfandiar (“Es”) Baraheni, and guest Tony Jones—also zoom in on the Philadelphia 76ers post-Embiid injury and the surging Charlotte Hornets, with additional insights into Victor Wembanyama's (Wemby) defensive dominance for the Spurs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cavaliers vs. Pistons: Cunningham’s Heavy Burden

• Cavaliers edge out Pistons (Score: 113–109). Cavs were missing only Donovan Mitchell, while the focus was Cunningham's inefficiency (4-for-16 shooting).

  • Cunningham’s isolation: “When he isn’t able to get things going offensively, the offense struggles immensely for this Pistons team.” – Es, (04:29)
  • Thin shooting & support: The Pistons' lack of floor spacing and secondary creators was highlighted—Jalen Duren played well (24 points, 14 rebounds), but more was needed.
  • Pistons' math problem: Only 24 threes attempted (9 made), compared to the Cavs’ 46 attempts—“Math battle” (07:05).

• Asar Thompson’s Role:

  • Praised for defensive energy, transition play, and forcing turnovers—key to Pistons' playoff hopes (06:11-06:57).
  • “He is going to make or break this Pistons… chances of making a run.” – Es

• Cavs’ Depth & Trade Impact:

  • Dennis Schroder lauded for big bench minutes: “Dennis Schroder is going to win them a playoff game. I was just saying podcast. Did you say series?” (07:23)
  • Recent acquisitions (Keon Ellis, Jalen Tyson) and James Harden’s impact on shooters like Sam Merrill cited as crucial for playoff versatility.

2. Toronto Raptors’ Ceiling Exposed

• Raptors fall to Knicks: Game tight until late, but Toronto falters in crunch time (09:02-10:29).

  • Struggling against top teams: “They have a problem when it comes to beating good teams. It’s just the point of the fact.” – Es (09:02)
  • Over-reliance on Brandon Ingram in isolation, not enough offensive creation or execution against elite defenses.
  • Mirrored Pistons’ issues: Poor three-point shooting forces them to win other margins (turnovers, transition, offensive rebounding).

• Historical Comparison: Echoes the old DeMar/Kyle Raptors—strong against weak teams, but limited vs. top competition (10:53).

3. How Real Are the Knicks?

• Depth improved: “They’re deeper now… Mohamed Diaara and Jose Alvarado can get run… Shamet had a really good game… Carl Anthony Towns is playing better basketball as of late, and he is going to make or break this Knicks team this season.” – Es (12:05-12:31)

• Playoff expectations: Chemistry, lineup options, and Towns’ performance seen as difference-makers.

4. Eastern Conference Playoff Race & the Charlotte Hornets’ Surge

• Hornets reach .500 (now 31–31, ninth in East):

  • Since Jan 21: 15–3 stretch after being 12 games under .500 (15:01).
  • “They have a top two offense in that stretch… and a top 10 defense.” – Es (16:06)
  • When fully healthy, starting five is 18–2.

• Potential as playoff spoiler: Hosts warn East contenders not to overlook the Hornets.

5. Sixers’ Slide Without Embiid: Can Maxey Cope?

With guest Tony Jones

• Sixers lose by 40 at home to the Spurs:

  • “They are now 16 and 16 at home. So they have been decidedly a better road team… Didn’t have a lot of energy… It looked like their legs got drained.” – Tony (19:51)
  • Sixers have become too dependent on Embiid, with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe as only consistent creators (21:42).
  • Attrition of the season hitting them hard; earlier, they could “catch teams on any given night”, now teams are fighting for seeding (22:46).

• Embiid injury update: Out with strained oblique, status reconsidered after upcoming Jazz game (23:49).

• Schedule worries: Next up—Jazz, Atlanta, Cavaliers, Grizzlies (presumably Embiid rests B2B), Pistons. Sixers haven’t beaten some of these teams all season (23:49-25:17).

• If Embiid remains out:

  • “Falls on Maxey and it falls on VJ Edgecombe. And speaking of falls, VJ Askam suffered a nasty one… with lower back soreness.” (24:37)
  • Playoff seeding is at risk: “They could be eighth really quickly…” – Tony (26:54)

6. Wemby & Spurs: Defense Without Scoring

• Wembanyama’s unique impact:

  • “It’s kind of surreal to watch a guy just dominate a game without scoring a point… I’ve seen Rudy Gobert do it, but it’s different than what Wemby does… Wimby plays all over the floor.” – Tony (28:52-30:49)
  • Describes Wemby's blocks, rim deterrence, offensive fluidity (passing, occasional shots), and defensive gravity—alters shots just by presence.
  • Spurs surrounded by “six POA defenders,” making it even harder for opponents to generate efficient offense (31:09-31:52).

• Championship outlook for Spurs:

  • “Do you think they could win the chip this year, Tony?”
  • “Oh, absolutely. 100. This is not to say they will because, you know, Oklahoma City is really good. Denver’s really good. [...] But the Spurs absolutely are in contention.” (32:05-32:10)

7. Cavs and Harden: New Playoff Ceiling

• Harden’s passing & shooter effect:
  • “That’s the James Harden effect. He’s one of the best passers of this era, maybe of all time… They don’t need him to go out and score 30.” – Tony (33:23)
  • Freed up shooters (Sam Merrill with “catch-and-shoot threes”) and overall offensive versatility and floor management (32:48-33:43).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cade Cunningham’s struggles:
  “When it isn’t Cade, who else is it going to be? And tonight I don’t think they found a consistent [option]… Jalen Duren was awesome… but it’s not enough…” – Es (04:29)

• Asar Thompson’s X-factor status:
  “What he is able to bring… especially in a postseason setting, is going to make or break this Pistons…” – Es (06:18)

• About Pistons’ shooting:
  “They took 24 threes. They hit nine of them. That’s 22 fewer threes than the Cavs took.” – Dave (06:57)

• Schröder “Honeymoon” Effect:
  “Dennis Schröder for the first like three or four months of whenever he’s on a new team, he just ignites something.” – Es (07:39)

• On Toronto’s flaws:
  “I just don’t think they have what it takes to score against these good teams in clutch situations.” – Es (09:02)

• On Sixers reliance on Embiid:
  “Now he becomes a security blanket for the remainder of the roster. So now the rest of the roster looks like a roster that really misses Joel Embiid.” – Tony (21:42)

• Wembanyama defense anecdote:
  “There were at least five to seven other times where guys went into the lane, saw Wimby, and just dribbled the ball back.” – Tony (30:40)

• Spurs’ championship chances:
  “Oh, absolutely. 100. This is not to say they will… but the Spurs absolutely are in contention.” – Tony (32:10)

Key Timestamps

• 03:06 – Show begins; Cavs vs. Pistons breakdown
• 04:29 – Cade Cunningham’s shooting woes; Pistons lack of options
• 06:11–06:57 – Importance of Asar Thompson; Pistons playoff worries
• 07:23 – Dennis Schroder’s impact for Cavs
• 09:02–10:29 – Raptors’ clutch issues, struggle vs good teams
• 12:05 – Knicks’ improved depth and playoff outllook
• 15:01 – Hornets’ turnaround and playoff dark horse
• 19:17 – Tony Jones joins: Sixers’ 40-point loss to Spurs
• 21:42 – Embiid’s timeline/impact; Sixers offense w/o Embiid
• 23:49–25:17 – Sixers’ tough schedule ahead
• 28:52–30:49 – Wemby’s defensive domination (only 5 shots, 6 blocks)
• 32:05 – Can the Spurs win a championship?
• 33:23–33:43 – James Harden's effect on Cavs offense/shooters

Conclusion

This episode encapsulates the current climate in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, with a focus on the Pistons’ over-reliance on Cade Cunningham, the Cavs' potentially game-changing midseason moves, and the Sixers' precarious playoff position without Embiid. It also highlights the resurgent Hornets and the Spurs’ rare defensive weapon in Wemby. As always, the hosts balance sharp analysis with candid conversation, prepping listeners for the playoff battles to come.