The Athletic NBA Daily NBA Daily Mailbag | Morning Shoot Around
Mar 4, 2026
Panelists debate whether Detroit leans too heavily on Cade Cunningham and lament the lack of secondary creators. They riff on dream playoff matchups and NBA throwback broadcasts. The conversation also covers All-Star eligibility rules, anti-tank ideas, and which teams must tweak lineups for playoff success.
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65 Game Rule Could Distort Awards Storylines
- The 65-game award eligibility rule risks corrupting narrative and should be reconsidered.
- Dave DuFour argues voters already account for games played, so the threshold solves a problem that largely didn't exist.
Design Lottery Changes To Protect Middle Teams
- Reform the lottery to help middle teams compete for franchise-changing picks without incentivizing late-season tanking.
- Zena Keita and Dave DuFour suggest targeted odds or mechanisms that limit repeat top picks for the same team.
Pistons Built Around Cade Creates Major Holes
- The Pistons structurally rely on Cade Cunningham as primary creator, leaving thin secondary creation and shooting behind him.
- Zena Keita and Dave DuFour compare Detroit to last-year Knicks and Thunder, noting limited wing/guard creation beyond Jalen Duren and spot shooters.