Hoops Tonight - PISTONS-CAVS GAME 5 REACTION: James Harden & Donovan Mitchell CLUTCH to beat Cade Cunningham

Happy Wednesday, everybody. We’ve got a packed show and an absolutely wild Game Five between Cleveland and Detroit to unpack, then we’ll take your questions at the end—let’s talk hoops.

As this series settled, shot quality tilted toward Cleveland. Detroit’s at‑the‑level coverage keeps freeing short rolls and four‑on‑threes, and the Cavs’ spot‑up guys keep cashing those catch‑and‑shoots.

Detroit’s counter is defense with teeth. They can rattle you with pressure, and Asar Thompson strung together a bonkers reel of plays, including that late strip-and-scramble; I was fine with the no‑call on the loose ball.

I didn’t love going to Donovan over Asar on the last regulation trip when the Harden ball screens were creating cleaner looks.

Cleveland’s two‑big look hit right: they doubled Cade, lived with catch‑and‑shoots from streakier guys, and shut off the rim. Paul Reed made winning plays, but Detroit really missed a deadeye like Duncan in the corner.

This series is a swing ride. If the Cavs close in Game Six, it’s low turnovers, Harden getting to the pocket, big‑to‑big reads, and more made catch‑and‑shoots; if Detroit forces seven, it’s defense fueling runs and Cade cooking as an efficient mid‑thirties scorer.

Quick one on Max Strus: he’s more than a standstill shooter, right?

Yeah—he’s a pest defender who turns pressure into mistakes, and he’s an aggressive spacer who shoots with minimal airspace. He also attacks closeouts to relocate or drive and pass, which creates extra advantages.

Cade is giving 2009 LeBron vibes. Detroit needs a real scoring partner—how should they build it?

His pull‑up shot lifts the ceiling, but the foundation is size, control, and passing, so surround him with shooting and add a steady second handler. Make the floor wide so he’s not forced into tight‑space heroics all game.

He’s more functional than measurables as an athlete—great body control, like pre‑injury Jabari Parker—so boxing him in wastes that edge.

Harden did his job and swung two games; and on Duren, those one‑foot finishes keep popping up—thoughts?

Harden’s pick‑and‑roll creation has been huge, balancing Donovan and getting the ball into the pocket over and over. Warts aside, this is the scariest version of Cleveland in this era because they finally have a real No. 2.

Duren needs more two‑foot power—his best finish came off that base—and it’s rough that the third big is the trusted option right now.

What’s actually going on with Duren this series beyond footwork?

Scheme fit: with Detroit up at the level and Cleveland going double‑big, rim protection matters less than making plays in four‑on‑threes. Paul Reed is simply giving more skill and decisions in the middle of the floor.

That Reed block on Harden was absurd.

In slow‑mo it looked impossible, then he still got it.

Half‑joking, but how big is Duren’s bag fumble right now?

Starting centers land around thirty million per year, so five for about one‑fifty was right there; post a twenty‑and‑ten series and you’re north of two hundred. He might have cost himself fifty to ninety million.

So what’s Detroit’s move—pay him, pivot to Stewart, or explore sign‑and‑trades?

A Rui‑for‑Duren framework exists, but twenty to twenty‑five million feels rich for both—Rui’s heater risks buying high, and Duren’s value is still mostly vertical spacing and screening.

Best non‑star of the playoffs so far?

Max Strus, Tobias Harris, and Isaiah Hartenstein in the East; Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels out West. Off the bench, Landry Shamet has swung games too.

Which team matches up better with the Knicks?

New York is basically a bigger, sharper Cleveland, and Jalen Brunson’s the best player in that mix, so I’d take the Knicks over either. Detroit bullied them in the regular season, but I’d still favor New York.

Thoughts on the new draft‑odds idea that boosts the middle and gives play‑in teams a shot?

Flattening the bottom pushes development over intentional losing, which I like. Giving play‑in teams lottery chances just invites tanking those games—cut it at the playoff line and make everyone compete.

Maybe fewer teams tank next year; Brooklyn could be the exception.

The Nets’ outlook is bleak, but with all the recent picks and likely summer moves, something has to hit eventually.

Quick wrap: after 26 straight nights, we’re taking tomorrow off—no show at night or in the morning. We’re in Chicago after doing a couple segments on The Herd. Seeing the Chicago and Los Angeles production work together was impressive. Sitting across from Colin was a real thrill, the crew was fantastic, and my wife got to be there, which made it even better.

What stood out in Chicago? The food, the skyline, the public art, the parks, and the museums. The Art Institute was a wow moment. We’ve been sneaking in walks between playoff duties, and if you visit, stay near the river and soak up the music and the meals.

What’s next? One more day to explore, then we fly home Friday. We’ll be back live on YouTube after the final buzzer of Spurs versus Wolves, likely the last two-game night of this run. See you then.