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Bill Simmons pitches new Adam Silver Trophy end of season award for the Pistons
TL;DR
Bill Simmons proposed a new Adam Silver Trophy for the Detroit Pistons to recognize their effort and resilience during the season, especially in light of Cade Cunningham's injury. The trophy would honor teams that demonstrate commitment and care throughout the season.
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The Detroit Pistons concluded the final stretch of the regular season going 8-2, with Cade Cunningham playing only the final three games during that run. Cunningham, who suffered from a collapsed lung on March 17 against the Washington Wizards, missed 11 games due to the problem and ended up being ineligible for end-of-the-season awards.
However, his teamâs resilience despite his absence has led to Bill Simmons pitching a brand new Adam Silver Trophy as part of the end-of-season awards during a recent episode of his podcast.
âI wonder if at the end of the year a team should get a trophy, like the Adam Silver Trophy, for just like, Iâm just proud of you guys that you gave a sât for every week. Thank you. Thank you for being a role model of how the league should work. You guys really cared the entire time,â Simmons said in response to Zach Lowe, who had an interesting proposal of his own.
According to him, the No. 1 seed should get a chance to pick their own opponents instead of playing the winner of the play-in tournament. Lowe claimed that in an NBA landscape where teams have gotten into the habit of resting their best players for a variety of reasons, the No. 1 seed should get a bigger reward simply because they fielded their best stars even for games they did not have any incentive to win.
That is precisely what the Pistons did in Cunninghamâs absence, fielding their best players despite several other teams choosing to rest their stars. The Pistons lodged a historic 60-win season, their second in franchise history, after a 44-38 campaign last year.
The current playoff structure leaves Detroit awaiting the outcome of the Play-In Tournament to determine its first-round opponent, with teams such as the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers among possible matchups. Under existing rules, the No. 1 seedâs primary advantage remains home-court, with no additional structural benefit tied to finishing first over an 82-game schedule.
Simmons wants that to change, with his proposal effectively giving teams towards the top of the conference some incentive to continue fielding their best team.
Related: Why Pistonsâ Jalen Duren is Chandler Parsonsâ pick for MIP
Related: Pistons donât get much respect in The Athleticâs 146-player poll
Q&A
What is the Adam Silver Trophy proposed by Bill Simmons for the Pistons?
The Adam Silver Trophy is a proposed award to recognize teams like the Pistons that show dedication and effort throughout the season, particularly when facing challenges.
Why was Cade Cunningham ineligible for end-of-season awards?
Cade Cunningham was ineligible for end-of-season awards because he missed 11 games due to a collapsed lung, only returning for the final three games of the season.
What did Zach Lowe suggest regarding the No. 1 seed in the NBA?
Zach Lowe suggested that the No. 1 seed should have the opportunity to choose their own playoff opponents instead of facing the winner of the play-in tournament, rewarding teams that consistently field their best players.