Hunter Patterson

Cunningham had 39 points on 13-of-27 shooting in Game 5, making six 3s and adding nine assists and seven rebounds. It wasn't enough.

The Cavaliers had a chance to put the Pistons away at home, where the Cavs were 6-0 this season. Instead, they never seemed in the game.

Jalen Duren, who has struggled throughout most of the postseason, had his best game of the Eastern semis when the Pistons needed it most.

The Cavs, with huge performances from Mitchell, Jarett Allen and Sam Merrill, outworked an overmatched Pistons team.

It was a bumpier path to the East finals than anticipated for both teams, but the Knicks and the Cavs are exactly where they expected to be.

"We fell short," says Pistons star Cade Cunningham. "We were right there, but we fell short."

DETROIT - The Cleveland Cavaliers mostly shrugged their way through a regular season, outside of the trade deadline, and in non-Game 7s so far in the playoffs, they're just 6-6.

Jalen Duren Unlikely To Command Max Contract Pistons Still View Him As Core Player - RealGM Wiretap

"We won't look at us as a No. 1 seed, we'll look at it as how do we get better?" says the Pistons GM after their second round playoff exit.

The Pistons are entering a pivotal offseason with major decisions to make. Jalen Duren will enter restricted free agency, Ausar Thompson is extension eligible and Detroit has the No. 21 pick in the upcoming draft. How should the front office approach the summer after coming up short in Game 7 of the second round? The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson is here to answer your questions about all things Pistons-related.