New Orleans Pelicans Rank Roundtable: Dante Cunningham

Apr 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard

(30) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham (44) in the final seconds of the fourth quarter in a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Warriors 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Do you trust Cunningham defensively on the wing in big moments?

Johnny: If Luke Babbitt and John Salmons are my small forwards then you’re darn skippy I trust him, but after we signed Alonzo Gee and trade for Quincy Pondexter I want Dante to be a last resort. I still think a huge majority of his “skillset” is simply hustling the hardest on the court, and that runs out if you use it too much. I think he’s actually a solid answer to defending most small-ball fours though, and would like to see him utilized there.

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Austin: As a power forward, yes. He can definitely hang with fours on the perimeter and the post in a pinch. If they want to play him down the stretch as a rangy four who can switch out late in the clock and contest a perimeter player, I don’t have all of the confidence in the world but it also isn’t the worst thing that could happen. He is most likely their second or third best perimeter defender, so having him be able to switch and guard both forward positions is quite the tool to have at their disposal.

Nathan: It depends. In the playoffs last year, Cunningham posted a ridiculous 6.6 defensive box plus/minus. He has the ability to play suffocating man to man defense, and his awareness allows him to make heads up plays all over the floor. However, he struggled last season against the super athletic stars. Cunningham struggles athletically playing the wing, and that allows a megastar like Kevin Durant to put up numbers against him. Against a team like Golden State, though, that doesn’t have that dominant wing scorer, Cunningham is the wing that should be trusted, defensively, in big moments.

Rick: In big moments? It really depends on what kind of player he is guarding. Cunningham has always been pretty good on defense against bigger guys, however speedy three’s have given him major issues in the past. Cunningham can handle bigger fours who like the post-up game, yet anyone with the quickness to get to the basket like a Rudy Gay-ish player gives him major fits. As long as the matchup is one Cunningham can handle, he can be huge in late game situations. However, if the player he’s guarding has a major speed advantage, then it’s probably better to sit him.

Brendon: I’ll refer to my first answer again. I think Darren Erman will push everyone to places they’ve not been, and I know others share my hopes that Cunningham be one to benefit. However, knowing that guys like Gee and Pondexter have higher floors and ceilings on the defensive end, I truly hope that Cunningham is pushed harder to earn playing time this year.

Matt: Probably not as much as he has earned but more than I ever expected to. I will always worry when Cunningham has to defend highly athletic wings but for the most part I trust Dante to be in the right spot and make things tough on offensive players.

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