Although the Oklahoma City Thunder have the better record, the Detroit Pistons have been on fire to start this season.
Their win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night puts them at 13-2 on the season, and also extended their win streak to 11 straight games.
Think back to just two seasons ago, this Pistons team set the NBA record for most consecutive losses with 28.
The team found their head coach in J.B. Bickerstaff, and he has put together the perfect team around their superstar, Cade Cunningham. Cade has been tearing it up this season, getting to his mid-range and finding the open man on almost every play. He is averaging a career high 9.9 assists per game along with 27.3 points per game -- having a threat like him on your team goes a long way.
What has really helped shape the Pistons’ success is their role players stepping up. This season, Jalen Duren looks like he could be a candidate for Most Improved Player. In his fourth season at just 22 years old, Duren looks like an NBA veteran.
Duren is averaging 20.6 points per game with 11.9 rebounds, all on 67.4 percent from the field, good for sixth in the league. The center looks much more comfortable handling the ball and even taking an open jumpshot.
The 22-year-old went from 7 field goal attempts last season to 11.1 this year, with no major changes in his minutes.
The biggest surprise throughout all of this has been the Pistons' early-season injuries. Cunningham missed three games, Ausar Thompson has missed four games, Tobias Harris has missed nine games and Jaden Ivery has yet to play.
Detroit has been able to rely on guys like Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Dobinson, and Javonte Green to step up while they deal with these injuries.
The team is fully embracing the next man up mentality. The Eastern Conference looks wide open this year, and the Pistons are in the midst of taking advantage of it.
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