TL;DR
- Detroit Pistons boast an impressive 13-2 record and an eleven-game winning streak.
- Star player Cade Cunningham is averaging a career-best 9.9 assists and 27.3 points.
- Jalen Duren is a strong candidate for Most Improved Player with 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds.
- The team is succeeding despite significant early-season injuries to key players.
Although the Oklahoma City Thunder have the better record, the Detroit Pistons have been on fire to start this season.
Tuesday night's victory against the Atlanta Hawks brings their season record to 13-2 and extends their winning streak to eleven consecutive games.
Just two seasons prior, this Pistons squad established the NBA's record for the longest losing streak at 28 games.
J.B. Bickerstaff, the team's head coach, has assembled an ideal roster surrounding their star player, Cade Cunningham. Cunningham has been performing exceptionally well this season, consistently driving to the mid-range and locating open teammates on nearly every possession. His current averages include a career-best 9.9 assists and 27.3 points per game, demonstrating that having a player of his caliber significantly benefits the team.
The Pistons' success has been significantly boosted by their role players' performances. This season, Jalen Duren appears to be a strong contender for The Most Improved Player award. Now in his fourth year and only 22, Duren is playing with the poise of an NBA veteran.
Duren is scoring an average of 20.6 points and grabbing 11.9 boards each contest, shooting 67.4 percent from the floor, ranking sixth in the league. The center appears significantly more at ease with ball-handling duties and even attempting an uncontested jump shot.
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 most unexpected aspect of this season has been the Pistons' string of early-season injuries. Cunningham was sidelined for three games, Ausar Thompson missed four, Tobias Harris sat out nine, and Jaden Ivey hasn't played a single game yet.
Detroit has seen players such as Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Dobinson, and Javonte Green rise to the occasion to help them manage these injuries.
The squad is completely adopting a "next man up" approach. With The Eastern Conference appearing wide open this season, the Pistons are actively capitalizing on the situation.
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