The slow buildup of the Detroit Pistons as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference has been a joy to witness. It wasn’t too long ago that the same core group of players set the unfortunate NBA record for the most consecutive losses in history. However, in short order, they are turning the team into a juggernaut.
With former first overall pick Cade Cunningham leading the charge, Detroit has quickly built a deeply talented roster that is ready to become a major player in the Eastern Conference. And, after another victory to keep them at the top of the conference, the NBA made a special announcement for them.
Detroit Pistons Bringing Ball Back to Motor City
The Pistons’ steady growth began last season, when they earned a playoff berth and pushed the New York Knicks to the limit in a six-game first-round series. This year, though, they’ve taken another major jump forward.
Starting the season 13-2, they are firmly in the driver’s seat in the East, while being just one game behind the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the success this year has also been iconic for the franchise as a whole.
As the official account of the NBA confirmed on X, their victory over the Indiana Pacers, which was their 10th consecutive victory, a number that has now improved to 11 after beating the Atlanta Hawks, was the first 10-game win streak in a regular season for the team since the 2007-08 season.
They are led by Cunningham, the lone superstar on the team, with averages of 27.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 9.9 assists. However, the biggest surprise in the lineup has been the growth of Jalen Duren.
Emerging as a true number two, he’s upped his game to averages of 20.3 points and 12.3 rebounds, with ridiculous efficiency of 67.4% from the field and 78.6% from the charity stripe.
Despite a slow start to the season from Tobias Harris, the rest of the squad has done enough to make up for him. For a conference that looks as wide open as it has in recent years, especially with injuries derailing Indiana and the Boston Celtics, the door is wide open for the Pistons to take a swing.
The start of the season has put the rest of the league on notice. But it will be interesting to see just how far the team could go over the coming months, particularly in the playoffs.
