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With every NBA season, there are always teams trying to break through to the next level. Some teams succeed with the improvement they set out to achieve, whether through internal development or moves made in the offseason. There have been plenty of teams this season that have performed above their pre-season expectations.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were looking to improve on their playoff position last season and this year things have gone better than anyone could have imagined. Detroit currently has a record of 15-3, which is good for first place in the Eastern Conference. They are led by Cade Cunningham, who is building on his All-Star season last year. Cunningham is posting averages of 27.1 points per game and 9.6 assists per game this season, and his offensive brilliance has been crucial to Detroit’s hot start. Cunningham’s on-ball scoring and playmaking skills have greatly strengthened Detroit’s offense, and his mid-range scoring is especially strong.
This was a breakout season for Pistons center Jalen Duren. Duren has always shown promise in recent seasons, but this season he has really taken his game to another level. This year, Duren is averaging 20.3 points per game and 11.5 points per contest while shooting 67 percent from the field. Duren currently has a career-high usage rate of 23 percent, and his true-shooting rate is also 71 percent. Duren is a fearsome inside scorer whose strength and athleticism have made him a nightmare when it comes to scoring from the paint. Duren has also looked stronger with the ball in his hands, and he has provided Detroit with some extra creation this season.
The shocking thing about Detroit is that they haven’t made any blockbuster moves this offseason, and on paper it doesn’t look like they have the best team in the East. The fact that they have won 15 of the 18 matches is testament to strong coaching and fantastic play from top to bottom.
Toronto Raptors
At last season’s trade deadline, the Toronto Raptors traded for Brandon Ingram in an effort to strengthen their roster and return to the playoffs. Ingram had been in and out of the lineup for New Orleans the last few seasons there, and he also didn’t play a single game last season after the trade. This season, however, Ingram has been a revelation for Toronto and one of the main reasons why they sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 14-5 record.
Toronto has won 13 of their last 14 games, and they are currently on a nine-game winning streak and it has been their entire team that has helped make this happen. Scottie Barnes, and especially RJ Barrett, have played well, with Barnes being a defensive threat and Barrett also being a Swiss army knife offensively.
The shocking thing about Toronto is that they didn’t get off to a good start, winning only two of their first six games. This team seemingly flipped a switch on the defensive end while their offense remained great and now they find themselves in the top of the Eastern Conference.
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