"The Detroit Pistons are the best team in the Eastern Conference and the hottest team in the NBA, which is probably not what anyone outside of the Mitten would have scried before this season began or after simply looking at the Games Played column on the team's Basketball Reference page 17 games into the year. Of the seven Pistons who mattered in"
"Meanwhile, Jaden Ivey is just now getting back to playing spot minutes off the bench following the broken fibula he suffered on New Year's Day last season, joining a guard rotation buffed out by various underachieving alumni of the University of Michigan. The thinking heading into the season was that while Cade Cunningham was going to be incredible, the team might take some time"
"Duren went 13th in the 2022 NBA Draft, which was about right for someone of his combination of physical profile (perfect) and skill level (low). He was basically Dwight Howard with slightly longer arms and significantly less proprioception, and as such spent three years finishing lobs, making straightforward plays around the basket, and getting cooked anytime he had to do anything in open space. By the playoffs last season, you could start to see so"
The Detroit Pistons lead the Eastern Conference at 15-2 and are on a 13-game winning streak with a top-10 offense and top-5 defense. The roster has experienced significant turnover and injuries, including departures and missed time for several key players. Jaden Ivey has only recently returned from a broken fibula and the guard rotation remains thin. Preseason concerns focused on a lack of backcourt depth and outside shooting despite Cade Cunningham's talent. Jalen Duren, a 13th overall pick with elite physical traits but limited early skill, has shown notable internal improvement heading into and during the playoffs.
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