"During the first month of the NBA season, it's difficult to separate real trends from ones that won't persist through an 82-game regular season. This time a year ago, the Phoenix Suns were one of the league's hottest starters with an 8-2 record. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks started 2-8, putting them three wins behind the Brooklyn Nets in the East standings."
"A six-game winning streak has propelled Detroit to the top of the East standings. The Pistons can't realistically jump as much as last season, when they improved by 30 wins and won a playoff game for the first time since 2009, but another step forward without veteran guard Malik Beasley would cement Detroit's young core as a long-term power in the East. Verdict: Real, and spectacular Although Cade Cunningham (25.6 PPG, 9.8 APG) and Jalen Duren (a career-high 19.4 PPG, up"
Early-season records can be misleading because short samples contain noise that may not persist across an 82-game schedule. Some hot or cold starts proved to be flukes while others foretold lasting change. More stable indicators such as shot quality are more informative than volatile measures like short-term shot making. Six early trends receive evaluation: Detroit's winning streak and rise in the East, Chicago's fast start, Houston's offense without VanVleet, Dallas's offensive struggles, Ajay Mitchell's second-season surge, and persistently high free-throw attempt rates across the league.
Read at ESPN.com
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