{"id":166696,"date":"2025-11-13T18:42:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T23:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=166696"},"modified":"2025-11-13T18:42:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T23:42:25","slug":"pistons-first-place-eastern-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/11\/13\/pistons-first-place-eastern-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Pistons Stars and Depth Lift Them to First Place In the East"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twelve games into the 2025\u201326 NBA season, the Detroit Pistons<\/a> aren\u2019t just winning \u2014 they\u2019re controlling the Eastern Conference. Sitting at 10\u20132 with the longest active winning streak in the league at eight games, the Pistons hold a two-game cushion over the Cleveland Cavaliers for first place. It looks every bit like a team rewriting expectations.<\/p>\n

This start is more than momentum from last season \u2014 it\u2019s a statement. Throughout the summer, questions lingered about whether the Pistons could sustain their growth, replace key departures, and integrate their new additions without losing their identity. Twelve games in, those doubts feel distant. The chemistry is sharper, the roles are defined, and the team is playing with a confidence that reflects both maturity and purpose. So what\u2019s fueling this surge, and how are the Pistons putting the league on notice? Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n

Pistons Stars and Depth Lift Them to First Place In the East<\/h2>\n

Cade Cunningham\u2019s MVP Rise Fuels Pistons\u2019 First-Place Start<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Coming into the season, expectations for Cade Cunningham<\/a> were massive. After earning his first All-Star appearance and a Third-Team All-NBA nod last year<\/a>, the question wasn\u2019t whether he was great \u2014 it was whether he could get even better. Through his first 11 games, Cunningham hasn\u2019t just met those expectations; he\u2019s creating new ones.<\/p>\n

His production has taken a clear leap. Cunningham\u2019s scoring has climbed from 23.1 points to 27.5 per game compared to last season\u2019s first 11 outings. He\u2019s also playmaking at a higher level, jumping from 8.3 to 9.9 assists, while simultaneously cutting his turnovers from 4.7 to 3.6. Though his shooting percentages are slightly down (47% to 43.6% from the field and 35% to 28.8% from three), his overall command of the offense has never been stronger.<\/p>\n

What stands out most is his leadership. Cunningham\u2019s poise in high-pressure moments has become the Pistons\u2019 backbone. When games tighten, he slows the pace, makes the right read, and elevates everyone around him. His 114 fourth-quarter points<\/a> \u2014 the most in the NBA<\/a> \u2014 speak directly to his clutch pedigree and his ability to close.<\/p>\n

Jalen Duren Looks Like a Cornerstone<\/h3>\n

Jalen Duren<\/a> entered the season with something to prove<\/a>. After the Pistons chose not to offer him an extension, he set out to show he\u2019s not just part of the Pistons\u2019 long-term plans \u2014 he\u2019s a cornerstone. Through 11 games, he\u2019s delivering on that mission with force.<\/p>\n

Known for his athleticism and paint dominance, Duren has expanded his game<\/a> on both ends of the court. His scoring has surged from 8.1 points through the first 11 games last season to 19.4 per game this year, while his rebounding has climbed from 9.7 (3.3 offensive) to 12.0 (4.5 offensive). He\u2019s not only finishing plays; he\u2019s creating extra possessions and controlling the interior.<\/p>\n

Defensively, Duren\u2019s growth is just as evident. He\u2019s averaging 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks, showing better positioning, timing, and discipline. This is the breakout Pistons fans hoped for \u2014 a two-way force emerging perfectly as Detroit begins its rise.<\/p>\n

Supporting Cast Steps Up<\/h3>\n

One of the biggest reasons behind the Pistons’ first-place start is the impact of its supporting cast<\/a>. Contenders need their stars to shine, but they also need their role players to punch above their weight. The Pistons are getting that nightly \u2014 and then some.<\/p>\n

Duncan Robinson<\/a> has rediscovered his shooting touch, providing badly-needed spacing after many questioned his fit. Isaiah Stewart<\/a> and Paul Reed<\/a> are forming what might be the strongest center rotation in the league, blending toughness, mobility, and defensive versatility. Ron Holland<\/a> constantly pops up in winning plays, whether it\u2019s a rebound, a deflection, or a timely bucket. And Daniss Jenkins<\/a> has taken full advantage of increased minutes, proving his rise is no fluke.<\/p>\n

Factor in Caris LeVert<\/a>, who\u2019s still settling into his role, and the Pistons suddenly boast one of the deepest, most dynamic supporting casts in the NBA. This group isn\u2019t just filling gaps \u2014 they\u2019re helping set the tone for a team playing with confidence, cohesion, and edge.<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/h3>\n

Twelve games in, the message is clear: this isn\u2019t a fluke \u2014 it\u2019s a foundation. The Pistons are blending star power, player development, and bench depth in a way that mirrors how genuine contenders are built. Cunningham is closing games like a superstar. Duren is emerging as the interior anchor they envisioned. The supporting cast is giving the Pistons their edge, identity, and stability.<\/p>\n

If this is the early version of the 2025\u201326 Pistons, imagine what they look like when fully healthy and fully synced. The league is starting to take notice \u2014 and the Pistons are giving them every reason to.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Twelve games into the 2025\u201326 NBA season, the Detroit Pistons aren\u2019t just winning \u2014 they\u2019re controlling the Eastern Conference. Sitting at 10\u20132 with the longest active winning streak in the league at eight games, the Pistons hold a two-game cushion over the Cleveland Cavaliers for first place. It looks every bit like a team rewriting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5168,"featured_media":166722,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,10,62],"tags":[3965,4432],"class_list":["post-166696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-pistons","category-nba","tag-cade-cunningham","tag-jalen-duren"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166696"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166696\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":166723,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166696\/revisions\/166723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}