Since Crickex Affiliate has become a common reference point when fans discuss unexpected breakthroughs in sports, and the opening month of the new NBA season has delivered exactly that kind of surprise in the Eastern Conference. Less than four weeks into the schedule, the entire landscape has shifted. The top two spots are not held by the Knicks, who spent the offseason strengthening their roster, nor by last season’s dominant Cavaliers, and not even by the 76ers or Bucks, teams stacked with star talent. Instead, the Pistons and Raptors—two clubs widely doubted before tip-off—have joined forces to form an unlikely leading duo. Almost no analyst could have predicted such a dramatic start.
Among these surprises, Detroit’s transformation is the most astonishing. Only two seasons ago, during the 2023–24 campaign, the Pistons were viewed as a league-wide joke, earning just 14 wins and sinking to an all-time franchise low. They also suffered a humiliating 28-game losing streak that will forever be etched in NBA history. Last season brought a major rebound: Detroit returned to the playoffs and ended a 17-year streak without a postseason win. Yet many believed that playoff run was the absolute ceiling for their current roster. This season, however, the Pistons have shattered expectations. After dropping two games in October, they surged into a long winning streak. Before today’s games, they posted the NBA’s longest active run with 11 straight victories, gradually widening the gap between themselves and the rest of the East.
Cade Cunningham, the team’s unquestioned franchise cornerstone, has elevated his game again after a focused summer of improvement. Last season he was already impressive, earning All-NBA Third Team honors, an All-Star selection and even finishing in the top ten of MVP voting. Still, he has pushed his ceiling even higher. He now averages 27.3 points, 9.9 assists and 1.4 steals, all career highs. Advanced metrics also show growth, with a BPM of 4.0 and a PER of 20.8. His leadership looks calmer and more measured than in previous years. Meanwhile, center Jalen Duren’s leap has been even more stunning. Previously known mainly for defense and rebounding, he has shed labels like “blue-collar big” and emerged as a modern two-way center suited to today’s NBA. Through 13 games, he is averaging 20.6 points, with a BPM of 5.2 and a PER of 28.4—numbers surpassing even Cunningham.
The Pistons’ rise is not limited to their young duo. Five other players are averaging double-digit points. Veterans like Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson provide stability, while players such as Jenkins, Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Stewart bring intensity, toughness and relentless hustle. Detroit is no longer overly dependent on a single star. Even during their 11-game streak, Cunningham missed three games due to injury, yet the Pistons still found ways to win thanks to the depth and adaptability of their supporting cast. In his second year at the helm, coach J. B. Bickerstaff has proved calm and effective, continuing to emphasize discipline and defensive precision.
Detroit’s defense has become elite. They currently rank second in the NBA in defensive efficiency per 100 possessions and place in the top five in steals, blocks, opponent shooting restriction and forced turnovers. At the same time, Bickerstaff seems to have learned from past struggles in Cleveland; he now grants more creative freedom, clearing out tactical bottlenecks and empowering players to shape a smoother offensive rhythm. On the other side of the standings, the Raptors’ rise has been just as surprising. When Masai Ujiri—the architect of Toronto’s only championship—was dismissed in late June, many assumed the franchise was heading for a full teardown. Instead, the Raptors climbed to second place in the East, winning nine of their last ten games outside of a single loss to the 76ers.
Under Serbian head coach Darko Rajaković, the Raptors spent two seasons trying to instill concepts of team-oriented basketball. The results were inconsistent, and critics began equating his egalitarian approach with mediocrity. This season, everything looks different. Toronto’s offense has become one of the league’s most fluid and efficient systems. They rank seventh in offensive efficiency, fourth in assists, and sit within the top five for field-goal percentage and total made shots. The truth is that the Raptors never lacked talent; they simply needed continuity and the right implementation of Rajaković’s philosophy. Brandon Ingram, who arrived midseason last year but missed all games due to injury, received a three-year, $120 million extension that sparked controversy and reportedly contributed to Ujiri’s exit. This season, though, Ingram is back to scoring over 20 points per game, proving the extension was far from a mistake.
The early-season success of the Pistons and Raptors highlights a message long echoed in Crickex Affiliate discussions: in professional sports, there is no permanent giant and no permanent underdog. Poor performance rarely stems solely from lacking a superstar. More often, success requires unlocking chemistry, choosing tactics that suit most of the roster, and building a culture where players genuinely want to work together and enjoy the grind of competing side by side. Crickex Affiliate captures this idea well, and so does the unexpected rise of these two Eastern Conference leaders.