At the start of the season, the Western Conference was much deeper than the Eastern Conference, with as many as 11 teams boasting records above .500 through November and early December.
However, as the year has progressed, the balance of power has begun to shift. Heading into Thursday’s action, the Eastern Conference boasts more squads with winning records than its Western counterpart — nine to eight.
Next, we’ll highlight three Eastern Conference teams that are propelling the conference’s rise and are primed for a strong surge in the second half of the season.
Detroit Pistons
Heading into Thursday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors, the Pistons stand at 19-18 — their best record at this point in the season in years. A major catalyst for their recent surge has been the return of Ausar Thompson, who missed eight months due to a blood clot. Since his comeback, the Pistons have gone 9-3 with him back in the lineup.
Behind Thompson, Detroit plays arguably the league’s most physical brand of basketball. The Pistons consistently disrupt pick-and-rolls with aggressive two-man coverage, throwing opposing point guard-center duos into disarray. The entire roster is relentless, from Cade Cunningham to Jalen Duren, making their presence felt on every possession. They thrive on getting under their opponents’ skin — pressuring, rushing, and unsettling them.
On offense, Cunningham is the unquestioned leader, a player on the cusp of superstardom. His all-around numbers rank among the best in the league — 24.0 PPG, 9.3 APG, and 6.6 RPG, all while shooting 37.2% from beyond the arc. What truly sets him apart this season, however, is his improved command of the game. Gone are the moments of feeling rushed or flustered; Cunningham now dictates the tempo with calm confidence, operating at his own pace and consistently creating quality looks for his team.
Before suffering a devastating leg injury, Jaden Ivey was emerging as the perfect Robin to Cunningham’s Batman. With his explosive burst to the rim, crafty floater game, and 40.9% accuracy from deep, Ivey brought an edge to the Pistons’ offense. Meanwhile, deep threats Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. have provided vital floor spacing, and Tobias Harris has contributed steady, versatile inside-out production.
With their bruising physicality on defense and newfound composure on offense, the Pistons are primed to crash the postseason party this year.
Orlando Magic
This one’s a no-brainer. Despite being decimated by injuries, the Magic have stayed afloat, even without their top two stars — Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner — both sidelined with torn obliques. Their success has been driven by the league’s second-ranked defense (106.3 DEFRTG).
Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black form a relentless two-headed defensive monster at the point of attack, each taking pride in locking down opposing point guards. Meanwhile, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, rookie Tristan da Silva and Gary Harris (currently nursing a hamstring injury) wreak havoc on the perimeter, making life miserable for opposing wings. At the center position, Wendell Carter Jr. provides steady rim protection, while Jonathan Isaac remains one of the NBA’s most underrated defenders.
Offensively, the Magic have survived through hero performances from their role players in Banchero and Wagner’s absence. Anthony, Suggs and da Silva have each taken turns carrying the scoring load, delivering big moments over the last month.
Once fully healthy, this Magic squad will be poised to challenge the New York Knicks for the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
Indiana Pacers
After an unexpected run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Pacers stumbled out of the gate this year, carrying a sub-.500 record into December. Much of their struggles stemmed from superstar Tyrese Haliburton, who looked uncharacteristically slow and shaky on offense.
However, as Haliburton goes, so do the Pacers. Over the last 15 games, he has returned to All-Star form, averaging 19.5 PPG and 9.6 APG with only 1.5 turnovers per game while shooting 40.7% from deep. As a result, Indiana has surged, posting an impressive 11-4 record during that stretch.
Defensively, the Pacers may lack the personnel to break into the league’s top 10. Still, with Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin providing energy on the perimeter and Myles Turner anchoring the paint, they have just enough point prevention to cause problems for opponents.
On the fun side of the ball, it’s a different story. With Haliburton rounding back into All-Star form, Siakam attacking the rim, and contributions from Turner, Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard, the Pacers have an offense capable of pouring in points.
Now sitting at 20-18, Indiana is trending upward and looks poised to continue climbing the standings. Don’t be surprised if they leap past the Milwaukee Bucks and break into the top five in the Eastern Conference as the season progresses.
