Cade Cunningham's Pistons Surge; Thunder Roar, Clippers Flop

Merlin sees December as the truth-teller: Bleacher Report reworked preseason win projections after a month of "getting harder to dismiss teams' performances as small-sample blips." The big headlines — Detroit surging behind Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma City frighteningly dominant, and the Clippers and Mavericks falling short — matter because early trends are sticking and will shape trade talks, rotations and playoff math. Merlin notes patterns the eye can miss: injuries and style changes (Miami’s pace, Houston’s offensive rebounding) have flipped expectations, while health and depth separate contenders from pretenders. Expect more in-season tweaks; some teams will double down on trades, others will ride continuity and hope the hot starts hold.