The Miami Heat's strong start to the season has been noted across the league, but they now have a perfect opportunity to send an even stronger message to the Eastern Conference's elite: the Detroit Pistons. Beat the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night, and it will be impossible to ignore the Heat as a potential dark horse threat.
In addition to the Heat being better than expected through the first month of the season, the Pistons have also been one of the bigger surprises in the Eastern Conference this year. They sit atop the conference standings at 15-3, and seem to be one of the more complete teams in the East.