The NBA's Eastern Conference is as unpredictable as any point in recent history.
Superstar injuries during last season's playoffs depleted two East powers. The upstart Detroit Pistons sit atop the standings at the quarter mark. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers, a preseason conference favorite that returned most of last season's 64-win team, are eighth. The Milwaukee Bucks, who made a free agency splash, are battling to stay in the play-in race as they await the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With so much basketball to be played, it's too early to predict the contenders that will match up for conference supremacy in the spring.