Eight days into the NBA season, 25 teams have lost at least one game, leaving just five clubs unscathed. In the Eastern Conference, the Raptors (4-0), Bucks (3-0), and Pistons (3-0) remain undefeated, while, the Nuggets (4-0) and Pelicans (3-0) have yet to lose in the West.
All five of those teams were expected to be, at the very least, playoff contenders in 2018/19, but they’ve still exceeded expectations to some extent in the early part of the season.
The Raptors, Bucks, and Pistons all entered the season with new head coaches in place, but there has been no learning curve for those coaches so far. Kawhi Leonard and Blake Griffin have played like their old selves after battling injuries last season, helping Toronto and Detroit get off to fast starts, while Mike Budenholzer‘s offense in Milwaukee has the Bucks looking like a new team.
In the West, we knew that the Nuggets would be terrific on offense, but they’ve been better than advertised on the defensive end of the court, and that has played a big part in their hot start. As for the Pelicans, they still look like the team that made quick work of Portland in the first round of the playoffs last season, having not skipped a beat after losing Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins in free agency.
Here are the upcoming schedules for the NBA’s five remaining undefeated teams:
- Toronto Raptors: vs. Min (10/24), vs. Dal (10/26), at Mil (10/29), vs. Phi (10/30), at Phx (11/2)
- Milwaukee Bucks: vs. Phi (10/24), at Min (10/26), vs. Orl (10/27), vs. Tor (10/29), at Bos (11/1)
- Detroit Pistons: vs. Cle (10/25), vs. Bos (10/27), at Bos (10/30), at Bkn (10/31), at Phi (11/3)
- Denver Nuggets: at LAL (10/25), vs. NOP (10/29), at Chi (10/31), at Cle (11/1), vs. Uta (11/3)
- New Orleans Pelicans: vs. Bkn (10/26), vs. Uta (10/27), at Den (10/29), at GSW (10/31), at Por (11/1)
All five clubs have tough matchups on tap, including some with each other — next Monday night should be especially interesting, as the Bucks host the Raptors while the Pelicans visit the Nuggets.
Based on what you’ve seen so far, as well as each team’s upcoming schedules, we want to know which team you believe will be the NBA’s last undefeated squad. Will it be the Raptors, Bucks, Pistons, Nuggets, or Pelicans that stays out of the loss column for the longest?
After placing your vote, head to the comment section below to weigh in on how long you expect each of these teams to keep winning and whether their hot starts have changed your views on them at all.
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Detroit or Denver falls first. Pistons get Boston 2x and the Nuggets get the Lakers and Pelicans.
Bucks for sure
Raptors.
Raptors are a good bet, due to the schedule, but IMO there’s an ECF preview in DET-BOS… and they do it back-to-back! If either team can sweep that, it would be an interesting foretelling for this early in the year.
I love what Coach Casey does in the regular season, but he’s not great in the playoffs. And that’s a pretty thin Detroit team.
I could see the Celtics getting to the ECF, but I think they’ll be in tough against either the Raptors or Milwaukee.
I would like to be able to research this better, but Casey’s Toronto teams did not seem to have injury problems like other teams had. DeMarreCarroll had problems, Valens has big-man feet, but nothing major.
That would explain why TOR could get stymied in the playoffs– they were never that talented, but beat up on teams resting players in less meaningful games. The coach has his effect.
If Detroit can now do that too, they will build momentum & believe it’s their year! They are equipped to do more damage & engage without awe. The EC is open & subject to a good charge. They’re not waiting on Stanley J anymore.
Do you really know what your taking about ?
Yes, but I would like to know where to find (free) useful data on games lost to injury.
I think the Pistons are worth betting on because they are one of about 4 teams equally capable of winning the EC, and being Cinderellas, the payoff would be high.
Pelicans. People are still sleeping on that team
Detroit in the ECF??? Wow.
I think Pelicans gotta lose a game really soon; Mirotic had his hot streak, and the cold one is coming.
Which team stays winless the longest will also be interesting. I think it will be in the order of Lakers, Cavs, Thunder, and then Bulls with Bulls getting a win last.
That should be the next poll for sure!
I chose the Raptors, because they’re such a good home team (with a home-heavy schedule), and in those 5 games there’s really only one team that should give them trouble – @ MIL (I have the Bucks as the 2nd best team in the East).
So the longest unbeaten streak could really just come down to whichever of TOR or MIL wins on Monday.
But after saying that, watch the Raptors go out and lose to Minny tonight.
I do think “the dude” is right – lots of people are sleeping on the Pelicans. They just have a really tough schedule over the next 5 games.
DETROIT BASKETBALL!
I think the Pels l oh so to GS on the 31st. So, they’ll be the last ones. Toronto will lose to either Philly or Milwaukee before then. And, Milwaukee will lose to either Philly or Toronto before then.