(Best E Casino) - It's never too early to make postseason predictions in the NBA, which is why the surging Detroit Pistons have just been tabbed as the top team in the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons currently don't sport the best mark in the conference, but since when do records automatically make a team great? Just ask the New England Patriots, who went 18-0 before choking in the biggest game of the season -- the Super Bowl. New England's top basketball team, the Boston Celtics, have been peering into the rear view mirror for more than enough time this season with their NBA-best 42-12 record.

Unfortunately for the Celtics the object in the mirror IS actually closer than it appears. And the increasingly-growing surge from Motown will soon be great enough to push the 41-15 Pistons ahead of Boston on the intimidation highway. Detroit is already in the passing lane, having blasted the Phoenix Suns on Sunday in the opener of a four-game trek against Western Conference foes. Point guard Chauncey Billups led the way with 14 points and 11 assists, and is averaging 23 points and 9.6 assists over his last three games. Detroit improved to 9-1 yesterday after Billups posted another double-double. The effort certainly aided the cause in Sunday's 116-86 victory over the Suns.

"This was a big game for us," Billups said. "You know how we are -- we play against other elite teams, we lock in. We lock in big time. I thought everybody played good today -- everybody."

Detroit was locked in tight, especially with a lead reaching 36 points in the blowout at US Airways Center. It also improved to 21-8 this season versus teams above the .500 mark -- a trait the Pistons must keep in the holster as the playoffs approach. Head coach Flip Saunders has it made with the type of veteran leadership and experience on this roster. Saunders has helped out too with his savvy approach on the sidelines and the use of reserve players. Backup guard Jarvis Hayes scored 18 points against the Suns, the sixth time a bench player has registered at least 16 points in 2007-08.

The Pistons, who are 27-7 this season after beating teams by 10 or more points and unbeaten (21-0) when handing out 25 or more assists, have been getting a lot of help from veteran center Antonio McDyess. On Sunday, McDyess recorded his team-high 13th double-double with 12 points and 13 boards. He is averaging more than 10 rebounds per game over his last 13 contests. The Alabama product has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in eight of his last 12 games.

McDyess and Co. will resume a four-game road trip on Monday versus the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Central Division-leading Pistons, who are 19-10 on the road this season, will also visit the Jazz and Clippers. Detroit has won two straight overall and 12 of its last 14 games to make some noise with Atlantic Division-favorite Boston in the Eastern Conference.

In other team news, Pistons guard Richard Hamilton needs just 28 more points for his eighth straight 1,000-point season. Hamilton helped out against Shaquille O'Neal and the Suns with 18 points.