For the first time in 36 seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers are atop the NBA at the 25-game mark. They’re 21-4, even after having come back to earth a bit following a 15-0 start.

There was a conversation Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell had during training camp, the topic being all the teams that were generating the most preseason buzz in the Eastern Conference. Boston was coming off an NBA championship.

The Cavaliers are just one of the surprise stories that have emerged as the season nears the one-third-done mark. Orlando is off to its best start in 16 years at 17-9. And Houston is 16-8, behind only the Cavaliers,

There was a conversation Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell had during training camp, the topic being all the teams that were generating the most preseason buzz in the Eastern Conference.