It was just two years ago when the only thing that was holding the Detroit Pistons back was a sub-par second unit. That shouldn’t be an issue this season, based on what we’ve seen from the team so far.
In the 2015-16 season, the Detroit Pistons lacked depth. Not one player averaged double digits, and the team’s best option behind Reggie Jackson was post-injury Brandon Jennings and Steve Blake who at times struggled to even get the ball up the court.
The bench was probably the biggest reason the Pistons were an eight seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs instead of a five or six seed that season.
Fast forward two seasons and the Pistons’ depth actually looks like the strength of the team.
Check out the numbers Detroit’s bench has been putting up:
Henry Ellenson: 13 points, four rebounds
Luke Kennard: 11 points, two assists, two steals
Ish Smith: eight points, 4.5 assists, 1 steal
Langston Galloway: 10.5 points, three rebounds, 1.5 steals
Now the Pistons have only played two games, which is obviously two small of a sample size to make any long-term determinations about whether this is sustainable.
What’s more, two of the above players, Kennard and Ellenson, have only played one game.
Still, the talent on the Pistons’ bench is evident, as the second unit appears to have more shooting and play-making ability than any other Pistons team under Stan Van Gundy.
Next: Could this be the year the Pistons defense takes a leap?
With a starting unit that lacks a top-10 NBA player, the Pistons’ bench could be the key to returning to the playoffs, and possibly even winning a series.