Detroit Pistons are a top three-point shooting team

The Detroit Pistons have been good this season, in part because of the team’s ability to improve on some key weaknesses over the offseason. One of the weaknesses Detroit was able to convert into an area of strength is the team’s three-point shooting which ranks among the top teams in the NBA.

The Detroit Pistons turnaround at the three-point line from last season to this one has been remarkable.

The Pistons were horribly bad from beyond the arc in 2016-17.

Don’t believe me?

The team ranked 28th out of 30 teams in 2016-17, shooting only 33%.

Now, the Pistons are one of the elite three-point shooting teams in the NBA, shooting 38.4%, which is third overall behind the Indiana Pacers (40%) and the Golden State Warriors (39.5%).

In fact, the Pistons have three players shooting above 40% from behind the line in Tobias Harris (6.1 attempts per game), Avery Bradley, (4.8 attempts per game), and Langston Galloway (3.2 attempts per game).

Four other Pistons are shooting at or above 35.5% from three in Reggie Jackson (37.7%), Anthony Tolliver (35.5%), Henry Ellenson (38.9%), and Luke Kennard (37.9%).

There’s been a few reasons for the uptick in efficiency from behind the line for the Pistons.

The team has had some internal improvement from returning players such as Reggie Jackson, Tobias Harris, Stanley Johnson, and Henry Ellenson.

It also has added better three-point shooting in the form of Anthony Tolliver, Luke Kennard, Langston Galloway, and Avery Bradley.

Lastly, there have been less three-point shots taken by bad three-point shooters, such as Jon Leuer for example, who has only taken three three-pointers on the season.

Next: ShamGM Mailbag: Thanksgiving Edition

The Pistons have a few sizable strengths on its roster. Its depth is certainly one of its strengths, and its three-point shooting is another, both of which could lead to a top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the Pistons.