Detroit Pistons: 3 trends to watch after win over Magic

Detroit Pistons: The Defense is getting better

While the Pistons’ shooting continues to get worse, their defense is actually improving.

They’ve been very good over the last four games, holding their opponents to 102, 109, 96 and 93 points.

This is something to build around, as defense can win games, as it did last night against the Magic.

Lets face it, this started when Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin were removed from the lineup, as both veterans are 5-steps slower than they used to be and weren’t getting it done on the defensive end, particularly Griffin.

With a younger and more athletic lineup, the Pistons have been getting after it defensively, increasing their steals and blocks and raising their overall all defensive rating to 17th in the NBA.

Of the top-17 defensive teams in the NBA, all but five of them (which includes Detroit) would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.

This is not a coincidence, as nearly every team can put up big offensive numbers in the modern NBA, so it often comes down to who can get a stop.

The Detroit Pistons are slowly climbing up the defensive ranks and look to have a long, athletic and switchable squad that could eventually be a top-ten defense in the NBA.

That is how you rebuild.

Scoring comes and goes but defense can be there for you night after night.