2 Underrated areas of improvement from Isaiah Stewart won't show up in the numbers

It’s difficult to quantify how important Isaiah Stewart is to the Detroit Pistons. 

If you just look at the stats, you might walk away unimpressed and with a skewed idea of everything he does for this team. 

He’s getting 5.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in just under 20 minutes, but if you watch the games, you know he means a lot more than those stats. Stewart hasn't been a part of the recent 3-point onslaught but he's been a crucial part of the win streak.

Stewart changes the game with his defense, particularly his rim protection, something he is finally getting some recognition for league-wide. He reminds me a bit of Ben Wallace in this regard, as Stew goes after and affects just about every shot at the rim and uses his wingspan to get to shots that look out of reach. He's also just strong at the rim and guys who try to go through him usually end up going back the other direction.

Pistons fans know all this already, as we’ve been watching him do it every game, but there are a few other areas of improvement that stand out to me that won’t show up in the stats. 

Isaiah Stewart has improved hands 

I used to joke that Stewart had hands like beaver tails, as he seemed to fumble everything around the rim. 

It’s been different this season, as Stewart is handling those little dump off passes so much better, cutting his turnovers to just one per game, lowest of his career. As the Pistons' best screener, it's helped him improve in the pick and roll.

It’s leading to more dunks and finishes around the rim, and you will see a perfect example of it here (starting at 2:18), as this was a pass that Stewart fumbled more times than not early in his career. 

He was always good at securing rebounds, but his hands have improved immensely on the offensive end, where he is catching more passes in traffic without his signature fumbles. 

The Beef Stew hook and floater 

We came into the season thinking Stewart might develop into a stretch five after he had a good season shooting the ball from long range last year. 

But that hasn’t been the case at all, as Stewart has barely shot 3-pointers and isn’t really even looking for them. 

Instead, he’s developing a nice little post game with a baby hook that he makes more times than not. It’s not a play the Pistons use much and usually comes out of circumstantial need, but Stewart is reliable around the rim. 

He’s also added a floater to his bag, pulling up from inside the free-throw line and showing great touch. He’s hitting 59.3 percent of his 2-point shots on the season with these new weapons. 

Isaiah Stewart is the glue that holds this team together, and when he’s in the game, you know it. His defense will get him some attention for postseason awards, but he has also added nuance to his game that has been a big part of this team’s success.