The Pistons' shooting is vastly better since Josh Smith was waived.If you thought the Detroit Pistons' recent run of success was a fluke, maybe it's time to think again after a 105-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. The Pistons have the NBA's best record since the streak started on Dec. 22. Here's a closer look at the Pistons' improbable turnaround:
Pistons running hot
Detroit's six-game win streak is its longest in almost six years.
Pistons NBA Ranks This Season
Before and After Waiving Josh Smith
Pistons better on both ends
The Pistons have been a top-three team both offensively and defensively since waiving Josh Smith. They were one of the league's worst teams overall with Smith.
No Joshing around
Josh Smith's departure has only meant success for Detroit. The team is 6-0 since waiving him, already surpassing its win total with him (5-23 previously).
Quick turnaround
The Pistons had a 5-23 record prior to this winning streak. The first five wins in that stretch were by 10 or more points. The Elias Sports Bureau notes that the only other team in NBA history that was 10 or more games below .500 prior to winning five consecutive games by 10 or more points was the New York Knicks last season. New York was 21-40 before its six straight double-digit wins in March 2014.
Jennings is unlikely hero
Brandon Jennings' game-winning shot with 0.1 seconds remaining broke his bad habit of breaking his team's hearts. He had previously shot 1-for-20 on potential go-ahead field goals with less than five seconds remaining in the 4th quarter or overtime. Despite his poor shooting on Tuesday (5-for-18), he has shot 51 percent from the field over the Pistons' past six wins. That's a big jump from 28 percent shooting in his 11 previous games in December (Dec. 2-21).
Clicking on all cylinders
The Pistons had six players score in double figures against the Spurs. That's the third time in six games they've had at least six players in double figures. That matches the three such instances they had in 28 previous games.