In the 2015-17 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.