How have the Detroit Pistons got off to their best start in a decade?

#3 A good defense just got better

The Pistons added Avery Bradley over the offseason

By no means is Caldwell-Pope a minus defender but Avery Bradley is definitely far better. His impact has certainly shown its impacts not only in the defensive numbers put up by the team but in the locker room's general attitude and hustle.

The team is more active in the passing lanes, jumping from a steals average 7.0 (26th in the league) last year to 8.4 (14th best) this season. As mentioned earlier, the Pistons ranked 11th (105.3) in defensive rating last year allowing 102.5 points on average. This season so far, they are allowing 101.2 points per game, best for ninth in the league with a defensive rating of 102.4. Just small gains right?

But in games that can be decided by just a couple of points, this improvement matters.