Detroit Pistons: 5 takeaways from the 2017-18 NBA season

5. The Blake Griffin project has some potential in Detroit

Okay, so this is actually some good news. The stats might seem to tell a different story at first, however. Although Griffin’s points, rebounds and shooting percentages all took a slight hit after a blockbuster trade that sent him to Detroit at the trade deadline, his already career-high 5.4 assists per game rose to another career-best 6.2 dimes per game.

One thing that sets Griffin apart from other superstars (aside from his high-flying acrobatic dunking) is his ability to pass the ball as a power forward. A big man can do a lot of damage by drawing defenders and being a crafty distributor without taking the ball up the court like a traditional point guard, especially in today’s pace-and-space league.

This is great news for Griffin, because it means he can be a headache for opponents while coexisting with a traditional point guard. If he is going to be convinced that Detroit is the city where he will solidify his legacy, he is at least presenting an eclectic skill set to get the job done.