3 stats show how dominant Pistons' defense has been to start season

The Pistons are off to a 5-1 start, with only a loss to the reigning-champion Knicks. Any thought that last season's No. 1 seed was a fluke is on hold, and the defense is the reason why.

Detroit has locked opponents down defensively through six games, holding the 76ers, Hornets and Nets under 100 points and not allowing any opponent to reach 115 points.

It can take teams time to get into an offensive rhythm at the start of the season, but the numbers show that isn't the reason the Pistons have done such a terrific job of limiting opponents.

Here are three stats that show how dominant Detroit has been on the defensive end.

3 stats show Pistons' defensive dominance

NBA-leading defensive rating

No team has a better defensive rating than the Pistons, who enter Tuesday's contest with a mark of 103.2. Only the Grizzlies and 76ers join Detroit in sitting under 105, and the Pistons' defensive rating is considerably better than their mark of 108.9 last season.

While some regression to the mean is inevitable, no other team has been able to match the Pistons in this department.

NBA-best opponent field goal percentage

How do the Pistons have the best defensive rating in the NBA? Well, they are doing a better job of contesting shots than any other team. Teams are shooting just 41.7 percent against the Detroit, a touch better than the Wizards' surprising mark of 41.8 percent. Only five teams other than the Pistons are holding opponents to under 44 percent from the field.

The Pistons' best defensive work has come in the paint, as Detroit leads the league with 6.4 blocks per game.

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NBA-best opponent points per game

It should no surprise with those stats that the Pistons also lead the NBA in opponent points per game, allowing only 101.8. That's a healthy margin ahead of the 76ers, who sit second at 104.9 points per game. More than half of the NBA is allowing north of 110 points per game through the first two weeks of the season, so the Pistons are setting the standard to this point.

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