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ESPN Staff Writer- Video coordinator, college scout, Phoenix Suns
- Assistant director of basketball operations, Phoenix Suns
- MBA from Arizona State University
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ESPN Senior Writer- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
- Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
- Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
Editor's note: This story was written before Brandon Jennings left Saturday night's game with a leg injury.
Climbing from the depths of the lottery, the Detroit Pistons have been one of the NBA's best teams since waiving Josh Smith on Dec. 22, going 12-3. Nobody has played a bigger role in that unexpected surge than point guard Brandon Jennings, who has averaged 20.0 points and 7.2 assists per game since Smith's departure, highlighted by Wednesday night's 24 points and 21 assists (the most in the NBA this season) in a win over the Orlando Magic.
Using numbers and scouting, ESPN Insider's team of Kevin Pelton and Amin Elhassan explain why Jennings has been the biggest beneficiary of the Pistons' in-season makeover.
The numbers perspective: Jennings' hot streak
Looking at Jennings' per-game stats actually understates how well he's played over the last four weeks. Jennings has become the leader of the Detroit offense, using more than 30 percent of the team's plays, while scoring more efficiently than ever before in his career (including a .563 true shooting percentage). Only three players in the NBA have posted a higher TS% with a usage rate of 30 or more: Kevin Durant, James Harden and LeBron James. And after Wednesday's career-best performance, Jennings' assist rate without Smith would rank fifth in the league.