NBA scores 2018: The Pistons are 5-0 since the Blake Griffin trade, and 4 other things from Wednesday

Don’t look now, but the Pistons seemed to have figured things out. That’s sometimes what happens when you trade for a legitimate superstar. Blake Griffin has turned things around in Detroit and the team is 5-0 since he arrived from Los Angeles.

Say what you want about their depth, their schedule, and how his fit alongside Andre Drummond might be a bit redundant with what he had in Los Angeles. The Pistons are winning and they’re dominating. The Stones have an 11.7 net rating over the last five games with Griffin in the lineup — that’s the fifth best in the league over that time.

It’s a small sample, obviously, but it’s working. Griffin’s stats aren’t necessarily pretty — he’s only shooting 40 percent from the field and scoring 20.3 points. But along with that, he’s become the Pistons best playmaker with 6.0 assists and he’s also crashing the boards with 9.3 rebounds per game.

At his best, Griffin is one of the best three or four players in the East. No matter how thin they are behind him, along with Drummond, that’s going to work as long as they’re both healthy. They’re only ninth in the conference right now, but they’ll rise soon enough. Mark my words.

OK, this is just the shot of the year.

That’s a sick shot. He ripped the souls out of Timberwolves fans everywhere and then laughed about it after he was done. The fact he did it after such a spectacular block makes it even more incredible. And then the fact that he basically caught a full-court pass to hit a turnaround jumper with only a second left makes it even more incredible.

I’m on record as one of those folks who don’t believe James is the best player in the league anymore — yup, I’m the NBA’s equivalent of a flat-earth truther. But, man, plays like this make it so hard to believe that. He’s just an amazing basketball player and I’m very glad to be able to witness his greatness. Instant classic.

Jimmy Butler was pissed about it, understandably. But he was even more upset when he was asked about it in a postgame interview. A reporter asked him “Did you think you had an open path there?” and Butler let him have it.

“No,” Butler said sarcastically. “I knew he was gonna block it so I just put it up there for him to throw my shit into the stands.”

Oop. Sorry, Jimmy. I don’t blame him, though. If James flexed on me like that, I’d be salty, too.

The Spurs didn’t have to do this, man. This ain’t right.

That’s one of those where you have to refresh the page just to double check — are they getting this right? Like, someone call up the league. I think the box scores are malfunctioning again.

That’s a straight beat down. The Suns are going through their Timeline, or whatever, but nah, man. That’s 48 points. It’s officially the worst loss of the season — a point ahead of the Washington Wizards who lost by 47 points to the Utah Jazz earlier this season. It’s also the Suns’ third loss by 40 or more points this season. And not only is it the worst of this season, it’s the worst in franchise history.

FOLLOW. THE. TIMELINE. (Is that correct? w/e).

On Wednesday he wore some 2016 Hyperdunks paying homage to the Eagles’ recent triumph in the Super Bowl over the Patriots. Look at these beauties.

FLY EAGLES FLY! Shoutout to my squad.

Pistons 115, Nets 106 [Detroit Bad Boys recap | Nets Daily recap]

Rockets 109, Heat 101 [The Dream Shake recap | Hot Hot Hoops recap]

Jazz 92, Grizzlies 88 [SLC Dunk recap | Grizzly Bear Blues recap]

Cavaliers 140, Timberwolves 138 [Canis Hoopus recap | Fear the Sword recap]

Spurs 129, Suns 81 [Pounding the Rock recap | Bright Side of the Sun]

Pacers vs. Pelicans postponed [The Bird Writes recap | Indy Cornrows recap]