A quarter of the way through the season, the Detroit Pistons find themselves in a familiar spot: alone atop the Central Division and firmly entrenched among the league's contenders. Not surprisingly, they also remain one of the league's top defensive teams, ranking second in points allowed per game and fourth in opposing field-goal percentage.

While defense is still Detroit's calling card the Pistons' offense has been just as remarkable; at least, if you're willing to look beyond the traditional measuring sticks. The Pistons are averaging 100.2 points per game, which ranks 13th in the league. But they're doing so despite ranking dead last in offensive pace (or in layman's terms, possessions per game), which makes the offense one of the most efficient in the entire league.

What's remarkable about the team's performance on both ends of the floor is that they've done it despite numerous absences and reduced playing time for the starting lineup. Tayshaun Prince is the only starter to play in all 20 games, as Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace have all missed at least two games apiece.  And while McDyess has seen his playing time increase following a move to the starting lineup, the other starters are averaging fewer minutes per game across the board, with everyone averaging fewer than 35 minutes per game.

That's by design to keep the veterans fresh for the playoffs, and it's worked because the team is deeper this year. As the first big man off the bench, Jason Maxiell is averaging 8.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 23.3 minutes a game, topping McDyess's production from last year in every category. Jarvis Hayes has been equally important, scoring 8.1 points at a 45.8% clip (40% from beyond the arc) in 19 minutes per game, an improvement in every respect over Carlos Delfino, whom he essentially replaced on the roster.

The Pistons will get even deeper once Rodney Stuckey returns from his broken hand, which may not happen until January. If all goes according to plan, though, that's when he'll supplant Lindsey Hunter and Flip Murray as the first guard off the bench. Murray opened the year in that role but has since been relegated to garbage time. Hunter, on the other hand, was a healthy scratch in the first seven games but has recently become a fixture in the second quarter bringing energy and defense off the bench.

When a team has so much depth, it's easy for some players to get lost in the shuffle. Murray and Hunter have already experienced this, and it's also happened to Amir Johnson, who's appeared in just 13 games. Johnson entered the season a step behind his teammates after missing most of the preseason with a sprained ankle, but he rarely sees significant minutes even now that he's completely recovered.

Even though Johnson's development is crucial to the long-term health of this franchise, it's difficult faulting the coaching staff for his lack of minutes: Johnson is the fifth big behind the likes of two starters, a productive Maxiell and a similarly starved-for-playing-time Nazr Mohammed. Barring an injury or prolonged slump by those ahead of him on the depth chart, Johnson will likely continue to get inconsistent minutes the rest of the way.

But still, if trying to find the ninth or tenth man in the rotation more minutes is seriously the biggest obstacle faced by the team 20 games in, then things must be looking good for them the rest of the way.