The Detroit Pistons are following the Miami Heat model for team building
The Detroit Pistons hope to follow the same path as the Miami Heat.
The Detroit Pistons are finally rebuilding after years of mediocrity and they seem to be emulating the Miami Heat, which is a good thing.
The Heat are known for their “culture” under Pat Riley and have been a consistent winner in his time there, which is the exact type of stability the Detroit Pistons and most other teams would like to have.
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Culture is an overused term in NBA circles but if there is a team that has it, it’s the Miami Heat.
The Heat always seem to have good young players even though they rarely draft in the lottery. They don’t go through decades of losing, and usually make the playoffs.
Detroit hopes to build the same “culture” and looks like they might be looking to Miami for guidance.
Detroit Pistons: How Detroit can mimic Miami’s success
The Elusive Culture
So how exactly have the Heat built this culture that everyone is always raving about?
It starts with stability at coach. The Heat have one of the best in the league in Erik Spoelstra, who has spent most of his adult life as their head coach.
Players respect him and want to play for him. It’s also reassuring to know the same guy is going to be there if you sign as a free agent.
Dwane Casey has been good for the Pistons’ “culture” so far even though they haven’t won much in his tenure. It’s doubtful he’ll have anywhere near the longevity Spoelstra has had, but you could find far worse mentors for Detroit’s young players.
Whether it is Casey or someone else, the Pistons need stability at coach.
Having a forward-thinking owner who recognizes talent and gets out of the way also helps. I won’t get into what I think of Tom Gores as a human, but if he can just stay out of the way and let Ed Stefanski and Troy Weaver build the roster without his input, the Pistons could have the beginnings of a top front office.
Troy Weaver has the beginning of something with this roster, which is starting to look a bit like the Miami Heat.