The Detroit Pistons are off to a red-hot start and are showing that continuity and chemistry matter in the NBA.
The Pistons may not have the most talented roster, and certainly have their weaknesses, especially on offense, where they lack shooting and a consistent secondary scoring option.
But what the Pistons have is an elite defense, which is currently 3rd in the league in defensive rating, 1st in blocks per game and 1st in rim protection.
They also have work ethic and chemistry that is the envy of the league right now.
Detroit Pistons: It’s cliche, but chemistry matters in basketball
Basketball is the ultimate team sport, as even the greatest players of all time need a solid and deep supporting cast to win a title.
I apologize for all of the sport’s cliches here, but the Pistons have chemistry and are greater than the sum of their parts.
They play for each other and are unselfish to a man. Their best player and scoring option is a guy who would much rather set up his center for a lob than take a contested shot, and that unselfishness is contagious.
Everyone on this team will make the extra pass, will dive on the floor and will come with energy and effort every night. That’s not enough of course, it also takes talent to succeed in the best league in the world but having that effort and defense gives them a chance to win every night.
Defense and effort set a high floor for the Pistons and everyone has bought in, from their leader to bench guys like Ron Holland and Javonte Green, who bring the same effort level every single night, even if their shots aren't going in or they aren’t getting many touches on offense.
That type of mentality is exactly what every coach in the NBA is looking for.
I said the Pistons are the envy of 28 teams and that’s because the OKC Thunder exist, and they have many of the same qualities as a team with a lot of continuity and chemistry between young players that have now been together for several seasons.
They are also fresh off a title and look like they might be headed for another one, so there’s that.
This is not to say the Pistons are the best team or anything like that, but they have the type of identity (another cliche, sorry) that all teams want, which is that they play hard and give themselves a chance to win every night even when things aren’t going their way.
The Pistons are going to run into some bumps this season as it progresses, and it won’t always be all roses, which makes that identity and effort even more important.
There are plenty of teams with a whole new cast of players, of constantly shifting rosters, roles and identities, while the Pistons keep chugging along, leaning into their strengths, which are defense, toughness and relentless waves of energy.