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**EHL** · 01-19-2006, 01:53 AM

I'd like Pistons fans point of view on what they believe have been the primary reasons for success during the last few seasons. My take (to make it concise), is that the Pistons were great defensive teams in 02-03, 03-04, and 04-05, and that that aspect never really changed significantly over the course of their playoff runs. And so, what I attribute to the Pistons' deep playoff runs in 03, 04, and 05 was (eventually) the addition of Sheed's offense in the form of his post jumper and scoring abilities in general, nd now, the addition of Flip to the squad and the natural maturation of everybody offensively. I really feel that it was their increased potency as a scoring squad that brought them their success, even though they have always relied primarily on playing great defense (starting when Rip and Billups came to town).

I know some of this may seem pretty obvious or even a little mundane, but bare with me here and give me your thoughts about the Pistons' success the last few postseasons.

**ChrisWoj** · 01-19-2006, 08:37 AM

Well, basically the success can be attributed to the natural evolution through the style of the coaches employed by the team.

Rick Carlisle - Gave the team the first sense of order. He enforced a strict gameplan and hardly varied from it. He kept the team running like a machine, very methodical in the way they played. Basically his coaching prepped them for what was to come in the replacement...

Larry Brown - He built on the team's sense of being run methodically, added better play calling and actually taught them how to be more efficient on offense. They kept the mechanical play, and the defense, and Larry Brown was the initial teacher of offense which may sound a little strange. But without his teaching and guidance they would not be able to run such a flowing offense as they have now. Their shot selection would not be so superb. Larry taught them all exactly what shots were good ones and what shots were bad ones.

Flip Saunders - Flip has given them offensive freedom and allowed them to freelance a little bit. He's opened things up. You can see the influence of Brown still on the team in the fast break as they know when they have a true advantage. Watch Tayshaun prince run it, if he knows he is overmatched and can't get an easy enough layup he'll pull up and bring it back into the half court set. Flip is letting them basically run Larry's offense in fast forward. He's slowly incorporating many of the plays he ran for years in Minnesota, specifically the pick-n-pop with Rasheed... the difference is that he can run that play all the way out to two feet beyond the 3pt line now with Sheed, unlike in Minnesota where he could only run it out to about 15-18 with KG.

It has been a very natural evolution that has brought them their success... and provided they resign Ben Wallace (almost a given, in my eyes) they're going to really be a strong fundamental team for at least another three years. Their ability to understand and fix issues in their offense is only going to grow, their defensive ability is still fully intact and they've proven they can flip it on and off and usually do so for a quarter or two per game before relaxing.

It's going to be an interesting run at the top, and we the fans are just enjoying it... it has been a long awaited reward for young fans such as myself that only grew into a love for the game in the years AFTER the last championships... so much post-season failure in the intervening time... It is going to be fun.

-Chris.

Copper · 01-19-2006, 03:28 PM

I think you both pretty much summed it up, I believe Joe D has done a fantastic job of bringing this team along. He set the groundwork by brining in solid players that would play defense first and didnt have egos that would cause them to be above the team. He then went out and brought in a succession of coaches to nurture and mold the team with a defense first mentality as a foundation with Carlisle, then on to practical application and learning how to play a mental and steady game with LB, and now that the groundwork has been laid he has moved onto a more offensive minded coach that will allow the players to play a little more up tempo. All the while Joe has kept the core of the team intact so that even though the coaches change the chemistry is there and they will all remember what the previous coach had taught them. It is an incredible evolution and we are seeing what that type of evolution and chemistry can produce. It is rare for a team to maintain its core over a long period of time but the players like what Joe is doing here and they like each other so it isnt hard to sell them when contracts come up.

MLKG · 01-19-2006, 04:48 PM

In addition to what Chris said, one of the most underlooked reasons for their success is the team chemistry. And by chemistry I don't just mean unselfish play.

I've never seen a profesional team where everybody seems to legitimately like each other as much as they do on the Pistons. Nobody has any sort of ego and everybody has complete confidence in each other to make the big shot. That's what makes them so deadly late in games.

**STUCKEY!** · 01-19-2006, 05:10 PM

A little of topic but does any 1 else hate watching Prince take the last shot It makes me nervous watching him release his ugly shot.

**ChrisWoj** · 01-19-2006, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike luvs KG

Nobody has any sort of ego

Well, I don't know about that.. in relation to each other maybe not, but Billups' comment before the last Knicks game that he was the best point guard in the NBA showed that at least one Piston has some ego on him

I like it though, he's incredibly confident and he plays for the team, not himself... he seeks to prove he's the best by playing for the team and continuing to win, which is a very different method from another point guard that once claimed the same.

-Chris.

DetroitDiesel · 01-20-2006, 01:54 PM

Flip said something on the radio today that I thought was a good quote. "Chemistry is just players who are willing to sacrifice of themselves, and we have a lot of those players"

I also think noone in that locker room wants to have to look ben wallace in the eyes after a ****ty effort.

**STUCKEY!** · 01-20-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisWoj

Well, I don't know about that.. in relation to each other maybe not, but Billups' comment before the last Knicks game that he was the best point guard in the NBA showed that at least one Piston has some ego on him

I like it though, he's incredibly confident and he plays for the team, not himself... he seeks to prove he's the best by playing for the team and continuing to win, which is a very different method from another point guard that once claimed the same.

-Chris.

Lmfao Repped

**STUCKEY!** · 01-20-2006, 03:18 PM

no i wont let me rep u cause i need to spread reputation around

Copper · 01-20-2006, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHEED!

no i wont let me rep u cause i need to spread reputation around

I got him for ya Sheed

MLKG · 01-20-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisWoj

Well, I don't know about that.. in relation to each other maybe not, but Billups' comment before the last Knicks game that he was the best point guard in the NBA showed that at least one Piston has some ego on him

I like it though, he's incredibly confident and he plays for the team, not himself... he seeks to prove he's the best by playing for the team and continuing to win, which is a very different method from another point guard that once claimed the same.

-Chris.

Yeah, I meant within the team. Chauncey is accepted by everyone as the leader, but nobody plays like they think they are the best player on the team or anyone else should defer to them.

I remember hearing about the Chauncey thing but I don't remember ever actually reading it or hearing him say it. Does anybody have a link or anything, just out of curiosity.

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