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Miami Heat: Finding their historical precedent in the Detroit Pistons

By Corey Rausch

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat and Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat react after their win over Boston Celtics during overtime in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 15, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat and Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat react after their win over Boston Celtics during overtime in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 15, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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NBA, Detroit Pistons
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Parts of the play-style/culture

Looking based just off of statistics the Detroit Pistons that season finished second in defensive rating in their championship season and the Heat finished 12th in the regular season. In the postseason the Heat have improved their defensive rating from 109.3 to 107.4, which would have ranked sixth in the regular season. The teams actually have equal rebounding percentages.

These teams are built on being defensively adaptable and being able to take advantage of teams on the glass. While the Miami Heat have the edge of the 3-point shooting, some of that may have changed given the change in the era. Detroit was middle of the pack in the league that season and shot 34.4 percent on 15.2 attempts per game. That is nearly 13 fewer attempts per game than the last-place team in the league this year (Indiana Pacers) and is essentially tied with the 25th place duo of the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic (34.3 percent).

That being said, Chauncey Billups shot 38.8 percent that season and Rip Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace had times in their career where they were elite at this. If they were coached to play the way the Heat are in this type of game the results may be similar. It is already common to see Tyler Herro run around countless screens the way that Hamilton would, relentlessly looking for open looks efficiently.

Related Story. 50 greatest players in NBA history without a championship. light

Both teams also made a move during the season to bolster the strength of their already strong culture and play-style. As mentioned previously the Detroit Pistons sent out Lindsey Hunter, Chucky Atkins, Bob Sura, Zeljko Rebraca and two future first-round picks for Mike James and Rasheed Wallace. Wallace was a perfect fit for the Pistons and spurred them to the title that season.

Similarly, Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill were sent to Miami in exchange for Justice Winslow, James Johnson and Dion Waiters. While this has quickly turned into the Jae Crowder trade more than anything the trade, much like the Wallace trade, has helped everything fall into place for the team as a contender.

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