While many are quick to point out the similarities between these teams, from half court offenses to hat hanging defense, it is my belief that these teams ultimately lie at the opposite ends of the spectrum, and similarities are either chance or selective convergence on a universal winning formula.
To elucidate my thoughts I hope to use the similarities between the teams to show the stark differences. Both of these teams have been known to take part of the season off. With the Spurs the underlying motive for this is surely a wily ploy to have supreme energy for a playoff push, necessary for an aging team. The Pistons, on the other hand, could never be considered so cynical as to do such a thing. When they are not playing up to snuff, and losing to inferior teams, it is due to a lack of interest in the situation. They play when they want to because they love basketball, sometimes the love isn’t there and you can see it in their play. For the Piston’s this is just s likely to be Game 3 of the Conference semis as it is to be the 10th game of the season. For the Spurs loving the game is secondary to winning.
The next defining opposition between this two teams is the birthplace of their styles. Driven by the players far more than the coaches the Spurs play a supremely Occidental style, infecting blankets with small pox to conquer formidable opponents on their own terms, rather than engaging in a test of styles. Detroit, on the other hand, plays an American brand of ball, pure emotion and wasted potential abound. It is no surprise that even with a deficit between what is and what could be with the Pistons they still made it to the conference finals 6 straight years.
The difference between the marquee players of each team brings it all back home: Duncan is the ultimate win first enjoy later player. It is hard to watch him play without thinking that he would rather be swimming. Rasheed on the other hand loves the game, and his latest interview, the one about flopping and maybe being done playing, is Zidane’s head butt made verbal. Flopping is the ultimate betrayal of sport for victory, just as are the Spurs.
Finally the future of these two teams, long term, makes a compelling case for my argument: The Piston’s are reloading with guys who are fun to watch, dynamic and successful, but mostly guys who love the game. As for the Spurs, I can’t really speak to their future, but the fact that it is taking place across an ocean is certainly indicative of something.
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