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Player Development from the Heat vs Square peg meet round hole Pistons

"Miami’s focus: Player development. Few coaches are better at it than Spoelstra, and few organizations are as committed to it as the Heat. Three years ago, Hassan Whiteside was on the NBA scrap heap. Today, he’s a 16.9-points-per-game scorer and the NBA’s leading rebounder. Tyler Johnson was an undrafted free agent. Two-plus years with Miami and Johnson is a 13.9-points-per-game scorer.

Then there is Dion Waiters, a radioactive two-guard who signed a short-money deal with Miami last summer. Notoriously stubborn, Waiters had a reputation as a chucker. This season he has evolved as a playmaker (4.3 assists per game) and 3-point shooter (career-high 39.4 percent) while being entrusted as a late-game scorer.

The Heat’s philosophy is simple: Earn everything. Starts are not promised. Minutes are not guaranteed. Play poorly, don’t hustle and you will get used to wearing warmups. “With injuries, even with our bad record, guys had to learn quickly that, no, you are not getting your same spot back,” Spoelstra said. “You have to fight for it. The first time that happened with some of our young guys, we got quizzical, almost entitled looks. Then that look changed to, ‘Oh, [expletive], this is real.’ Then it was, ‘OK, I have to fight for this. Let me get to work.’ That is a very powerful thing to go through for a young...

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-erik-spoelstra-and-the-heat-dont-believe-in-tanking-175736326.html

- Reggie didn't earn his starting position back after his injury. That's why they are in the playoffs and we are not. No consistent philosophy of player development. Only paying mediocre players big bucks and giving vets minutes they don't deserve

The accountability structure implemented within the Heat organization is mighty impressive. Injuries plagued them a bit early on as well as chemistry issues, but after looking like a tanking team similar to the Lakers, they came back with a roaring finish and now fighting for playoff hopes.

It's certainly admirable. Much better structure than SVG's just from a short glance. It's different.

I don't think anyone, anywhere will argue that Spoelstra is a better coach than SVG.

SVG probably has one more year before Gores pulls the plug on him. If we have another lottery bound season, he's as good as gone.

IMO the difference between both teams isn't so much player development (they didn't develop Whiteside) but in expectations

They started the season as a "tanking" team so just went to work and played. Eventually they found a line up that worked....then it got hot...now it's this big success story

As opposed to us that had these massive expectations (why not us lol) hit a few roadblocks and stumbled all the way through.

The mentality of our key players is the problem: entitled, spoiled, devoid of passion & drive

Their better players have chips on both shoulders because they're outcasts or because they had to fight, scratch and claw their way to either get to the league or stay in it

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SVG admits that he ruined the season by giving Reggie Jackson his position back without him earning it.

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2017/04/pistons_regret_not_sitting_reg_1.html#incart_river_mobile_index

vic wrote:SVG admits that he ruined the season by giving Reggie Jackson his position back without him earning it.

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2017/04/pistons_regret_not_sitting_reg_1.html#incart_river_mobile_index

"If I had any regret, and I really don't, it would have been that we didn't do this earlier."

Van Gundy doesn't regret not sitting Jackson, but if he were to regret something it would be not sitting Jackson. I really don't know what to do with that information.

ElectricMayhem wrote:

vic wrote:SVG admits that he ruined the season by giving Reggie Jackson his position back without him earning it.

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2017/04/pistons_regret_not_sitting_reg_1.html#incart_river_mobile_index

"If I had any regret, and I really don't, it would have been that we didn't do this earlier."

Van Gundy doesn't regret not sitting Jackson, but if he were to regret something it would be not sitting Jackson. I really don't know what to do with that information.

It's called arrogance and double talk. The more power you have, the more you can use those skills.

SVG is a master of spinning bull!

Said when the "Why Not Us" was mentioned and you see it in EVERY post game interview

And for very good reason:

You can't tell the truth if you're SVG! Or any coach, GM, player etc

SVG can't tell the NBA world that he regrets not sitting RJ earlier or that RJ should have been made to come off the bench upon his return - that's admitting you **** up!

And you cant say anything that could adversely effect Reggie's trade value - that would be galatically stupid!

You gotta see the spin for what it is: a BS answer to give a reporter who has stuck a mic in your face

If you say nothing it's construed as "hiding" the truth! If you tell the truth you hurt your own position. So you say whatever you want or can to turn the narrative a different direction

Politicians are masters of it & SVG ain't bad either

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I don't see what a player coming back from injury has to do with entitlement. Two really different situations.

Laimbeer wrote:I don't see what a player coming back from injury has to do with entitlement. Two really different situations.

Yeah I don't think it's entitlement to give your best player from last year his starting spot back when he returns from an offseason injury/surgery. It's common sense.
Now in hindsight could that have been handled better, bring RJ along slowly, make sure he's at 100%, etc.? Absolutely.

That said, this team certainly did have other issues with effort and consistency. Maybe that's because of entitlement.

ElectricMayhem wrote:

vic wrote:SVG admits that he ruined the season by giving Reggie Jackson his position back without him earning it.

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2017/04/pistons_regret_not_sitting_reg_1.html#incart_river_mobile_index

"If I had any regret, and I really don't, it would have been that we didn't do this earlier."

Van Gundy doesn't regret not sitting Jackson, but if he were to regret something it would be not sitting Jackson. I really don't know what to do with that information.

I think he's saying in hindsight that makes sense now. He's not losing sleep over it though (like "oh if only I had thought to sit Jackson sooner!"), but if he had to pick something to change that'd probably be it.

My interpretation anyways. That, or just a whole lotta nothin.