JB Bickerstaff tried something with the Detroit Pistons that hadn’t been attempted for years: He put all of his young players in strict, well-defined roles, and it paid off, as most of them thrived with more focus and attention to detail, something that was lacking under Monty Williams. But for his team to take the next step, coach Bickerstaff may have to loosen his own strict roles.
Just about every young Pistons player benefitted from this concept, as coach Bickerstaff never asked them to do things they couldn’t or shouldn’t be doing, held his players to strict minutes and rotations and put them in the best position to succeed as individuals within the team concept.