‘Miami Heat remind me of the 2004 Pistons’: JJ Redick on why the Heat can beat LeBron James’ Lakers

Samir Mehdi | 29/09/2020
JJ Redick on how Heat can beat Lakers

JJ Redick finds the 2020 Miami Heat quite similar to the the 2004 Detroit Pistons; says the Heat have a chance.

The Miami Heat pride themselves on having perhaps, the best chemistry in the league. Almost any video that surfaces from the Miami Heat locker room shows the players in high spirits, having a great time.

Every single player on the Miami Heat roster plays the game unselfishly, putting all ego aside. The Heat do not have a definitive do-it-all superstar, as they have many solid, All-Star calibre pieces that mesh perfectly together.

Also read; “The test is LeBron James”: Jimmy Butler on what the Heat need to do to beat Lakers in the NBA Finals

So on his Old Man and the Three podcast, JJ Redick drew similarities between this Heat team, and the classic 2004 Detroit Pistons team.

JJ Redick says the Miami Heat are reminiscent of the 2004 Detroit Pistons

When talking about the Heat on his podcast, JJ Redick drew semblance to the Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups led Detroit Pistons.

The main reason as to why this comparision was made was due to the fact that there was no true, definitive superstar on either the ’04 Pistons, nor this Miami Heat. It can be argued that Ben Wallace and Jimmy Butler are superstars, however, they most definitely aren’t Tim Duncan or LeBron James.

Another reason would be due to the defensive minded play style both these teams exude when playing at their highest level.

The Pistons effectively locked down the paint and the Heat with their 3-2 zone limit drives to the basket and make sure to put up good contest from beyond the arc.

The Miami Heat have their own culture

“HeatCulture” has become a staple for the Miami Heat, as the Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra led team hold their players up to a certain standard. Jimmy Butler talked about this with Redick on his podcast earlier this season.

The Heat are now set to face off against the LeBron James led Lakers, just as the Pistons did, when they matched up against the Kobe led Lakers, back in 2004.

Post Edited By: Utkarsh Bhatla
Detroit Pistons Jimmy Butler Miami Heat

About the author

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Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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