So, I got thinking about Jack McCloskey the other day. Just popped into my head. You know, the guy who put together those Detroit Pistons teams back in the day, the “Bad Boys” ones.
It wasn’t like I was doing some deep research project or anything. I think I saw an old highlight clip somewhere, maybe scrolling online, and it just clicked. McCloskey. Yeah, Trader Jack. That guy.
I started remembering how he operated. It wasn’t about getting the biggest names necessarily, not like today where everyone wants three superstars and calls it a day. He seemed to look for specific types of guys. Tough guys. Guys who fit a certain mold, a certain mentality. It felt more like building a real machine, where every part had a specific job.
Putting the Pieces Together
Think about who he brought in over time:
- Isiah Thomas: The engine, the leader. Already there, but he built around him.
- Joe Dumars: The smooth operator, the quiet professional.
- Bill Laimbeer: The agitator, the guy everyone hated but you needed.
- Dennis Rodman: Pure energy and defense, before he got really weird.
- Rick Mahorn: Just pure muscle and toughness.
- Vinnie Johnson: Instant offense off the bench, the Microwave!
It wasn’t just throwing talent at the wall. It was like he knew exactly what kind of nasty, hard-nosed team he wanted and went out and got the parts, even if they weren’t always the obvious picks. He made trades, he drafted smart. Lots of moves, constantly tinkering.
I remember watching them play. They weren’t always pretty. Sometimes it was downright ugly basketball. But man, they were effective. They knew their roles, played defense like crazy, and just wore teams down. Two championships, back-to-back. You can’t argue with that.
Been trying to apply that thinking just in general, like looking at groups or projects I’m involved in. Not the fighting part, obviously. But the idea of figuring out what specific types of skills or personalities you really need, not just the flashy stuff. Finding the guys who do the dirty work, the glue guys. It’s harder than it looks. Everyone wants to be the star.
McCloskey, he wasn’t afraid to get guys others maybe looked down on. He saw how they fit his puzzle. That’s the thing I keep coming back to. He had a vision and stuck to it, built it piece by piece. Took time. Took guts. You don’t see that much anymore, feels like.
