ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe has a weekly feature called “Ten Things I Like and Don’t Like.” This week’s edition featured two items with readily apparent Detroit Pistons connections. The highlight was a brief breakdown of the streaking Miami Heat, winners of 13 straight after Friday’s victory over the Brooklyn Nets. The Heat started 11-30 and now is challenging for a playoff spot. The Pistons were victim No. 7. Lowe also noted the improvement of Sacramento Kings big man Willie Cauley-Stein, which started during the Kings’ five-point victory at the Palace on Jan. 23. Cauley-Stein has been a disappointment until this recent stretch of games. It shows how quickly things can change in this league. Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy was quick to point to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, a guy who coached under him. He cited the rarity of leading a team to four straight NBA Finals, the way Spoelstra piloted the Heat in 2011-14. “There’s not a better coach in the league than Erik,” Van Gundy said Friday. “People discounted him because he had (LeBron James), (Dwyane) Wade and (Chris) Bosh. Gregg Popovich is one of the best ever. Phil Jackson best ever. Nobody goes to four straight Finals. Nobody. He did. OK?” Van Gundy called the Heat this season’s best coaching job. - See more at: http://www.freep.com/story/sports/n...t-pistons-stan-van-gundy-miami-heat/97750120/
