Pistons Firing for Their Coach

Rick Carlisle rarely rants or stomps his feet on the court.

Off it, Detroit’s first-year head coach doesn’t smile or joke around much.

That’s fine with the Pistons, especially because they’re winning.

Detroit entered the weekend tied with Milwaukee for the Central Division lead, which is the first time that has happened this late in the season since 1990, the second year of the franchise’s back-to-back championships.

Team President Joe Dumars, who gave the 41-year-old Carlisle his first head-coaching job, appears to have found the right person to stabilize a situation that has seen five coaches come and go since Chuck Daly left in 1992.

Carlisle’s steady and stoic approach has helped the Pistons navigate the ups and downs of the NBA season.

They started 14-6, then lost 13 of 16, before bouncing back by winning 13 of 16--now making them the NBA’s hottest team.

In Detroit’s two winning stretches, Carlisle has been nearly expressionless during games. When the Pistons were losing, he didn’t flinch.

“I don’t analyze my demeanor that closely, but I do believe that if you’re ranting and raving on the sidelines, you can throw your team out of whack,” Carlisle said. “I think it’s important to be on an even keel. I try not to overreact, or underreact.

“I understand that there are going to be fantastic plays and mistakes in every game, and it’s a long, long season.”

Carlisle has 16 years of experience in the league, five as a player and 11 as an assistant.

Charlotte Coach Paul Silas, who was an assistant with Carlisle under Daly in New Jersey, has been impressed with what Carlisle has done this season.

“In a short amount of time, he’s been able to do what every coach in this league tries to do,” Silas said.

“He’s got his players working hard, playing defense and playing together.”

Carlisle has benefited from a much improved surrounding cast to Jerry Stackhouse and Ben Wallace.

Dumars traded Jud Buechler and John Wallace for Clifford Robinson, who is second on the team in scoring and, along with Wallace, sets the tone defensively.

Jon Barry, who was acquired along with a first-round pick for former Michigan State standout Mateen Cleaves, provides a spark at both ends of the court. Yugoslav star Zelijko Rebraca, who adds a low-post presence, was acquired from Toronto for a 2002 second-round pick.

Still, Stackhouse says Carlisle deserves a lot of credit for helping a team succeed that was picked to finish as low as next-to-last in the NBA.

“He’s not fickle, he’s consistent,” Stackhouse said.

“When we’re winning, he’s talking to us about playing defense and playing hard. When we’ve lost, he’s saying the same things in the same way.”

And if his players don’t follow his demands, they will not play--regardless of their contracts or draft status.

Early in the season, he benched Corliss Williamson, who signed a hefty contract last summer, and Chucky Atkins, a returning starter. He also has barely used rookie Rodney White, the ninth pick in the draft.

“It’s hard to argue with anything he’s done because we’re winning,” White said.

Carlisle was asked if it is rewarding to know his messages and methods have been received by his players.

“If it has, great,” he said. “But I don’t know what our guys on the team think, and I don’t particularly care to know.

“I think you have to play the guys that can best help you win, and we have a roster full of guys capable of helping us.”

While Carlisle has an all-business look before and after practices, games and interviews, Stackhouse said he’s seen Carlisle loosen up--off the court.

“He’s definitely a guy that you can grab a beer and talk about things, or joke around,” Stackhouse said.

“You might not see that, but his players do.”