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Pat Riley doesn’t think tanking is way to beat Warriors

By Charles Rahrig V

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 22: Miami Heat president Pat Riley speaks during a ceremony to honor Shaquille O'Neal as he has his number retired during a game between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Arena on December 22, 2016 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 22: Miami Heat president Pat Riley speaks during a ceremony to honor Shaquille O'Neal as he has his number retired during a game between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Arena on December 22, 2016 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Miami Heat team president Pat Riley has offered an interesting strategy on the best way to compete with the Golden State Warriors.

When it comes to championships and knowing a thing or two about how to get there, very few stack up to Pat Riley. Throughout his career as a player, coach and executive, Riley has been apart of 10 championship teams. That’s a ring for all 10 fingers. So, with the Golden State Warriors seemingly at a place where the rest of the league is unable to catch up, it’s always interesting to hear what he has to say about them.

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Speaking to Tom D’Angelo of the Palm Beach Post, Riley offered his take on how to compete with the Warriors. His take differed from the conventional wisdom of a team tearing it down and drafting players through several lotteries. Instead, Riley feels that rather going “organic”, a team should seek to fill out the roster with a competitive team and aim to fill it out with a top-tier talent when that player comes around.

“I think today in order to catch them, if you want to do the organic trip, it’s going to take you a long time,” Riley said to the Post. “Because the organic trip obviously is through lotteries and draft, and maybe some real good trades. But to be able to pick off the free agent that can change that organic trip and make it a little faster, I think will always be there.”

In the article, Riley brought up that while the Warriors were able to draft extremely well, they also made some good moves via trade and free agency. Bringing in Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston turned out to be big pieces of this current run and a reason that they are able to still keep it going.

Next: Six ways the Warriors broke LeBron James' spirit

If anyone knows what it’s like to go out and get a super team together, it’s Riley. If there is anyone that probably knows how to compete against one, it’s probably going to him. Rather than tanking after the Heat lost Dwyane Wade, they decided to keep a competitive roster that just missed the playoffs last year.

The league has become one where you’re either contending or rebuilding. Riley sees plenty of room to operate in that middle ground teams are trying to avoid and it may just end up working out for him if he can land another superstar. Of all the strategies to contend with the Warriors, it’s a refreshing take.

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