by Micah Hart

There is a theory of criminology, discussed at length in the popular book Freakonomics, called the “broken windows theory,” which basically suggests that one way to prevent crime is by making a concerted effort to clean up the aesthetics of a neighborhood’s surroundings. Replace broken windows (hence the theory’s name), scrub graffiti, etc, and the chain of events that snowball from there will help to make people less likely to commit acts of violence and criminal behavior.

Why do I bring this up? Because it seems to me new Pistons’ owner Tom Gores is taking the same approach to his new franchise, gutting the team’s locker and training rooms and players lounge in the offseason in hopes that the improved atmosphere and comfort will transform the team’s fortunes on the court. Pistons.com gives a tour of the new state-of-the-art facility:

Looks pretty sweet, and you can tell that the Pistons’ players on hand are appreciative.

On a (possibly) related note, in the book Freakonomics, authors Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner largely debunk the theory, at least in relation to its affect on the crime rate in New York City. So far the Pistons are 3-10, but we probably need to give them a little more time before drawing any firm conclusions.

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