If you’re searching for an Eastern Conference team which may make an important leap contemplate the Detroit Pistons.
Although Detroit returns the vast majority of a roster that won just 29 games a year ago (plus Jodie Meeks, D.J. Augustin and Caron Butler), Stan Van Gundy’s arrival as commanding officer will include discipline and structure.
We understand SVG wins he sees a way to be successful by fitting playing style and where he moves. If anybody can sort out the mess and backcourt ineptitude in Detroit, it is him.
That’s not to say there won’t be major hurdles, according to Zach Lowe of Grantland.com:”Stan Van Gundy is a top-five coach. This team will be frisky, however the Brandon Jennings–Josh Smith mix –even if they perform fewer minutes together–has reached’don’t trust till you see them do great basketball things status.'”
Jennings and smith are commodities really. Both can shoot their team from games if not exactly managed. For the Pistons to make sound, Van Gundy will need to rein those two while also getting more from the rest of the roster–Greg Monroe and man-child Andre Drummond particularly.
If Drummond gives Van Gundy a passable Dwight Howard impersonation (circa 2009), this group will be in business. And by company, I mean above .500.
Let’s not get crazy.
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