If you’re searching for an Eastern Conference team which may make a significant jump up the standings, contemplate the Detroit Pistons.
Though Detroit yields the great 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 advent as controlling officer will include discipline and structure.
We understand SVG wins where he goes and that he finds a way to be successful by fitting playing style. If anyone can sort out backcourt ineptitude and the frontcourt jumble in Detroit, it’s him.
That’s not to say there won’t be significant hurdles, according to Zach Lowe of Grantland.com:”Stan Van Gundy is a top-five coach. This team will probably be frisky, however the Brandon Jennings–Josh Smith mix –even if they play fewer moments together–has attained’don’t trust until you see them do good basketball things standing.'”
Jennings and smith are commodities that are harmful . Both can shoot their team out of games if not managed. For the Pistons to make sound, Van Gundy will have to rein those two in while also getting more from the remainder of the roster–Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe in particular.
If Drummond gives Van Gundy a passable Dwight Howard impersonation (circa 2009), this group will be in company. And by business, I mean above .500.
Let’s not get too crazy.
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