Consider the Detroit Pistons if you’re looking for an Eastern Conference team which may make a significant leap up the standings.
Although Detroit yields the vast majority of a roster which won only 29 games per year ago (plus Jodie Meeks, D.J. Augustin and Caron Butler), Stan Van Gundy’s arrival as commanding officer will add discipline and structure.
We understand SVG wins he sees a way to succeed by fitting playing style to staff and where he goes. It’s him if anybody can sort out backcourt ineptitude and the mess in Detroit.
That’s not to say there will not be significant hurdles, based on 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 combination–even if they perform fewer minutes together–has reached’don’t hope until you see them do good basketball things standing.'»
Smith and Jennings are commodities indeed. Both can shoot their staff out of games if not handled. For the Pistons to make sound, Van Gundy might have to rein both while also getting more from the rest of the roster–Andre Drummond that is man-child and Greg Monroe particularly.
If Drummond provides Van Gundy a passable Dwight Howard impersonation (circa 2009), this team will be in company. And by company, I mean above .500.
Let’s not get crazy.
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