Unless you're a diehard, until-death-do-us-part Detroit Pistons fan, the team may have fallen off your radar.
Now comes the new coach Stan Van Gundy.
John Zitzler of the website, Basketball Insiders, has penned an article entitled: Can Stan Van Gundy Fix the Detroit Pistons?
Following the team’s disappointing season, the Pistons made significant changes to the front office. Former Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy was brought in to coach the team, while also replacing Joe Dumars as the president of basketball operations.
Van Gundy will now be tasked with changing the direction of a franchise that appears dangerously close to falling into NBA purgatory.
Zitzler writes that the team is still plagued with many question marks, including Josh Smith, who, overall, wasn't very impressive.
Smith may have been the team’s biggest weakness, but he certainly wasn’t the only problem. Newly acquired guard Brandon Jennings was inconsistent throughout the season and, like Smith, his shot selection left a lot to be desired. The team never seemed to mesh as a group and the players weren’t able to come close to their preseason expectations.
Still, he notes there is reason for hope. The Pistons got busy this summer in the free agency market, acquiring Jodie Meeks, Caron Butler and D.J. Augustin
Zitzler writes;
Judging by these roster moves, it appears that the Pistons are ready to make another playoff push. The free-agent signings along with the addition of Van Gundy should certainly improve the team’s postseason odds.
-- Allan Lengel
