Stan Van Gundy: “We’re not trotting that five out there again on Wednesday”
By Duncan Smith
The Detroit Pistons have been terrible for almost three weeks now, and the final straw for Stan Van Gundy came following a dismal loss to the Chicago Bulls.
The Detroit Pistons put on one of the most disappointing efforts in Stan Van Gundy’s three years at the helm in an ugly 31-point loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. Fans are fed up with the team’s performance the last couple weeks, and Van Gundy is no less irate himself at the dismal play on the court.
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The Pistons held a players-only meeting following another rough loss at home to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, but Van Gundy wasn’t impressed then and is much less impressed now.
Per Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press:
"“Team meeting my ass,” Van Gundy said with utter disdain. “Like I said before, that stuff means nothing. It’s what you do on the court. Talking’s easy.”"
Never one to pull punches or speak in generalities, the Pistons coach and president of basketball operations expressed nothing short of disgust at the performance of the starting lineup. Following the Pacers game, Van Gundy indicated that lineup changes may be in order down the road. After putting forth their worst effort of the season as a five-man unit (the Pistons’ starting lineup of Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marcus Morris, Tobias Harris and Andre Drummond had a net rating of -72.5 in 18 minutes together), Van Gundy has had enough.
"“It’s just a matter of who now,” Van Gundy said. “I guarantee you on Wednesday night we’re not trotting that five out there again.”"
Whether lineup changes may be permanent or a short-term thing remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that the starting lineup against the Memphis Grizzlies will be shuffled in some way. The most obvious change would be to move Jon Leuer into the starting lineup and move Marcus Morris or Tobias Harris to the bench, as Leuer has likely been the best and most consistent performer for the Pistons this season.
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Another more dramatic change could involve moving Reggie Jackson to the bench and Ish Smith back into the starting lineup. While on the season, the five-man unit of Smith, KCP, Morris, Harris and Drummond doesn’t have great numbers together, they clicked in a dramatic fashion on a 3-0 three-game road trip right before Jackson’s return. It may be an option Van Gundy decides to pursue.
While that might seem the simplest and most logical fix considering the large amount of time that unit has logged together this season (almost as much as the five-man unit including Jackson has logged in its entirety since Harris was acquired from the Orlando Magic in February), it’s a solution fraught with peril. Jackson fancies himself a starter and rightfully so, and may not respond well to being moved to the bench, even if it’s a short-term solution as he works his way back into shape.
Over the next day or so, we may get more information from Stan Van Gundy and the Detroit Pistons’ camp about what lineup changes to expect, so stay tuned to Piston Powered and we’ll bring you the latest as it happens.