Detroit Pistons Preview: Coaching

2. Who will be the most improved player under Van Gundy this season?

Shackelford: Marcus Morris. I don’t know if it’s Van Gundy’s system, the players around him, or the fact that he’ll finally get a real opportunity, but he looks to be taking the biggest step this season based on what we’ve seen so far.

Fredericksen: Reggie Jackson. I think we all can agree that he’s a player with faults, but he’s also never been put into a situation offensively that fits his strengths. I’ve said it before, but part of what makes Van Gundy a good coach is being able to accentuate the good and hide the bad parts of his players. Jackson has the ball, has space and has freedom  — something he never had in OKC.

Thielke: Reggie Bullock is my pick for who will appear the most improved, if he gets a much bigger role (otherwise, Marcus Morris for the same reason). But who will actually improve the most? I probably won’t know at season’s end, let alone now — younger players newer to the league tend to be the most likely to improve, I’ll go with Dinwiddie.

Smith: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be the most improved player this year. Lock it in.

Davidson: Jackson. I think he takes a big jump in his first full season as Stan Van Gundy’s starting point guard.

Garrett: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.  I can see KCP’s professional career arc being similar to that of his collegiate one, learning his role and feeling his way out his first season in the system with efficiency and production materializing the following season.  At Georgia, Caldwell-Pope’s points per game increased by over five points even though he only took one more shot per 100 possessions:  he saw a significant increase in true shooting percentage, effective field goal percentage, three point percentage and free throw percentage.  In his second season playing in SVG’s system, a similar jump in efficiency doesn’t seem too outlandish.

Brokke: Johnson. Many factors point to him being the most improved including age, raw skill level, and expected natural growth due to no previous NBA experience.

Crowder: Jackson. Jackson should have a lot of confidence now with his new contract and with the keys to leading the offense. He’ll thrive in Van Gundy’s offense with a new opportunity to finally prove his worth while starting over a whole season.

LaBlue: Jackson should be the most improved player, but it certainly isn’t a guarantee. Living up to an $80 million deal isn’t easy.

Morgan: Based on what I have seen from Morris during the preseason it looks like this particular system may be perfectly suited to his game. He gets away from the shadow of his twin brother and as long as he keeps his head in the game and works hard he should provide some quality minutes for the Pistons.

Berger: Jodie Meeks by a landslide. This year he can assume his more comfortable spot; a player focused on complementing stars around him. Meeks was out of his comfort zone upon first arrival and had to answer contract questions.

Next: What does Van Gundy the Coach have to do to make Van Gundy the Executive look smart?