The Detroit Pistons have been hampered by injuries and roster turnover this season. There is a lot to be disappointed about, but don’t read too much into the team’s recent performance, or its performance of the course of the season to date, for that matter.
The Detroit Pistons lost Reggie Jackson in December due to injury. Avery Bradley was in and out of the lineup due to injury. Stanley Johnson missed some time with a back injury due to injury.
Then the Pistons shipped out Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris (the Pistons most consistent player), and Boban Marjanovic, for Blake Griffin.
The point I am trying to make?
This Pistons team has not had very much consistency this season, and its rarely been at full strength at that.
Are there reasons to be upset about Stan Van Gundy’s rotations or scheme? Definitely. Would perfection in either area impact the team enough to overcome the injuries to significant contributors or the roster overhaul?
Probably not.
The Pistons, and Stan Van Gundy for that matter get a pass, but this is probably the last pass that Van Gundy gets.
Van Gundy has had one winning season in his first three years, and by the looks of things now, he could very well be on to his third losing season in four year.
Still, give credit where credit is due.
Stan Van Gundy inherited a terrible team without much direction. He reshaped the roster (only Andre Drummond remains from the Joe Dumars/John Loyer era) and considerably upgraded the talent. He also built his offense around Reggie Jackson who has been out for most of the time he’s been in Detroit.
So Stan Van Gundy, and the Pistons get a break this season. Considering where the Pistons have come from since he took over the team, and the injuries the team has sustained, he deserves that much.
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Considering the inconsistency in personnel this season, there’s not much more he or the team could have done.