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Stan Van Gundy relieved as Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations

By Sham Mohile

DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 28: Stan Van Gundy of the Detroit Pistons shouts to his team during the second half of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Little Caesars Arena on February 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 28: Stan Van Gundy of the Detroit Pistons shouts to his team during the second half of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Little Caesars Arena on February 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Stan Van Gundy has recently been relieved as Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations of the Detroit Pistons. Pistons are 5-1 following Reggie Jackson‘s return to the squad.

On March 20th, the Pistons franchise turned a new page in their decorated history.

The return of polarizing point guard Reggie Jackson has fueled the Pistons hot stretch, winning five of their last six games. Combined with the addition of Blake Griffin in late-January, the Pistons now have an enviable core to battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Prior to Jackson’s return, however, head coach and Pistons czar Stan Van Gundy felt his seat warm up to a blistering level. Fans were calling for his head, media members floated rumors about successions to Van Gundy.

But Reggie Jackson returned, the Pistons are tied for the third-best record in the East during that span, and the spacing has noticeably improved.

That improved spacing has not only given space for Blake Griffin to work in the post and with slashing to the rim, Griffin’s presence combined with Jackson’s return has allowed for the Pistons to not be shy about letting it fly from deep. Since Jackson’s return, the Pistons have taken approximately five more threes per game than before.

Of course, the Pistons success depends upon the health of one player. They’ve struggled with Jackson out, even with the addition of Blake Griffin. Maybe building a team that depends on that one variable is a fault and fireable offense in itself, but Van Gundy’s seat has cooled considerably.

Playoffs are merely a pipe-dream at this point in the season and Van Gundy has still received criticism amidst continued calls for a change at the top, but there certainly wasn’t the same negative vitriol that followed him around a month ago.

So yes, he certainly is “relieved” in a sense.

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