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PistonPowered round table: Dwane Casey expectations

By Andrew Brewster

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors talks to the media during a press conference after Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Milwaukee Bucks of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2017 at BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jeffery Phelps/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors talks to the media during a press conference after Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Milwaukee Bucks of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2017 at BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jeffery Phelps/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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2. What would you like to see Casey do differently than Van Gundy?

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 13: Head coach Stan Van Gundy of the Detroit Pistons gestures to his player Ish Smith #14 in the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 13, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Utah Jazz beat the Detroit Pistons 110-79. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 13: Head coach Stan Van Gundy of the Detroit Pistons gestures to his player Ish Smith #14 in the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 13, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Utah Jazz beat the Detroit Pistons 110-79. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Brew: I think one thing Van Gundy did last year that Casey could do differently is with the point guard role.

To me, when Reggie Jackson went down, Van Gundy’s decision to stick with a traditional point guard and start Ish Smith doomed the Pistons’ season.

With the amount of play-making in the front court (Griffin, Drummond), I think the team may have been able to find success by starting a shooter at the point. To me, starting Smith really mucked up the team’s spacing, while simultaneously dismantling what was an effective bench.

I would like to see more lineups of Langston Galloway/LukeKennard, Reggie Bullock, Stanley Johnson, Griffin, and Drummond if Jackson ever goes down again.

I’m also interested to see how Khyri Thomas could potentially fit into this position. A good shooter, but not necessarily a play-maker, Thomas could flourish next to the two creative bigs.

Joe: The biggest thing I would like to see is the willingness to experiment with lineups and play
styles.

This is incidentally the main reason why I was not really a fan of Casey. He is perhaps the only coach in the NBA last year who was even more resistant to change than Van Gundy.

Regardless, perhaps he will make a change.

The Pistons have a bunch of interesting pieces that can do lots of fun things if Casey is willing to explore options a bit. I would love to see those things happen.

Ku: Well, Casey has already spoken on the issue I wanted to be addressed: the development of Stanley Johnson.

If you haven’t been able to tell yet, I’m a fan of Johnson’s and see good things in him.

However, it’ll take a coach who will empower him and use him correctly to get him to tap that potential. Johnson is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, which makes this season the most important.

The Pistons need to see if Casey can unlock Johnson, or if he just isn’t going to work in Detroit. Stan Van Gundy often misused Johnson, and I never liked how he handled him either.

I don’t think you would’ve found a fair assessment of Johnson with Van Gundy as coach.

I think Casey will give Johnson every chance to prove he deserves a contract with Detroit after this year.

Steven: There’s a number of things I’d like to see Casey do that Van Gundy did not. I think it could be encapsulated in one suggestion: take more risks.  

Van Gundy was incredibly safe, played the vets, stuck to the same rotations regardless of player performance, and never adapted game plans within the game.  

Also, and this may be more of a personal preference in coaching style, but I would like to see Casey coach with a little more poise.

How are you going to play if your coach is on the sideline acting like the Pistons just started a Royal Rumble with the referees as Van Gundy often did? I hope Casey brings a more patient, player-friendly approach.

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