Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: Biggest Overachievers of 2015-16

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 2, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after scoring a three point basket in the first quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after scoring a three point basket in the first quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 21, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; (Left to right) Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) forward Marcus Morris (13) head coach Stan Van Gundy forward Tobias Harris (34) and guard Reggie Jackson (1) stand during a timeout during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 92-91. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; (Left to right) Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) forward Marcus Morris (13) head coach Stan Van Gundy forward Tobias Harris (34) and guard Reggie Jackson (1) stand during a timeout during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 92-91. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Pistons

The Stan Van Gundy effect is being felt by every member of the Detroit Pistons. His brash and intense approach to coaching isn’t for everyone, but the group in Detroit is clearly responding well to the man who has led an almost immediate turnaround.

Just two years into Van Gundy’s tenure, the Pistons will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

That’s quite the achievement.

Detroit has been floundering since breaking up a roster that led it to overwhelming success during the mid-to-late 2000s. Behind the efforts of Andre Drummond, who leads the league in rebounding, and Reggie Jackson, who’s played at a star-caliber level, Detroit has returned to relevancy.

Brilliant roster decisions made by Van Gundy, the head coach and president of basketball operations, have rounded the Pistons out as a postseason team.

Acquiring Tobias Harris at the NBA Trade Deadline was brilliant, as a 16-10 record since said date establishes. The moved followed Van Gundy trading for Marcus Morris—a key contributor—this past summer, and Jackson, the starting point guard, at the 2014 NBA Trade Deadline.

As both a coach and an executive, Van Gundy has done a masterful job of revitalizing the Pistons.

Next: Memphis Grizzlies