Stan Van Gundy’s Identity Crisis In Detroit
By Simon Smith
Below Expectations
The starting lineup for the majority of the season has been the following:
- Point Guard – Reggie Jackson
- Shooting Guard – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Small Forward – Marcus Morris
- Power Forward – Tobias Harris
- Center – Andre Drummond
As detailed earlier, Jackson, Morris and Harris have been acquired via trade since Van Gundy took control. Caldwell-Pope and Drummond were drafted prior to his arrival.
The Pistons are currently 18-24 and placed 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. It has been an incredibly inconsistent season, featuring some impressive wins but also some horrendous losses. The Pistons have now lost 12 of their past 17 games. During their last two games, the Pistons have lost by a combined 53 points on the road against the Golden State Warriors and the Utah Jazz.
After their latest loss to the Jazz, an exasperated Van Gundy noted:
"“We can’t stop anybody, we just can’t. For the first 21 games we were the second-best defensive team in the league and now we are one of the worst. I am frustrated not with our players, I am frustrated with myself that I can’t figure this out. We literally can’t stop anyone ever.”"
In what is quite a contrast to his days with the Magic, here are some important numbers for Van Gundy’s Pistons this season:
- Three-point field goals made: 7.8 per game (Ranked 29th
- Three-point field goals attempted: 22.8 per game (27th)
- Three-point field goal percentage: 34.1 percent (24th)
- Points per game: 99.7 (24th)
- Offensive Rating (Points per 100 possessions): 102.7 per game (21st)
- Defensive Rating (Opponents points per 100 possessions): 105.4 per game (15th)
- Net rating (Off Rtg – Def Rtg): -2.4 per game (20th)