Detroit Pistons: 5 reasons to be excited for 2018-19 NBA season

4. A new head coach

Stan Van Gundy’s time with the Pistons has come to an end. In his place is now the reigning NBA Coach of the Year, Dwane Casey. Fans will be excited to see the team’s new system and direction with Casey at the helm. Casey will put a greater emphasis on 3-point shooting, as is evidenced by the team’s additions this offseason. He also has no allegiance to any of the incumbent players, which will allow him greater clarity when making lineup decisions.

Casey steadily developed the Toronto Raptors into a perennial power in the Eastern Conference. Were it not for some superhuman efforts by James, they may have made it to the NBA Finals once or twice. When Casey first arrived in Toronto, they were a team at the bottom of the conference, but they gradually got better and better as the years went along. Casey’s system works if his players buy in.

The key for the Pistons will be to maintain a focus on the long-term future, rather than short-term success. Van Gundy was their longest-tenured coach since Chuck Daly in the 1980s and early 90s. He only lasted four seasons. Casey took a few years to develop the team to suit his system, and it worked extremely well when he did. If the Pistons do the same now, then they will develop into one of the stronger Eastern Conference powers.