Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy is looking to get his team to be the defensive powerhouse it once was in the early 2000s, not only with big dipper Andre Drummond, but also putting his young forward Stanley Johnson to work on the defensive end of his game.
“I think now we have a chance to become an elite defensive team and Stanley’s a huge part of that,” Van Gundy told Keith Langlois of NBA.com. “And then I think it’s for him to really find his offensive game and it takes some guys some time.”
Johnson has the physical tools to be a great defender in the league, he's sneaky-tall, has an NBA-ready body and good feet to go along with it, but it is the minor aspects of the pro game, the positioning and coordination with the team that have kept him from tapping into his full potential.
“Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, his primary role will be to guard the best forward or a big two guard every night,” Van Gundy said. “Avery will take on the challenge of guarding the best guard every night and then Andre (Drummond) will take on more responsibility as a defender and that’s our way to becoming an elite defensive team.”
The Pistons have added a superior defender in Avery Bradley, one that is sure to pass on his competitiveness in the less-glorious end of the floor to the rest of his teammates. If Detroit can have a lockdown dog at its disposal on the second unit, it could likely spell a change in the win-loss column come next season.
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