There is no doubt that the Detroit Pistons are one of the up and coming teams in the Eastern Conference. Long removed from the days where they reached six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons finally reached the postseason last year for the first time in six seasons.
One of the major factors for the recent rise in Detroit was the hiring of head coach and team president Stan Van Gundy. In a recent interview with the Detroit Free Press, Pistons owner Tom Gores gave his praise for the job that Van Gundy has done in his two years with the organization:
“He’s done a great job. First of all, he’s brought the organization together. He hired (general manager) Jeff Bower. A lot of people questioned Stan coming, in terms of could he really be a president and a coach. And I’ve seen him be a president and a coach, but also a leader and an executive that really understands how to run a business. He’s running the business of basketball. He’s done an excellent job.
When Van Gundy was brought in, he immediately worked to revamp the roster. Of the players who were there when Van Gundy was hired, only two remain: Andre Drummond and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Notable trades for point guard Reggie Jackson and forward Marcus Morris have given the roster a much needed boost.
In the past two years, the Pistons found themselves fighting for the eighth seed in the East, and they managed to secure it in '16. Although they were swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the eventual champion Cleveland Cavaliers, the young Pistons team showed strength and grit.
For the first time in a long time, there seems to be a sense of hope in Detroit.
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