Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores was recently interviewed at a Pistons home game, and it sounds like he stands behind the current roster, as well as the current head coach Stan Van Gundy.
To say this year has been a disappointment is an understatement. It has been a toxic waste dump. As of March 10th, the Pistons sit in the 9th spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The eighth seed is currently held by the Milwaukee Bucks, who are five games up on the Pistons.
Gores and Van Gundy are seeing eye to eye, supposedly, when it comes to what they want to see the Pistons accomplish. It’s good to have goals and proverbial accomplishments in mind, but you need to see some results or some steps in the right direction. Detroit made the playoffs a few seasons back, with some of the same personnel, and they haven’t come close since. Yes, I know Reggie Jackson is hurt, and I know that injury is playing a factor, but there is no excuse for what is happening on the floor this year.
“It’s hard to make that assessment (without Jackson). Stan and I have no excuses; we have to win,” Gores said. “That’s the way it is. We have to deliver and we haven’t, but I think we will.”
Van Gundy on his conversations with Gores:
“He and I are totally on the same page. Our team is playing hard, I like the guys we’ve had,” Van Gundy said. “Some things have happened that are out of our control. At the same time, I’m not looking to make excuses”.
When a fan reads these statements, it’s hard to not notice the word “excuses” being thrown around. If you aren’t looking for an excuse or excuses, why bring such things up? I guess this could be the motto for the 2017-2018 Pistons, excuses. This season has been some of the most frustrating basketball I’ve ever had to watch.
Maybe the thoughts I have about the current situation in Detroit are wrong. Maybe Reggie Jackson will come back, and along with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, will turn it around, and be the answer all the fans are hoping for, but I won’t hold my breath.
There are 16 regular season games left and the light at the end of the tunnel is fading fast for the 2017-2018 Pistons, and Gores and Van Gundy have no one to blame for this but themselves.
