Pistons owner 'not giving up' on Van Gundy
The Detroit Pistons haven't gotten the boost they had hoped for since trading for Blake Griffin, but coach Stan Van Gundy's job appears to be safe.
Team owner Tom Gores praised Van Gundy during a halftime interview Friday night as the Pistons snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Chicago Bulls.
"Stan and I talk every week and we just want to win - that's it. That's what we discussed: how we're going to get this team to win. That's been really important to us. We know we've disappointed the fans and we haven't won enough. I can tell you this team works really hard and Stan works hard. He's been here for four years and has dedicated his whole life," Gores said, per Rod Beard of The Detroit News.
"We talked the other day and I'm not giving up on Stan and I'm not giving up on this team."
The Pistons have gone 7-10 since making a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers for the star power forward.
They were ninth in the Eastern Conference at the time of the trade, four games out of the eighth and final playoff spot. After Friday's win, they remain in ninth, five games behind the eighth-place Milwaukee Bucks.
Van Gundy, 58 and in his fourth year as Pistons coach and team president, has a 143-169 record with Detroit.
He says he and Gores are both dedicated to winning.
"(Gores) 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.
One of those things out of his control was the early season injury to guard Reggie Jackson.
Jackson went down with a severe right ankle sprain on Dec. 26, when the Pistons were 19-14. They've gone just 11-22 since.
There's a chance Jackson, who was cleared to run two weeks ago, could return soon.
In 12 seasons as an NBA head coach, Van Gundy sports a 514-377 record.
--Field Level Media
