Apr 10, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pacers won 107-103. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
15. Stan Van Gundy, Detroit Pistons
Stan Van Gundy is another coach that I am ranking highly because of his past. I could care less that he only won 32 games last year, but what I do care about is how the defensively-minded coach will benefit both Andre Drummond and Stanley Johnson.
Van Gundy was the right coach for Dwight Howard, and he shaped Howard into the defensive powerhouse he has built his career on. Also, Van Gundy knows how to manipulate average role players like Jameer Nelson and Mickael Pietrus into critical playmakers. Van Gundy will be able to turn Reggie Jackson into the next Jameer Nelson, and work with Marcus Morris and Ersan Ilyasova to give the Pistons the depth to take them to the next level.
Next: George Karl