The Detroit Pistons have taken a very stern approach with Stanley Johnson in his second year. If Johnson doesn’t perform to expectations, if his energy dips, or if he makes a mistake, he’s going to sit.
Van Gundy said as much when explaining why Johnson didn’t see the floor in the second half against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday (and he barely played in Brooklyn last night).
“He wasn’t locked in, game planwise, at all on Jarell Eddie,” Van Gundy said. “So he gives up a three, doesn’t make the adjustment to play the way we’re supposed to on the second one, gets the foul on the second one and was more concerned about the ref’s call.