Van Gundy wants Jackson's best shot

Auburn Hills — It's easy to use the transition as an excuse.

Reggie Jackson had never been traded before, and as Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said, everybody handles being dealt away differently.

But the shooting? Well, Van Gundy isn't buying excuses there.

"I don't know about that," Van Gundy said after practice Monday. "He just hasn't shot well.

"There's certainly an adjustment phase, but shooting is shooting. It shouldn't matter what uniform you have on."

Jackson has struggled to find the basket during his tenure with the Pistons.

In four games since being traded from the Thunder, his shooting percentage is .333 — down from .432 this season in Oklahoma City.

The struggles were glaring the last two games, losses to the lowly Knicks and the Wizards. Against New York, Jackson was 5-for-24, with seven of those shots blocked. Against Washington, 4-for-12.

The point guard's turnover rate also is up, from 1.8 to 2.8.

"The indecision, things like that, that's to be expected," Van Gundy said. "He's pressing too hard, trying to do too much. He's just off, off his game. He's gotta relax."

Van Gundy isn't going to pass judgment after four games. But there's still work to do, which is why he and Jackson spent time Monday watching film together. Jackson, for his part, admitted there might be some overthinking happening.

While Jackson hasn't played up to his capability, there are things to like — most notably, his positive attitude. It made Van Gundy very happy to see Jackson cheerleading from the bench after coming out of the game against the Wizards.

Jackson shrugged off any accolades there. That's just part of the job.

"Just win the game," Jackson said Monday afternoon, after emerging from a 15-minute, post-practice, players-only meeting. "Obviously, you've gotta stay positive.

"We're just here to help each other."

Other people's gyms

The Pistons have played five of their last six games at home.

Now they'll make up for that with six of their next seven on the road, starting Wednesday in New Orleans.

Jackson, as the new guy to Detroit, isn't all that worried.

"Who cares? Once you get between the lines, you're just playing basketball," he said. "Just block out the fans. They don't even matter. They can't jump on the court, they can't get steals for you, they can't rebound for you.

"I don't care if we go into China, or play in Antarctica."

Dinwiddie's chance

Jackson's struggles have opened up some playing time for prized draft pick Spencer Dinwiddie. And he's made the most of it, particularly against the Wizards, despite a few defensive lapses Van Gundy surely let him know about.

Dinwiddie spent much of the season stuck behind veterans at point guard.

"That's not gonna knock my confidence," said Dinwiddie, 21, a second-round pick in 2014. "Saying you want experience, that's something I don't have. It's not something I can create out of thin air."

tpaul@gannett.com

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