Pistons' Van Gundy: Remember Johnson's a 19-year-old kid
Blowing in LeBron James' ear didn't really help Lance Stephenson and the Indiana Pacers in the 2014 playoffs, and Stan Van Gundy hasn't forgotten that.
The Detroit Pistons coach told reporters Thursday that he met with forward Stanley Johnson in regards to the rookie's comments Wednesday that he "was definitely in (LeBron's) head."
"I had a talk with Stan today, and so I'll leave it at that," Van Gundy said, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "I told him what I thought about his comments and everything. ... You have to realize he's a 19-year-old kid going through this for the first time."
The Pistons trail James' Cleveland Cavaliers 2-0 with Game 3 going Friday night in Auburn Hills. As expected, James has been dominant, shooting close to 60 percent in two games while averaging 25 points. Johnson has checked the future Hall of Famer about as well as anyone can, but as for the verbal ammunition he's added, Van Gundy chalks it up to youthful indiscretion.
"You get him right after a game like that (Detroit's 107-90 Game 2 loss), and he's frustrated and all of that," the coach said. "We met, we talked. He knows how I feel, what my concerns are, but it wasn't - at least I hope he didn't take - it wasn't an anger session. It wasn't a 'you're an a--h---' type of thing.'
"It wasn't. It's just another learning experience for a 19-year-old kid."