Pistons' Prince likes what he sees of Van Gundy regime

In Tayshaun Prince's first media sessions since his return to the Detroit Pistons, one thing is clear:

He likes the direction of the organization under first-year president/coach Stan Van Gundy.

It's time to move past the question of whether he is thrilled to be back. Prince, 34, is professional and is hoping to contribute to a playoff run. He will start tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m., FSD).

After two days around the organization since being dealt by the Boston Celtics at last week's trade deadline, he thinks things are definitely on the uptick -- a far cry from the dysfunction that had gripped the organization when former president Joe Dumars traded Prince in January 2013.

"I haven't been here long enough to see how everything's going," Prince said Monday, after his first practice with the Pistons. "I know Stan is doing a good job of getting it in the right direction. I haven't been a part of that yet. So we'll see."

When Prince left, the organization was changing coaches like underwear. Lawrence Frank was fired the following off-season, and the next coach, Maurice Cheeks, was fired 50 games into the next season. Dumars was demoted this past off-season, and Van Gundy was brought aboard to right a ship that has missed the playoffs five straight seasons.

From that viewpoint, it's understandable why Prince wasn't exactly thrilled to return to the organization that he felt "disrespected" him when he was traded without even a phone call.

"That's why there wasn't a lot of energy in my press conference (Sunday), because obviously, how I left, things were upside-down," Prince said. "When you leave a place, that kind of sticks in back of your head."

Defending James: Van Gundy said the key to stopping Cavs superstar LeBron James is simple.

"Hope, pray," Van Gundy joked after this morning's shoot-around.

But in all seriousness, the Pistons' approach will be simple. There probably won't be a lot of double-teaming. It will be on Prince and Caron Butler to stay in front of him -- a lot easier said than done.

"You make it as hard as you can on him," Van Gundy said. "We've never double-teamed him a whole lot because he is a great, great passer, and he can hurt you a whole lot more with the pass than with shot.

"You try to make it as hard as you can. You try not to give him easy baskets. You try not to give him wide-open shots. You try to keep him off the free throw line, and then you take your chances."

Notes: Van Gundy lost his car keys after Sunday night's 106-89 victory over the Washington Wizards. He still hadn't found them by this morning. ... Cavaliers veteran forward Shawn Marion is expected to miss two weeks with a hip injury. A four-time All-Star, Marion recently announced that this will be his final NBA season. He is averaging a career-low 4.9 points in 20 minutes this season.

Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56. The Associated Press contributed.