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Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Van Gundy

Van Gundy becomes Magic's top option -
Van Gundy compiled a 112-73 record, taking the Heat to their first playoff appearance in three years in his first full season -- one year before Shaquille O'Neal arrived.

In his second season -- O'Neal's first -- they won 57 games and reached the Eastern Conference finals. An injury to Dwyane Wade and to O'Neal likely cost them a chance at the NBA title that season. He resigned early in the third year and Riley took the Heat to a championship.

Although Van Gundy is known as a defensive stickler, his first team in Miami -- without O'Neal -- raised its scoring average to 90 points, five more than it did under Riley. With O'Neal, the Heat jumped another 10 points per game, finished fourth in the league in scoring, under Van Gundy.

According to one person in the Heat organization, the young players in Miami particularly liked playing for Van Gundy, who is known for his personable self-effacing style. He also is known as more flexible than his brother Jeff, an earlier Riley disciple who reached the NBA Finals in New York.

posted by WeRDevos @ 9:34 AM  

8 Comments:

  • At 12:53 PM, Blogger Big Figure said…

    Whoever becomes the next coach of the magic in my opinion will have the opportunity at immediate success. This team is already built in the mold of an inside outside team. With free-agency,3 second round draft picks and the roles of current players changed to benefit them the team seems poised to have a breakout season no matter who the coach is. SVG brings two things to the table that are vital to a team’s success. (1) Letting shaq be shaq on the low block. With three point shooters at all four position’s around shaq the heat were able to make teams pay for doubling with open high % three point shots. If the opponent chose to not double the heat let shaq go one-on-one with his defender which is a high % shot seeing as how he’s 3 feet from the rim in the pivot. Either three point shots or high % two point shots and not alot of in between. (2) Letting DWade be DWade in transition. Anytime a ball was rebounded the heat ran not waiting around for shaq too get up court which is a good sign that he will get the best out of his players and not make them conform to a strict offensive half-court strategy like you-know-who. Jameer’s assist total’s should go up because now he’ll be able to run if the ball is rebounded or walk it up and throw it into Dwight if the other team scores the ball and there’s no rebound opportunity. Under you-know-who we walked it up no matter the situation and it stunted the growth of our players because they were never allowed the opportunity to handle the ball in transition and make plays for themselves or others without the defense set. If Rashard is signed then the floor spacing should improve dramatically with JJ on one wing and Rashard on the other that Dwight should have a much easier time in the pivot and his turnovers should go down. It seems as if you-know-who didn’t care about what type of shots we took as long as they were good shots and that hurt us big. Way to many mid-range jumpers off of the dribble that aren’t high % shots that even if you make it it’s still only two points and nobody else got involved with the specific possession plus not enough ball movement (jameer,grant,hedo mostly). We were coached horribly and our players need guidance more than anything from a good coach. The best strategy would be to make the defense make a choice either let Dwight go one-on-one or JJ,Rashard and Darko will be shooting open jumpers off of the double on the offensive end of the floor.

     

  • At 3:33 PM, Blogger Big Figure said…

    The Orlando Magic were racing against time Tuesday, trying to hire Stan Van Gundy as their coach while fearing they might lose him to the Sacramento Kings as they are entwined in the Billy Donovan legal mess.

    According to those with knowledge of the situation, Van Gundy has been offered the job by the Kings, but Orlando is his top choice.
    Van Gundy did not return a call from the Sentinel on Tuesday, but before Donovan was hired, he had made it clear he wanted the job and raved about the opportunity.

    Van Gundy, however, doesn't want to be left out in the cold while the Magic try to force Donovan to break his contract -- and lose both jobs. He doesn't want the job until the Magic rid themselves of the Donovan contract.

    The legal ramifications of the Magic basically working with two contracts --- one with Donovan and the other offered to Van Gundy --- was not known.

    The Magic made contact with Van Gundy -- who was was the runner-up candidate to Donovan --- on Monday. Van Gundy has interviewed twice with the Kings.

     

  • At 5:37 PM, Blogger WeRDevos said…

    Andy Katz, who is normally as accurate as any of the ESPN critters who make things up, says the Donovan thing will be over on Wednesday:

    "Sources told ESPN.com that negotiations were continuing in earnest on Tuesday. The Magic and Donovan both want to move on and as of late Tuesday both sides were trying to work out details of terminating the contract that the coach signed on Friday. The likelihood is that all issues will be resolved by Wednesday.

    Multiple sources said that Donovan is being asked to accept a non-compete clause, requiring that he refrain from coaching in the NBA for five years as one of the terms of his release from his Magic contract."

    If the Magic are slowing things down with SVG trying to fashion a non-compete they are morons. No one in the NBA is going to reach for Donovan anytime in the next 5 years. A simple tearing up of the contract and a "fuck you and goodbye" could have been worked out on Monday.

     

  • At 5:46 PM, Blogger Ben Q. Rock said…

    The Magic can't afford to drag their feet on Van Gundy. He's a proven NBA coach and he has expressed interest in being here.

     

  • At 5:54 PM, Blogger Big Figure said…

    SVG hasnt accepted the sac job yet because this is where he wants to be,it doesnt matter how long it takes,although i suspect this will all be over 2morrow,now that this job is open why wouldnt stan wait for the mess to be over with donovan? SVG's mother-in-law lives in lake mary,plus he'd be able to stay in the same state as his own parents,he'll probably be hired sometime 2morrow.

     

  • At 6:16 PM, Blogger WeRDevos said…

    I forgot to post the second article from the front page of the Sentinel site that states:

    "According to those with knowledge of the situation, Van Gundy has been offered the job by the Kings, but Orlando is his top choice.

    Van Gundy, however, doesn't want to be left out in the cold while the Magic try to force Donovan to break his contract -- and lose both jobs. He doesn't want the job until the Magic rid themselves of the Donovan contract."

    If the Magic really want to hire SVG they could have done it on Monday. They are really going to look like rank amateurs if they are still dicking around with Donovan and SVG gets away.

     

  • At 9:39 PM, Blogger Ben Q. Rock said…

    I've heard a few reports that the Donovan/Magic separation is final. I hope we're able to get him on the phone right now.

     

  • At 9:48 PM, Blogger OVERWADED said…

    In addition, sources told the Sentinel the Heat are threatening to hold up the hiring of Van Gundy by asking for compensation.

    According to those close to the situation, Heat Coach and team President Pat Riley could ask the Magic for future draft picks for Van Gundy, who has another year left on his contract as a consultant for the Heat.

     

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