If the C's win Game 6, is Van Gundy gone?

[JAM]

The man is totally fired, even if they win this series.  Because the Cavs will stomp them in the next round, and he'll get the ax for that.  SVG's days are officially numbered.

[QuinielaBox]

It isn't Van Goober's fault. It is that absurd contract Rashard Lewis got. He is not in Kobe's or Lebron's class of superstars. Believe it or not, I suggest they trade try to trade Dwight Howard for Emeka Okafor or Al Jefferson this off-season. Something to shake things up.

[GaBerkowitz]

It isn't Van Goober's fault. It is that absurd contract Rashard Lewis got. He is not in Kobe's or Lebron's class of superstars. Believe it or not, I suggest they trade try to trade Dwight Howard for Emeka Okafor or Al Jefferson this off-season. Something to shake things up.

and that my friend is why you are writing on blogs and are not an NBA GM.  Really trade Dwight for Emeka Okafur or Al Jefferson!!! What have either of those guys done to make you think they are half the player DH is.

[crownsy]

It isn't Van Goober's fault. It is that absurd contract Rashard Lewis got. He is not in Kobe's or Lebron's class of superstars. Believe it or not, I suggest they trade try to trade Dwight Howard for Emeka Okafor or Al Jefferson this off-season. Something to shake things up.

and that my friend is why you are writing on blogs and are not an NBA GM.  Really trade Dwight for Emeka Okafur or Al Jefferson!!! What have either of those guys done to make you think they are half the player DH is.

pre-injury Al jeff is was putting up 20 and 10 a game....

He's not as dominate as DH, and post knee injury thats not a trade i'd ever consider, but lets not act like he's not an all star, he plays anywhere but MINN and he's a sportcenter fluff piece every night.

[CDawg834]

It isn't Van Goober's fault. It is that absurd contract Rashard Lewis got. He is not in Kobe's or Lebron's class of superstars. Believe it or not, I suggest they trade try to trade Dwight Howard for Emeka Okafor or Al Jefferson this off-season. Something to shake things up.

If you ever suggested that to Otis Smith in person, I think he would actually strike you

I disagree with the contract being a factor.  Lewis's payroll has nothing to do with them repeatedly blowing second half, double digit leads in playoff games.  Their overall record is fine; their performance in the playoffs isn't.  Some of the blame for that has to fall on Van Gundys leadership.

[Lucky17]

Smith will definitely need to check the mood of the club this offseason.

Bringing back Turkoglu, along with a healed Jameer Nelson, will probably keep the Magic in the top 4 of the East for another season. I don't know what things are like between Hedo and Stan, but if the relationship between Van Gundy and his key players goes sour, they will need to make a change to stay title contenders.

[huzy]

The bigger poblem here is Howard publicly criticising Van Gundy after the game. Just completely unacceptable. Anyone who's every played organized basketball has disagreed with the approach their coach has taken. There is a mature way of dealing with that. Howard lost a lot of my respect by throwing Van Gundy under the bus...If you disagree with your coach, speak with him man to man. That's called leadership.

However, I think Van Gundy fosters a lot of resentment. It's pretty clear that his team doesn't trust him:
-Anthony Johnson had to be physically restrained from confronting SVG earlier this series
-Gortat has already stated that he plays nervous becuase of SVG
-Now Howard is publicly critcizing his decisions

The key for any team, period. Not championship or playoff team...just a team, is trust. The players need to trust that their coach will do what's in the team's and the player's best interest. The coach needs to trust that the players respect his position and will act and play accordingly.

Orlando doesn't trust Van Gundy and he clearly doesn't do much do earn that trust.

That alone warrants a necessary replacement.  

[RAcker]

Let's not forget the little fight between Stan Van Jeremy and Anthony Johnson during this series.