How does Stan Van Gundy get blame? Otis Smith is to blame

[rondohondo]

I don't know how people can claim Van Gundy is not a good coach when he leads them to the Finals with mediocre talent and basically wins 50+ games a year.

After the 2009 NBA Finals appearance ,here are the moves that Otis smith has made

1) Lets Turk sign that horrible contract with Toronto which was the right thing to do, but then the very next year he trades Micheal Pietrus(a key part to their championship appearance)and Marcin Gortat(a top 5 center IMO) for a big salary,mediocre players in Richardson and Turk

2) He trades Rasahrd Lewis (who had a year less left on his contract )for Gilbert Arenas and then the very next year amnestied Arenas making Magic Ownership pay for a huge contract and still have to fill that roster spot. They could have kept Lewis and at least had a decent player they were paying all that money to

3) He resigns Jason Richardson to another healthy contract , eating up valuable cap space

4) Trades a superior Brandon Bass on a 2yr/8 mil contract for BBD and a 4 yr/26 mil contract

I mean this guys has basically given away their best talent(Pietrus,Gortat,Lewis,Bass) that could have grown with Howard for worse players with longer and bigger contracts.

If they were just patient and not traded for those horrible contracts They would have a stud big man (all-star type) to play along with Howard and a bunch of money to surround him with other talent. Instead they havea core of an Old overpaid Turk,Jason Richardson and Fat baby Davis .

It's Otis' fault , not Van Gundy

[Kane3387]

I don't know how people can claim Van Gundy is not a good coach when he leads them to the Finals with mediocre talent and basically wins 50+ games a year.

After the 2009 NBA Finals appearance ,here are the moves that Otis smith has made

1) Lets Turk sign that horrible contract with Toronto which was the right thing to do, but then the very next year he trades Micheal Pietrus(a key part to their championship appearance)and Marcin Gortat(a top 5 center IMO) for a big salary,mediocre players in Richardson and Turk

2) He trades Rasahrd Lewis (who had a year less left on his contract )for Gilbert Arenas and then the very next year amnestied Arenas making Magic Ownership pay for a huge contract and still have to fill that roster spot. They could have kept Lewis and at least had a decent player they were paying all that money to

3) He resigns Jason Richardson to another healthy contract , eating up valuable cap space

4) Trades a superior Brandon Bass on a 2yr/8 mil contract for BBD and a 4 yr/26 mil contract

I mean this guys has basically given away their best talent(Pietrus,Gortat,Lewis,Bass) that could have grown with Howard for worse players with longer and bigger contracts.

If they were just patient and not traded for those horrible contracts They would have a stud big man (all-star type) to play along with Howard and a bunch of money to surround him with other talent. Instead they havea core of an Old overpaid Turk,Jason Richardson and Fat baby Davis .

It's Otis' fault , not Van Gundy

The Master of Panic? I agree Smith is to blame more, but SVG has made some questionable calls. Bringing Jameer back in the finals before he had ever played a game and sitting rafer alston who had been great in the playoffs might have cost them a title.

The next year not playing Brandon Bass at all hurt them against us.

All the trades though from Smith were bad. He was gifted with Anderson. He is a bad GM. I will say that he does try, but he has come up on the wrong side of trades way too often.

[indeedproceed]

Bringing Jameer back in the finals before he had ever played a game and sitting rafer alston who had been great in the playoffs might have cost them a title.

I think that's a bit over the top. Rafer Alston was playing very well, but he wasn't making the difference in that 4-1 series, not even close.

[OmarSekou]

SVG is a victim of circumstance. The thing that stands out to me is that his guys don't go to bat for him.

[indeedproceed]

The thing that stands out to me is that his guys don't go to bat for him.

It is pretty weird. Happened twice now. Rondo refers to Doc as a 'father figure'. Greg Popovich I'm pretty sure is the actual father of all the San Antonio Spurs, heck even Kobe, despite the real probability that he did not like Jackson at all, knew he was a great coach.

But SVG's guys seem to buck.

[pearljammer10]

Otis has been terrible in Orlando.

[ACF]

SVG is a victim of circumstance. The thing that stands out to me is that his guys don't go to bat for him.

Magic point guard Jameer Nelson said the focus going forward will be to ignore all issues that don't pertain to what's happening on the court. For what it was worth, Nelson also took a moment to offer a vote of confidence for Van Gundy.

"We've been handling adversity all season," he said. "This is just another chapter of it. This is about us players and management sticking together. I love Stan as a coach. Since he's been here he's helped my career. Helped tremendously. He's a great person."

[Q_FBE]

That is a pig that needs to be blown up and shipped out of town, to Seattle.

[LooseCannon]

Via HoopsHype:

Alex Kennedy: DeAndre Liggins had the best quote about the drama between Dwight and Stan. "I'm just a rookie," he said, walking away with his hands up.

Sam Amick: On the Dwight front, anyone who says players won't listen to Stan now is underestimating how Dwight's cachet has been hurt by his nonsense.

The lockeroom is split — some players on Stan's side, some on Dwight's. Hedo Turkoglu said he wants to be coached by Van Gundy "forever," and Ryan Anderson said, "I love Stan. I think he's a great coach." Anderson also said, "I won't lie. It's frustrating ... after all that stuff (Howard's earlier trade demand)."

While Howard wants Van Gundy out in Orlando, not all players feel the same way. J.J. Redick is one player who is behind Van Gundy and he made that clear during his postgame press conference. “I want to play for Stan, there’s no question,” Redick said. “I’m not a player that wants to make any statements regarding decisions. My job is go out there, play hard and do my job on the court. And I hope that’s with Stan coaching me.”

There's also the rumor that Jameer Nelson is considering not exercising his $8.6m player option for next season in search of a better situation where he can be comfortable.  Obviously, he would be taking less per year in hopes of getting a longer contract.  Maybe he just wants to get away from the Dwight Howard circus.  It's been reported he was bothered by Howard talking about playing with Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

Overall, it's much better to have a coach like Stan Van Gundy in Orlando rather than Mike Brown in Cleveland.  Given how Doc Rivers called out his team following the recent loss to Chicago, I wonder how Dwight Howard would handle such treatment if he were a Celtic.  I doubt Doc would coddle him the way he wants.

[bucknersrevenge]

Via HoopsHype:

Alex Kennedy: DeAndre Liggins had the best quote about the drama between Dwight and Stan. "I'm just a rookie," he said, walking away with his hands up.

Sam Amick: On the Dwight front, anyone who says players won't listen to Stan now is underestimating how Dwight's cachet has been hurt by his nonsense.

The lockeroom is split — some players on Stan's side, some on Dwight's. Hedo Turkoglu said he wants to be coached by Van Gundy "forever," and Ryan Anderson said, "I love Stan. I think he's a great coach." Anderson also said, "I won't lie. It's frustrating ... after all that stuff (Howard's earlier trade demand)."

While Howard wants Van Gundy out in Orlando, not all players feel the same way. J.J. Redick is one player who is behind Van Gundy and he made that clear during his postgame press conference. “I want to play for Stan, there’s no question,” Redick said. “I’m not a player that wants to make any statements regarding decisions. My job is go out there, play hard and do my job on the court. And I hope that’s with Stan coaching me.”

There's also the rumor that Jameer Nelson is considering not exercising his $8.6m player option for next season in search of a better situation where he can be comfortable.  Obviously, he would be taking less per year in hopes of getting a longer contract.  Maybe he just wants to get away from the Dwight Howard circus.  It's been reported he was bothered by Howard talking about playing with Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

Overall, it's much better to have a coach like Stan Van Gundy in Orlando rather than Mike Brown in Cleveland.  Given how Doc Rivers called out his team following the recent loss to Chicago, I wonder how Dwight Howard would handle such treatment if he were a Celtic.  I doubt Doc would coddle him the way he wants.

Interesting comments. One of those 2 have to go. It's just not gonna work out there. I don't think Stan's a very good coach either. This tired offense(Dwight and 4 shooters) they've been running forever isn't working. The league figured it out the year after they got exposed in the Finals and it's been downhill ever since as the personnel has gotten worse during the same timeframe. And now nobody on that roster seems to know how to get the ball into the post and Stan doesn't seem to know how to get his All-Star Center the ball except for straight postups when he's not doubled. There is no motion in the offense whatsoever. And for all those quotes from players in SVG's corner supposedly they sure didn't have a problem quitting against the Knicks. This is a team that spent most of the season as the 3rd seed and NOW they decide to start choking? Leadership from the top down is lacking in that organization.

[LeoMoreno]

I've always seen SVG as a good coach and Doc as an incredible and brilliant coach. Nothing else than good. However, coach has to talk to his GM about players they get.

[ACF]

That is a pig that needs to be blown up and shipped out of town, to Seattle.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tacoma-underground/5554695267/