Fans Always Sad to See Van Gundy

Today, on ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning, the key question was sent Stan Van Gundy's way...

What is it like being Orlando's second choice?

He's used to it by now.

His coaching career been one in which fans are always sad to see him. It all started with Division II UMass Lowell. They won the 1988 D-II championship under the leadership of Don Doucette. Following that season, Doucette left, and Van Gundy was named the head coach.

Fans were depressed.

Four seasons later, Stan Van Gundy moved on to the University of Wisconsin. He replaced, as a D-II nobody, former NBA coach Stu Jackson. Jackson was only 32-25 in his career at Wisconsin, but consider this: prior the Jackson, the last Badger coach to finish their Wisconsin career above .500 was Walter Meanwell.

He retired in 1934. I'm going to assume Wisconsin fans weren't too happy to see Jackson leave.

Of course, now Stu Jackson is the NBA Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations (and has been in some controversy of his own).

Van Gundy later went on to become an assistant coach under Pat Riley. When Riley retired abruptly prior to the 2003-2004 season, Van Gundy was named head coach.

Toss up: a coach with four championship rings (at the time) or a Ron Jeremy lookalike?


You guessed right... and Miami HEAT fans cried

(A little off-topic, but in doing some research for this article, I visited Van Gundy's coaching profile on NBA.com. I noticed that every time the "Heat" were mentioned, the entire name was capitalized. I went to the official website, and an article was titled "HEAT History." The name is actually supposed to be capitalized! But then I search some website like ESPN and every-article-about-the-"HEAT"-I've-ever-seen and they are the "Heat." Thankfully, Wikipedia is there to set things straight. Who says Wikipedia is unreliable? Not I!)

Now, Stan Van Gundy is the head coach of the Orlando Magic.


Did you know that he wasn't their first choice?

Maybe it wasn't an understatement for Stan Van Gundy to say he is "used to it."

Although he has always emphasized defense first, Van Gundy also stressed the importance of teamwork and shot selection on the offensive end, he might be going in a different direction in Orlando. Van Gundy also spoke of the direction he wants to take the Magic. The most interesting (and exact opposite of that link I just posted) change is that he wants to have a fastpaced offense (but not Phoenix fast). This will be accomplished by building around the key guys (EDIT: guy).

In addition to that guy (could he have been throwing Darko and Jameer Nelson into the mix?), Van Gundy will focus on the supporting cast. That is, the offensive rebounders and shooters. Conveniantly, they have one of the best shooters in Travis Diener (OK, J.J. Redick). Of course, Dwight Howard is one of the best offensive rebounders in the NBA.

I thought one of the interesting things Van Gundy mentioned was the need for athleticism and versatility. Trevor Ariza is incredibly athletic, versatile... and misused by Brian Hill. But what this really makes me believe is that cap money (which was applauded by SVG) will be used on one of the these players. Gerald Wallace is probably fits the bill as much as anyone in the league.

Stan Van Gundy, although not always the trendy choice, is successful. Cheer up, Orlando, you got a good coach.

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Billy Donovan to Return to Florida

No second thoughts on the NBA jump, right Billy? Not so much. Maybe he was worried about the job security, the hours, the pressure, and other potential pitfalls of the NBA. Maybe he realized how great he had it at the University of Florida. No matter which way you slice it, Donovan will be getting the chance to rebuild his Florida program.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Orlando Magic will allow Billy Donovan out of his contract to return to Florida.

"It's over," said a source close to the situation.

Donovan had reservations about leaving the Florida Gators for the NBA on Friday and spent all weekend trying to find a way to get out of his contract. On Saturday, Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith went to Gainesville to try to convince Donovan to honor the deal. Smith talked with Donovan again on Sunday, and so did Magic President Bob Vander Weide.

Unless Donovan wakes up today and changes his mind, the Magic will let him go, the source said.

The Magic released this official statement regarding the Donovan situation.

While Central Florida, the Orlando Magic and Billy were energized with the announcement of his contract signing on Friday, we know there was a different feeling in Gainesville and people have been tugging at him since that time.

Billy is conflicted with those emotions and the opportunity he has ahead in Orlando and in the NBA.

We've had numerous conversations and a personal visit in Gainesville with Billy over the last 48 hours and we have a commitment from him that the dialogue between us will continue

In the end, going back to Florida is the best move. I was predicting he would be out of Orlando in a season and a half (tops) anyways.

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LeBron Takes the Step in Game 5

You know LeBron James had a huge Game 5 against the Pistons. You know he scored 25 straight points for the Cavs. You know that he scored 29 of his team's last 30 points. You know he willed Cleveland to victory.

I did not know this.

Not even Michael.

Let us get that out of the way right now. What LeBron James did Thursday night in the Eastern Conference finals was not Jordanesque. It was Mike to a max not even he reached.

In one of the greatest performances in NBA history, the "Chosen One" of the Cavaliers scored 48 points. He scored his team's last 25 in the fourth quarter and the two overtimes it required for the Cavaliers to beat Detroit, 109-107. He scored 29 of his team's last 30.

He gave credit to his teammates afterward. He is like that, making stardust memories and then just trying to be one of the boys.

Please, do not get me wrong here. I am not going to diminish LeBron's 48 point performance. (I will even refrain from mentioning "global icons" in response to the "one of the boys" comment. Wait...)

48 points against the Detroit Pistons, though a very good team, is not 63 against a Bird-led Boston Celtics team. The big difference (outside of 15 points) is that Jordan's came on the losing end of a double overtime thriller.

Does that make LeBron's game greater? In my eyes, it doesn't.

It is just unfortunate that our sports media outlets (ESPN, the Plain Dealer, etc.) are trying to make LeBron James into Michael Jordan. It was just last season that Dwyane Wade was the new MJ.

LeBron James is not Michael Jordan. His performance does not have to be Jordanesque or better.

Because, for one, his performance was Jamesesque.

And that is perfectly fine.

Great even.

You know that performance was great.

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Billy Donovan Leaves Gators to Coach Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic now have a new man on the sidelines with the hiring of Florida's Billy Donovan. Donovan, who replaces the twice-fired Brian Hill, is expected to make drastic changes to right the Magic ship. The Magic and General Manager Otis Smith felt Hill lacked the attributes the team needed in their coach, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Magic General Manager Otis Smith fired Brian Hill as coach on (May 23) because he didn't believe Hill would get the most out of the team with his style and strategy if he returned.

Some of the issues in deciding Hill's fate, according to those close to the situation, were Hill's inability to adjust during the Magic's midseason slump; his lack of offensive imagination; and whether he was developing young players Dwight Howard, Darko Milicic, Jameer Nelson, Trevor Ariza and rookie J.J. Redick to their potential.

Donovan will be expected to improve on those deficiencies.

Still, the move leaves many wondering why Donovan would leave Florida after winning two straight championships. Dan Shanoff, through Deadspin, wonders the same.

What, exactly, is the lure of coaching in the NBA? On its face, it sounds like the shittiest job in sports.

Zero job security, with a "when" not "if" inevitability of a bad ending to nearly every coaching hire. (Welcome to Indiana, Jim O'Brien!) Star players who run the team. Financial realities that hamstring moves.

Roughest of all, the "Ring or Bust" mentality. Jerry Sloan is the ideal of NBA coaching longevity, yet he is best known for NOT winning a championship. And most of the coaches who have won a title recently (Jackson, Tomjanovich, Popovich) have enjoyed coaching the greatest players of their eras. Dwight Howard is the best post player in the East -- not a bad foundation to build a contender -- and they have double-digit cap millions to use (please God: NOT Vince Carter...hmm: Gerald Wallace?) But yeesh, those odds are still ugly.

Meanwhile, Billy D was on track to be one of the Top 5 most successful coaches in college hoops history. His style seemed MADE for college. (His weakness - Xs and Os - will be magnified in the NBA, while his strength - personality - will be mitigated.)

Donovan, much like Rick Pitino, will come to regret leaving a great situation like Florida. The money ($27.5 million over 5 years), though better in the short term, will not be there for decades like it would be had he stayed at Florida.

I guess college coaches will always want to take on the next challenge, professional sports.

To me, rebuilding Florida would have been quite the challenge for Billy Donovan.

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