There’s been a lot said lately about Stan Van Gundy buckling under pressure. Quoting Shaq on his former coach in Miami: “I know for a fact he’s a master of panic and when it gets time for his team to go into the postseason and do certain things, he will let them down because of his panic. I’ve been there before. I’ve played for him.” Combine that with current Magic center Marcin Gortat’s comments to a Polish newspaper: “The nature of our coach, he panics very often during games. He’s got some behavior which is not good for us. With his gestures he makes us nervous on the floor.” And anyone who’s heard Stan Van miked up during a national TV game knows what they say is true — the pitch in the guy’s voice because more squeaky and unnerving, making even the listener panic. Well, to pile on, now it’s Magic center Dwight Howard calling out the coaching following Orlando’s loss to Boston in Game 5 of the playoffs Tuesday night. Upset he only got 10 shots in the game and only two in the fourth quarter, Howard had this to say:
“I don’t think you are going to win a lot of games when your post player only gets 10 shots. It’s tough to get yourself going and get a lot of shots without a lot of touches. We have to do a better job with that. The coaches have to recognize what’s working on the floor. Stick to it. Even if it’s half your starters on the floor. Not just the guys you have put the most trust in. You have to have trust in everybody,” Howard said.
“We moved the ball, we ran, got easy shots, and our coach has to recognize when he was a certain group out there and they are getting the job done and we have to leave those guys on the floor. We are going to make mistakes, but I think you have to go with what works.
I bet half of this is out of anger that the team blew another big second half lead especially after they blew Game 4 at home. The other half I’m guessing stems from Dwight questioning actual tactical moves. If they go on to lose this series, which judging by these comments seems like a certainty, I would expect to see a new coach in Orlando next season.
