Stan Van Gundy Isn't Backing Down

Dwight Howard's post-game rant about the lack of touches received in the closing minutes of Game 5 won't be forgotten until, Hedo willing, the Magic beat the Celtics in Games 6 and 7. A handful of players have voices which stretch from coastline to coastline, their barbs declaring public warfare. You know the names. They also happen to be the All NBA team. It's a league of stars. Cross a star? You're gone.

The headlines from Orlando screech "no worries!" -- they tell of a Magic team which is together again, focused on the goal of winning Game 6 tonight at Amway. But under the surface there's an unfamiliar trope evident, one we wouldn't normally expect: the coach isn't backing down. Does Stan Van Gundy sound like a guy worried about his job?

Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel has the quotes from Van Gundy, who met with Howard privately before a full team meeting Wednesday.

According to those close to the organization, Van Gundy [previously] basically told Howard he didn't care if he could run him out of town. He was going to keep coaching Howard and everyone else with an edge and try to make him the best player he could be. [...]

"I'm comfortable with what we're doing strategically," Van Gundy said. "I'm a lot harder on myself than any of the players or [media] might be. I have a pretty good idea after games, sometimes even in games, what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong. As far as what anybody else thinks about that, I'm not too concerned."

Stan Van Gundy is business! I mean, Howard is in that Kobe-LeBron-Paul-Wade-Durant stratosphere in terms of dictating who is his head coach. Let's not forget SVG was Otis Smith's second choice behind Billy Donovan. There are only a couple years of history here.

It's probably ridiculous to think SVG could be on the outs. Just a few months ago a Magic VP was talking about ripping up Van Gundy's current deal to get him some more cash and security. The team has not gotten worse since then -- they are two wins from the conference finals. But again, Howard has the power. And SVG isn't backing down, which is a bit amazing. More coaches should emulate this stance.