Orlando's Harshest Critic, Stan Van Gundy

Stan Van Gundy has had an interesting career path to the top of the NBA's coaching echelon. He spent twelve years in the Miami Heat organization starting as an assistant coach to Pat Riley in 1995 and eventually becoming the head coach in 2003. With rookie Dwayne Wade, Van Gundy improved the Heat's win total from 29 in 2002-03 to 42 in 03-04 and led Miami to a second round playoff series. The next season brought disgruntled Shaquille O' Neal in a blockbuster trade, the East's best record with 59 wins, and a loss to the Detroit Pistons in a seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Finals. The next year Pat Riley, now the team president, forced out Van Gundy in December of 2005 after a lackluster 11-10 start to the season and replaced him as head coach. He left Miami with a 112-73 record and a winning percentage of .605.

In June of 2007 the Orlando Magic hired University of Florida head coach Billy Donovan who had just won back-to-back NCAA championships. After a few days, Donovan backed out of the deal and Van Gundy was offered the coaching position. The Miami Heat received two draft picks and a cash payment as compensation. His first season in Orlando brought 52 wins and a trip to the second round of the playoffs - the Magic's best showing in twelve years. Finally in 2009 the Orlando Magic finished with a team record 59 wins, defeated the No.1 and No. 2 seeds in the conference, and advanced to the NBA Finals for the second time in team history.

Stan Van Gundy is a great coach but his most entertaining skill might be for the post-game sound bite. Never one to bite his tongue, Van Gundy calls it like he sees it. Some highlights from just this season:

On Shaquille O' Neal

Van Gundy calls out Shaq for flopping against Dwight Howard in the closing seconds of a March Suns-Magic game. "I was shocked, seriously shocked," Van Gundy said, "and very disappointed because (Shaq) knows what it's like. Let's stand up and play like men, and I think our guy (Howard) did that tonight."

Shaq responds by calling his former coach, SVG, the "master of panic, and when it gets time for his team to go in 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."

On Dwight Howard

After Howard ripped the coaching staff for not getting him the ball in the fourth quarter during a playoff loss to Boston:

"Would you rather he didn't say those things? Absolutely," Van Gundy said. "At the same time, in some ways you'd be disappointed that there wasn't any frustration after [Game 5].

After Game 2 of the NBA Finals:

"He did not play with great energy," Van Gundy pointed out. "He did not run the court. He did not run the floor. He didn't not use his athleticism."

On Rafer Alston

After Alston questioned his playing time during his 0-5 shooting night in Game 2 of the Finals:

Playing well, regardless of circumstance, is "up to [Rafer]," according to Van Gundy. "And, if I'm on the outside, that sounds like an excuse to me."

On Jameer Nelson

Nelson came back for the NBA Finals after being injured for the entire second half of the regular season.

"...then in the second half I didn't think he was very good at all. One good play at the start of the second half and then I think he was forcing shots and plays after that. Turned the ball over. I just didn't think he was very good after that."