Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy acknowledged the fact that he's the one to blame for the Orlando Magic's performance against the Detroit Pistons.
With the daunting task of going on the road to Auburn Hills, the Magic must look forward.
In a press conference after Game Five, Van Gundy spoke to the media and accepted all of the blame for the Magic's three losses, which came as a result of his "bad coaching."
One win, three bad losses.
The Magic had the opportunity to win all three in the last minute.
"We needed to get better looks at the basket," said Van Gundy, blaming himself.
In Game One, the Magic found themselves down only two points with 38.8 seconds left to go. With a chance to win the game, poor shot selection and the inability of the refs to blow the whistle led to Orlando's defeat.
Game Two was another game which the officials did a horrible job, helping the Pistons win. This time the Magic found themselves down by two with 17.7 seconds remaining. Orlando failed to get off a good shot, and no foul was called when there was clearly contact in the lane.
A three-point field goal at the end of the third was counted and then later deemed by the league that the shot shouldn't have counted. The NBA can't be screwing up these calls in the playoffs. A big-time three-pointer like that had the ability to change the outcome of the game.
Perhaps the ref had a couple of dollars on the game?
Last night, the Magic had the opportunity to take advantage of an injury to Chauncey Billups and tie the series at 2-2. But it was the Magic that once again found themselves trailing and with only seconds to go. After a 33-point outburst by Rip Hamilton, it was Tayshaun Price hitting a floating jumper down the lane in the closing seconds.
That shot gave the Pistons a 90-89 lead. Van Gundy drew up a play for Hedo at the top of the key, which led to another poor look at the basket and another victory for the Pistons.
I wouldn't expect anything less than a thriller from these two battling teams in Game Five.
"I'm not going to comment on the play, the only thing that will lead to is me giving money to this league."
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5 months ago
It's not Van Gundy's fault that his team didn't rise to the occasion, Hedo held the ball too long and Maxiell fouled him on the play, that's hardly Van Gundy's fault. As you said, the officiating in that series has been woeful, even worse than game 3 of the Hawks-Celtics series (its not often that a crew of refs can be worse than Violet Palmer and Bennet Salvatore)
Van Gundy was taking the high road by accepting the blame for these losses, he could've pulled a page from the Ozzie Guiillen playbook and ripped the refs in a swear laden 5 minute tirade but he didn't, because he's a class act. When a coach or star athlete takes the blame for something at a press conference, don't assume they mean what they say.
5 months ago
So, um what are you reasons for firing him again?
Why would you fire the guy that brought this team together as a legit contender in the East. Seriously?
5 months ago
THE MAGIC CANT HELP THEY CANT SHOOT,AND SO WHAT BLAME IT ON THE COACH AFTER 82 GAMES AND GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS YOU WANT TO FIRE HIM THATS CRAZY.THATS WHY THE MAGIC ARE NOT GOING TO SEE OTHER PLAYOFF.THATS ALL RIGHT GUNDY KEEP YOUR HEAD UP YOU GOT THEM TO THE PLAYOFFS YOU GOT SOMETHING YOU FEEL ME,AND TO KEEP IT REAL THE MAGIC IS NOT MY TEAM I JUST FEEL BAD BECAUSE THEY FIRED THE COACH BECAUSE OF BAD PLAYERS AND SHOOTING,AND YOU LET HIM GO ON MOTHERS DAY THATS CRAZY TOO ME..........................
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