Best and Craziest Things Jeff Van Gundy Has Said During NBA Finals

So far in these NBA Finals, two blowouts have given broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy plenty of time to speak his mind, and boy has he done just that.

Whether it be an opinion about officiating, or a certain rule that he doesn't like (shocker, I know), or just a thought on a trend around the league, Van Gundy has voiced it over the course of the first three games of the Finals.

He's rebelled against his bosses a bit, made a few completely outlandish statements, and given us plenty to talk about in games that were hardly down-to-the-wire affairs.

Van Gundy seems to be leery about returning to the coaching ranks at the moment, so we can likely look forward to another season with him on the microphone for ABC and ESPN.

In the meantime, let's take a quick look at some of the best moments from Van Gundy throughout the first three games of these Finals, and appreciate him for the loud-mouthed, opinionated man that we've grown to love.

6. He's All for Tight-Lipped Coaches

Jeff Van Gundy may be quite the opinionated man on the microphone, but back in his coaching days he had a bit more restraint.

That's not to say he didn't pop off every once in a while, but he knew when to hold a few things back. So, hearing him applaud Gregg Popovich for not answering one of Doris Burke's questions during an in-game interview in Game 3 was not that surprising.

Burke asked Popovich what the San Antonio Spurs were going to do to keep LeBron James in check throughout the fourth quarter. Pop's response was a simple, "I can't tell you that."

Van Gundy loved it, going on and on about not giving away your game plan in the middle of the game.

"

Do Gregg Popovich and Jeff Van Gundy know that the Miami Heat don't have a TV on their sideline?

— Kelly Dwyer (@KDonhoops) June 12, 2013"

Whether it was a serious concern or not, it was definitely a memorable moment from Van Gundy.

5. Tracy McGrady Somehow Equaled LeBron James

Game 2 gave Van Gundy equal time to harp on this or that late in the game, as the Miami Heat had sealed things up about halfway through the fourth quarter.

Once Tracy McGrady hit the floor, Van Gundy got a bit lost.

Not only did he start to gush, but he went on and on about how good a passer T-Mac was in his heyday, even going as far as to compare him to LeBron James.

"

Jeff Van Gundy just compared Tracy McGrady in his prime to LeBron James. This game must be a blowout, because clearly Van Gundy is bored.

— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) June 10, 2013"

We're all entitled to our own opinions, I suppose.

This, of course, came just a few days after Van Gundy called McGrady a future Hall of Famer. A less outlandish statement, sure, but definitely not a sure thing.

I understand that he coached the guy, but you've got to show a bit of restraint at some point, right?

4. Erik Spoelstra Is a Hall of Fame Coach

Since we're on the topic of guys making it into the Naismith Hall of Fame, we should probably talk about Erik Spoelstra, because that's just what Jeff Van Gundy got to do during Game 3.

Here's the full transcript of what Van Gundy said (H/T to Dime Mag for the complete write-up):

"

Erik to me has never gotten in his short time, the credit that he deserves, particularly those first two years [2008-09 and 2009-10] that he took over. He’s taken over in a pretty down period in Miami Heat basketball, and with [Udonis] Haslem and Wade, Wade obviously being his best player, but the cornerstone of Haslem, that they were able to win as much as they did the first two years showed his true greatness in coaching. And then how he’s done these last three years, now being in the Finals three consecutive years, and actually delivering more than ever could have been expected with James. To reach three consecutive Finals is an incredible feat.

"

This is actually not too unbelievable. 

Regardless of the fact that he's coaching a team chocked full of star players, he's got a winning percentage well north of .600, and he's on his way to becoming just one of 13 coaches to win multiple championships, if things pan out.

3. Momentum Is Crap

Surely Game 3 was an extremely triumphant moment for Jeff Van Gundy, who decided to ride the idea of momentum into submission during Game 2.

After the Heat absolutely picked the Spurs apart in the second game of the series, things looked dire for the Spurs, almost as if they had been figured out.

Van Gundy gave us all the much needed tug on the reins late in the game, pointing out that each game is different:

"

Every game is an identity unto itself. People talk about momentum. There is no such thing game to game.

"

As we now know, the Spurs came out in Game 3, completely dominated in the second half, and beat the Heat by 36 points.

Overreacting to one game is unwise, and Van Gundy will be the first to tell you just that.

2. He Really Hates Coaches Getting Fired

Since being eliminated from the playoffs, the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks all fired their head coach.

These are coaches who successfully made the playoffs, even making it to the Western Conference Finals in Lionel Hollins' case, yet were relieved of their head coaching duties.

Van Gundy was given plenty of time to harp on that subject near the end of Game 3, lamenting the fact that coaches get fired for both winning and losing.

"

Nobody advocates for NBA coaches like Jeff Van Gundy ... blowout gives him time to rail against firings of Hollins, Karl, even Del Negro.

— Matt Steinmetz (@MSteinmetzCSN) June 12, 2013"

While there were a few coaches who needed to be removed, it's hard to argue with Van Gundy on the point in a broad sense. Making the playoffs should almost always signify job security, at least for another season.

1. JVG Isn't Buying a Tim Tebow Jersey Anytime Soon

Perhaps the single moment that yielded the most cheers from across the Internet for Van Gundy in the playoffs so far was his distaste for the coverage of Tim Tebow.

It's something sports fans complain about constantly, yet it's never given a break regardless of how inane the latest development is.

Near the end of Game 3, Mike Breen was going through the usual spiel about what you could catch on SportsCenter following the conclusion of the game. Of course, one of the top stories was Tebow's first workout with the New England Patriots. 

Van Gundy's analysis was right on point:

"

Are we really going down the road of following Tim Tebow every day?

"

At that moment you could hear each and every person out there who gets annoyed by Van Gundy's coverage simultaneously saying, "Eh, maybe he's not so bad."