This column was originally going to be a convincing piece as to why Maurice Cheeks (full disclosure: my favorite player of all time) deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Then Stan Van Gundy decided enough was enough and exposed for all of us Dwight Howard’s true character – a selfish brat whose childish demands and indecision make him utterly impossible. When this mess in the Magic Kingdom shakes out sometime in May, Van Gundy will be unemployed, because that’s what
Stan Van Gundy wants to return next season
Stan Van Gundy wants to be back with the Orlando Magic next season, and he’s saying so definitively. That’s more than Dwight Howard can say. In an interview today with Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel in the wake of a bizarre series of events that included the revelation that Howard asked management to fire Van Gundy, the coach was asked what he wants to do next season. “I don’t have a scenario in my head where I wouldn’t (return),” said Van Gundy,
Tonight’s best game: Orlando at Philadelphia
Tensions are running high as the playoffs draw near, and two teams feeling the heat will take their respective aggressions out on each other when the floundering Philadelphia 76ers host the reeling Orlando Magic in Saturday’s best game. If you haven’t seen the NBA’s most awkward clip of 2012, here it is. The Dwight Howard saga has somehow grown since the trade deadline, with his sudden reversal on his trade demand and his decision to opt in to his contract and possibly
News, Notes, and Rumors from around the NBA: April 6, 2012.
NEWS Cavalier guard Anthony Parker will miss the next two games with a bruised sternum. Derrick Rose will miss his twelfth straight game with a groin injury. The Chicago Bulls have signed Mike James for the remainder of the season. Magic coach, Stan Van Gundy, says that Dwight Howard has asked that he be fired. NOTES LeBron James was flattered that Shaquille O’Neal said he’s his choice at this point for MVP. “It’s great, James said. “He’s a former MVP, a champion, a teammate of mine (with
Magic lose to Knicks amid Dwightmare drama; Bulls beat Celtics
Dwight Howard is truly having a season to forget. Most seem to be calling it a “Dwightmare”, fittingly. Sadly, most of it is due to off-court issues. Throughout his career, he was a drama-free, fun and charismatic superstar adored by most around him. Since the end of last season, however, he has become one of the more unlikable players in the NBA. He has become a walking daytime soap opera due to his much-documented indecision of where he would like to play. During the process, he
Tonight’s best game: New York at Orlando
The twists and turns of a wild season for the New York Knicks have been upstaged by the Dwight Howard saga. In a bizarre sequence of events for the media that had twitter in a state of frenzy, Stan Van Gundy addressed questions today and confirmed rumors that came out yesterday, saying Dwight Howard demanded Van Gundy be fired as the head coach of the Orlando Magic. “I was told it was true by people in our management,” Van Gundy said. “So right from
News, Notes, and Rumors from around the NBA: April 1, 2012.
NEWS/NOTES: Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks is likely to miss the remainder of the season with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose missed his 10th consecutive game Sunday afternoon because of a groin injury. He remains unsure of when he’ll return to the floor, but he doesn’t expect to miss the remainder of the regular season. Rose, the NBA’s reigning MVP, injured his groin in a March 12 game against the New York
The “Love Machine” keeps Wolves in the playoff hunt
Every time it looks like the Minnesota Timberwolves are no longer part of the Western Conference playoff race, Kevin Love takes over a game, leads them to a win and keeps them in the hunt. The Wolves have no right chasing a postseason berth. They were 100 games under .500 over the last two seasons. Their prized rookie point lived up to the hype, then went down with a torn ACL. Their center, a double-double revelation in his own right, also