Stan Van Gundy Calls Out Dwight Howard
The Orlando Magic played a miserable game last night. Things got so bad that the corpse of one Larry Hughes gave them 40! Not only that, but coach Stan Van Gundy momentarily benched Dwight Howard in the fourth quarter, and publicly criticized his franchise player for a perceived lack of effort and focus.
Cue the fireworks:
“His focus isn’t where it needs to be. I don’t think, right now, we’re on the same page to be quite honest,” Van Gundy fumed. “I think his priorities need to be defense and rebounding. We’re 22-2 when he blocks three shots or more, and he’s got five blocks in the last six games so he’s not focusing on coming to help.
“He had 23 15-plus rebounds in the first 41 games, and he has one in the past 12 games. He didn’t even have a double-figure rebounding game (on Monday). It’s a matter of focus, and his focus is on the offensive end, and he gets discouraged when he doesn’t get the ball. I don’t think, I know, that the numbers prove that what we need him to focus on to win is defense and rebounding. But that’s not what he wants to do right now, so we have a little bit of a conflict.”
Let the record show that Stan Van Gundy does not lack balls. In fact, he could do Sam Cassells’s infamous ‘Yeah, I got big balls‘ celebratory dance on the sideline and I wouldn’t bat an eyelash. After all, it’s not everyday that a head coach throws his best player, and one of the megastars of the League, under the bus like that.
Howard, to his credit, took Van Gundy’s stinging criticism in stride and says he’ll try harder on the boards and defensive end. That’s called maturity, kids.
37 Responses to “Stan Van Gundy Calls Out Dwight Howard”
Feb.12 at 10:04 am
Ryne Nelson says:
A 21-year-old with maturity, this guy is really somthing
Feb.12 at 10:08 am
Ryne Nelson says:
I believe Dwight was benched in the fourth because he was in foul trouble
Feb.12 at 10:09 am
Bryant Reeves says:
Ron Jeremy’s got balls
Feb.12 at 10:13 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
I love Dwight for taking it well, but I threw him under the bus last night in the recaps as well. Love SVG, he doesn’t mess around.
Feb.12 at 10:15 am
Keith says:
Probably keep that stuff in house Ron.
Feb.12 at 10:41 am
D-Mac says:
GO SVG
that will get right under Dwights skinl…..prepare for the next game
Feb.12 at 11:09 am
Captain America says:
Can a coach get dunked? Jus askin’
Feb.12 at 11:28 am
JackBrown says:
Why is there no youtube of our favorite Sam Cassell moment? How is this possible?
Feb.12 at 11:32 am
Spaceship Jay says:
SVG did the right thing, I’m sure he has more experience with Dwight’s personality than all of us put together. But I hate the way the NBA promotes new Superstars at times. You dunk on a couple of guys = Your the second coming of Jesus Christ. How many guys have caught a couple of posters, and then been given the “greatness” sticker? Let him GROW Stern-bot, Let him GROW
Feb.12 at 11:47 am
Blue says:
Hmm…21 year old guy who is trying to cover the defensive mistakes of his team, carry a franchise and be a good father for his newborn child. I got an idea!! Let’s call him out in the news and see if that motivates him…I tell you, Van Gundys (or is it Van Gundies)are a trip…
Feb.12 at 11:52 am
CoolWhip11 says:
I will not be surprised if Howard dunks Van Gundy’s entire body through the rim this weekend during the dunk contest.
Feb.12 at 12:53 pm
G Diesel says:
Dwight Howard is a little bit overrated. He’s not a scorer. He should stick to rebounding and blocking and let Hedo and Rashad handle the scoring.
Feb.12 at 1:02 pm
Kevin says:
good call for Van Gundy to send a strong message when he felt he needed to…
Feb.12 at 1:35 pm
nastruthomas says:
larry hughes is only 26 years old dyck. and he’d ball on any of you fanboy “first!” posters every day of the week. who didnt see this coming? he’s on an upswing getting over devastating family events that would ahce destroyed a normal man. morons.
Feb.12 at 1:58 pm
white hot eboy says:
I like this guy, nastruthomas.
Feb.12 at 1:59 pm
Marcel Mutoni says:
me too. i think he’s larry’s cousin.
Feb.12 at 2:07 pm
Glen says:
Dwight Howard is overrated? Van Gundy was calling Howard out for not getting the rebounds and blocks that he should be getting, not for not scoring enough, Diesel. But Van Gundy needs to talk to just Dwight first I think, it seems every time the big guy has a bad game, Ron Jeremy is calling the dude out.
Feb.12 at 2:35 pm
Justin says:
Ryne, D12 wasn’t in foul trouble last night when SVG had him sitting. His rebounding numbers have been down and someone finally addressed the elephant in the room.
Feb.12 at 3:30 pm
Jukai says:
I can see Larry Hughes reading this thread and saying “oh man, screw this guy, I’m gonna call him a dyck”
Feb.12 at 3:51 pm
underdog says:
Let’s trade D12 to CHI for Ben Wallace then. Oh, and show some love to Larry Hughes please. At least he is trying.
Feb.12 at 3:53 pm
hursty says:
was it necessary to call him out in public though? i get the strategy but you know… in house kinda thing.
Feb.12 at 4:20 pm
tealish says:
Van Gundy knows his players and that’s why he called Howard out in public. He knows he’s not an egomaniac who will end up pouting instead of turning his game around. For example, if Mike Brown called LeBron out after say he settled for three’s late in a game that they lost, LBJ WOULD NOT be taking that sh*t in stride.
Feb.12 at 4:38 pm
W.Mack says:
Larry Hughes’s bio per nba.com
Born: Jan 23, 1979
Height: 6-5 / 1,96
Weight: 185 lbs. / 83,9 kg.
College: St. Louis
Years Pro: 9 So that would make him 29. Seems like he’s been around forever, though. Nonetheless, he’s still a hell of a player.
Feb.12 at 4:39 pm
Ro says:
Onions! Stan has Onions!
Feb.12 at 6:17 pm
jeremy says:
STV was just trying to get him to work harder.Whats wrong with that? Just because you are a superstar doesnt mean that you cant be called out if you arent trying hard enough.All I got to say is,I feel sorry for whoever plays Orlando next.You all better watch out for Dhoward.I wouldnt want to piss him off.
Feb.12 at 6:18 pm
jeremy says:
SCARY
Feb.12 at 6:27 pm
tenorca says:
I just spent 20 minutes looking for the giant testicle dance on youtube as well. Unfortunately, Sam Cassell played for the Clippers and all tapes have, apparently, been destroyed.
Feb.12 at 8:26 pm
Sesa says:
I’m just sayin’, if the Magic doesn’t have a good perimeter defender how can Dwight get those rebounds?
I like Mo Evans as their perimeter defender though.
Feb.12 at 9:16 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
SVG said what he said because he KNEW that Dwight would hear it loud and clear and react like the mature adult he is. Mama Van Gundy didn’t raise no fools.
Feb.12 at 11:57 pm
Cam Jones says:
Clippers games are immediately wiped from public record for fear of lawsuit from retinal scarring, plus it prevents novices from ever thinking that is how you play ball at the professional level. They are protecting not just you but the integrity of the sport. We salute you Donald Sterling.
Feb.12 at 11:57 pm
RV says:
the nba just rejected (again)DH’s request to raise the rim
Feb.13 at 12:00 am
RV says:
he should go through the legs and as he’s coming up with the ball, tap the backboard with the ball and then dunk it..
Feb.13 at 12:22 am
Dacre says:
NOTE TO ALL FUTURE EA SPORTS BASKETBALL GAME PROGRAMMERS - THE SAM CASSELL I GOT BALLS DANCE NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN ALL FUTURE VERSIONS.
Feb.13 at 12:25 am
daniel says:
i know howard is a beast, but is SVG getting a little greedy asking the guy to grab 15 boards a game?
Feb.13 at 3:16 am
Blinguo says:
If SVG had said this to Shaq Diesel back in Miami, would he have motivated Shaq into being “pissed off and (been known to do things like) winning a championship” a year before The Pimp known as Slickback(ed) hair Riley takeover? Also Jeff Van Gundy is goofballs. Mark Jackson commercial and calling out his phone, YES.
Feb.13 at 3:33 am
tealish says:
Daniel, Van Gundy’s not asking for 15 a game. But for Howard, that’s not a stretch anyways. Why not expect great things from a great player if he’s capable? That’s assuming he’s a great player though.
Feb.13 at 3:32 pm
daniel says:
i understand, i guess what i meant was is he getting greedy by being disappointed that he didnt grab 15 in a couple games, you dont see lebron being called out by mike brown for having a couple sub-25 point games do you? yeah u can expect 28+ every game, but if he doesnt have it its no reason to get frustrated. i hope howard bounces back with one of those sick 25/20 games.