Mourning Takes A Swipe At Stan....

[Rick Rolled]

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/south-florida-sun-sentinel/TH02GMD08M0G3BKSL

On former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy declining to play Mourning in tandem with Shaquille O'Neal during the 2005 Eastern Conference finals against Detroit:

"Stan is a good guy, but at that point I thought he was overmatched and lacked the experience necessary to lead us to the championship… I didn't have confidence in him because I didn't think he used the personnel correctly."

On the same subject:

"I ran into the Pistons' coach, Larry Brown, two years later and he asked me why Stan didn't put us both in there. He said he couldn't understand it."

[CourtsideTV]

stan>mourning

[Optimus_Steel]

The Heat didnt lose because Stan didnt play Shaq and Zo togther, they lost becuase Wade got that limiting rib injury.

[MagicMadness]

Meh, maybe he's right.

I mean Stan was inexperienced, and he was going up against Larry Brown...

[Mannchild]

Stan>>>>>>>Zo

[DiplomaticMagic]

Zo always hated the Magic. I always hated him too.

[magicfanatic23]

I've never liked Zo. Don't really know why but he has always seemed way too arrogant.

Please, the reason they lost was not b/c Zo didn't play with Shaq against Detroit. It was because Wade was hurt. Zo is way off on these quotes. He can't touch Stan the Man lol.

[EasternMagic]

Zo... just retire

[goflyakite]

Zo... just retire

Mourning has been courageous with what he's gone through, been a tough player and been charitable. Other than that, he's a dirty player and a classless, surly arsehole for the most part

[craig01]

Wish he would have played here.

[N4U|Redux]

Mourning is a great competitor.

I don't care what he thinks of Stan though.

And, whats the deal with Ron Jeremy and the ladies? I know he apparently has some 'assets' but the dude is ridiculously hideous. Girls with 'assets' that overall look like that don't make it in porn, but a man does? Yuck.

[MagicStarwipe]

That's funny because Riley didn't play them together either.

[maginno]

I like Zo but he was just too much in awe of Shaq and that quote just confirms it again. That sounds like a Shaq sentiment. Zo you were a great player but you are no coach.

[Flash is the Future]

I don't think it was necessarily a swipe at Stan. He just implied what most Heat players have said. That SVG couldn't command the respect of Shaq/Zo/GP/Toine/JWill. If I had a young team, I'd want SVG as coach (we really could use him back ). But with a veteran team filled with guys with egos, SVG really isn't the right guy. But, you guys have a young, still rising team so SVG is naturally great for you guys. He's one of the best coaches in the business. Just not with vets. As for using Shaq/Zo together, in 2005 that would've been a great idea. I mean, that was when Zo completely destroyed the Wizards when Shaq was out. 14/13/3 in Game 3. He was a lot more mobile back then, so it would've been a much better idea than it would've been to pair the older Zo with an older Shaq. Shaq in 2005 hadn't really declined much.

[Typhoon20]

Mourning is a great competitor.

I don't care what he thinks of Stan though.

And, whats the deal with Ron Jeremy and the ladies? I know he apparently has some 'assets' but the dude is ridiculously hideous. Girls with 'assets' that overall look like that don't make it in porn, but a man does? Yuck.

Gotta respect the man, he is a source of inspiration to many guys.

[maginno]

I don't think it was necessarily a swipe at Stan. He just implied what most Heat players have said. That SVG couldn't command the respect of Shaq/Zo/GP/Toine/JWill.

SHaq was behind that and it didn't include Wade. Riley was still under the misguided idea that Shaq was the main guy on the team. I don't think you can imply that Stan is only for young teams not veterans based on not having Shaq's confidence. Shaq pretty much became an idiot in many respects as he grew older. Living down here in South Florida I can point out to you that SHaq even had a respect problem for Riley toward the end. I believe it was Ira winderman that reported the most notorious sign of that in an incident where someone had to step in between Shaq and Riley.

Plus no long term heat follower would deny the undermining that Shaq did just so he could get Riley to jump in and replace Stan. Had Riley not been in the organization I don't think you would have seen that lack of respect. Sp all in all I don't find your analysis balanced.

[Flash is the Future]

It wasn't just Shaq. GP+Zo+Toine+to some degree JWill all blew off SVG in the locker room, and I believe Gary Payton has actually come out and said something about that (though I'm not sure when). Shaq may very well have caused the other players to question SVG, because none of them really wound up listening to SVG. I'd agree with you that Shaq is the reason Riley stepped in for SVG. Which is why SVG won't say anything bad about Riley - because it wasn't his fault as Shaq had to be considered the more valuable guy then to be pleased. Wade has a great relationship with SVG, though. Perhaps I shouldn't say that SVG isn't for veterans - it might be better said that SVG isn't good at coaching players with egos. Shaq, Zo, GP, Toine, JWill. They've all got it. You might be right that had there been no Pat Riley, Shaq may have never pushed him out. SVG is a phenomenal coach. Just don't give him a locker room full of egos.