<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy, meanwhile, is expected to announce next week that he has hired Patrick Ewing as an assistant coach to work with center Dwight Howard. He also will announce that Brendan Malone (with Cleveland last year) and Steve Clifford (Houston) are joining his staff.</div> Source I'm so pumped for the Magic's future. Ewing as an assistant coach to help develop Howard as well as a free throw coach? Straight up nasty.
This is great. I feel very confident with our coaching staff. Stan Van Gundy is really an excellent coach and I'm actually glad we brought him in over Billy Donovan. I like that he's hiring Ewing and I like what I've heard from him in interviews. It sounds like he's going to develop Dwight further and make him the focal point of the offense (hear that Brian Hill, that means giving Dwight the ball). He knows what he's doing and watching our team under him is going to be such an improvement after what we all put up with last year with Mr. Incompetent, Brian Hill, running the show. I've also liked what Van Gundy plans to do with Darko. He said he doesn't understand why Hill didn't use Darko and Dwight together more and it's his job to put the best players on the floor and make it work. He also mentioned he'd give Darko some freedom (like allowing to shoot which is his strength). He knows what he's doing and I'm happy to call him our coach. Also, our management seems to be doing whatever it takes to win. The fact that we're bringing in Ewing and a free throw coach to help Howard develop and reach his full potential makes me very relieved. For awhile I felt bad for Dwight because he was told he wasn't allowed to hire a shooting coach by Brian Hill and he wasn't getting help from a free throw coach like many other teams hire. Now we're providing him everything he needs to become great, the rest is up to him.
I'm glad we're getting Patrick. Hopefully Patrick doesn't teach him to get dunked on like he did with MJ. lol
He's been dunked on enough already with the Kobe and Chris Paul dunks. I love the way that our coaching staff is forming. We will have monster improvement in adjusting and coaching style.
It's official! <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Orlando Magic have named Brendan Malone, Patrick Ewing, Steve Clifford and Bob Beyer assistant coaches, General Manager Otis Smith and Head Coach Stan Van Gundy announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deals are not disclosed. “Brendan, Patrick, Steve and Bob bring a great deal of experience and knowledge to Orlando,” said Van Gundy. “All four possess tremendous work ethic, have great attention to detail and will help our players reach their full potential. We are very excited to have them join our coaching staff.”</div> Source
Great news. Looks like we got some balance and some different perspectives. I never thought I would see Ewing on our bench again, but at least this time it is in a suit.