Van Gundy Praises McMillan

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy does not think that Seattle SuperSonics coach Nate McMillan should be named coach of the year ? but for good reason.
?I love everyone below my brother,? Van Gundy said, whose sibling, Stan, coaches the Miami Heat.

But if his brother were not in the league, Jeff Van Gundy says he sees no reason why McMillan should not be considered for the honor.

?Nate is a hell of a coach,? Van Gundy said. ?Unlike some others, I have not vacillated from 37 wins to 50 (for the Sonics). I have always known they are hard-playing, well-coached, tough, smart. A mirror image of really what he was as a player.

?Coaches don?t really allow the wins by a particular team to obstruct their view of who can coach and who can not.

?I said the last time I was here, if all you had to do is look at records to see who is a good coach, then all of us would be in jams.?

Van Gundy took issue with the notion that McMillan is a lame-duck coach because McMillan does not have a contract extension.

?He?s not a lame duck; he is in a position of power,? Van Gundy said. ?The guy can really coach, great player, model citizen. This is his organization, this is his town, this is his team, and I am sure that it will work out great here.

?And yet if he decides he wants to move on, people would be falling all over themselves to hire him. He is a really special coach. He has had a great run here as a player and as a coach.?</div>

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