Stan Van Gundy agrees with his brother Jeff Van Gundy.
When it comes to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat, there is no sibling rivalry. The Van Gundy brothers both agree: The 2010-11 Heat are better on paper than Michael Jordan’s record-breaking Chicago Bull.
Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy went on Dan LeBatard’s radio show in Miami earlier this week and compared the Heat to the Michael Jordan Bulls teams that broke the NBA record with 72 victories in 1995-96.
“If I look at what the Bulls did winning 72 games and I look at the Heat roster, I am going to tell you that the Heat roster is better than any roster that Michael Jordan played with with the Bulls,” Stan Van Gundy said. “I don’t think that people predicting them breaking the win total and being in the 70s and the whole thing, I don’t think those are expectations that are out of line based on their roster. Whether they come true or not, we’re going to find out in a few months, but I don’t think those are crazy predictions for the roster they have.
”Dwyane Wade is certainly, in my opinion anyway, as good as he was, is better than Scottie Pippen. Chris Bosh is better than Toni Kukoc. Mike Miller is every bit as good a shooter as (John) Paxson or (Steve) Kerr or anybody they put there. Plus, he’s 6′8″. If you start going down the list, I don’t think there is any question that the roster the Heat have is as talented a roster if not more so as any roster there has ever been in the NBA.”
A couple of weeks ago, Jeff Van Gundy, an analyst for ABC and ESPN, told the Miami Herald that the Bulls would break the Bulls’ single-season record for victories.
“They (Heat) will break the single-season win record [of 72],” Jeff Van Gundy said. “And I think they have a legit shot at the Lakers’ 33-game [winning] streak [in 1971-72], as well. And only the Lakers have even a remote shot at beating them in a playoff series. They will never lose two games in a row this year.
”They have put together a much better roster than anybody could ever have expected. “There is now no good way to defend them. They are unguardable. They are indefensible. They are just too good and have added so much shooting and are so versatile that they will score at will.
”And with Erik Spoelstra coaching, they will be in the top three defensive teams in the league, as well. The other 29 teams better hope the lockout gets moved up a year.”
There is a theory being perpetrated by ESPN’s Skip Bayless that the Van Gundy brothers are simply trying to heap undue pressure on the Heat. If it were any other coach but Stan Van Gundy, I might buy it. StanVan Gundy, at least from my experience, calls them as he sees them, much like his brother Jeff Van Gundy does as an analyst.
The fact is, the Heat have put together a virtual Dream Team of talent. Of course, nobody knows how all of these gifted players will mesh together, and the Heat still have to go out and prove they can win a championship. But, on paper, they are the best team ever assembled in the modern-day NBA.
Agreed?
Stan Van Gundy concurs with brother Jeff Van Gundy: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Miami Heat are better than the record-breaking Chicago Bulls of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
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