Peter Vecsey
HOOP DU JOUR
So, Otis Smith claims he knows nothing about Dwight Howard’s request to have Magic coach Stan Van Gundy fired.
First things first; I learned long ago never to believe anything the Magic President of Propaganda purports with an ingenuous face. What distances his dishonesty from the field, with Don Nelson no longer actively dispensing disinformation, is his unqualified lack of caring when caught, a great gift to have in his line of work.
Regardless of what the Magic general manager says, it stands to reason he wouldn’t be the person to approach with such a demand, so why ask him about it? Management does not make command decisions of such enormity, ownership does.
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Reuters
WHAT ’s the deal? Dwight Howard looks to have gone straight to ownership with his demand to have Magic coach Stan Van Gundy fired, says The Post’s Peter Vecsey.
Clearly, Howard went straight to the top, Rich and/or Dan DeVos.
On another front, after Saturday night’s 88-82 victory before a less hostile Philadelphia mob than Orlando’s now rabid pack, Howard indignantly swatted away obtuse (redundant for Charles Barkley) contention he quit on the Magic (eight points and eight rebounds vs. the Knicks) the day Van Gundy put up a tent over Amway Center.
I agree. Howard quit on himself, or at least he shut down. He wasn’t mentally strong enough to eclipse the negativity enveloping him, and simply suffocated.
To Howard’s credit, he said he wouldn’t let the bad karma break him and it didn’t, for one performance anyway … evidenced by his 20 points and 22 rebounds against the reeling-with-no-feeling 76ers.
On the plus side, Doug Collins’ vomiting comets — losers in 18 of their 28 — achieved the distinction of not having a single starter score more than seven points.
“Collins is fast-becoming this year’s version of Gene Mauch,” column chondriac Richie Kalikow said. “Being blown out by the Raptors the other night was Chico Ruiz stealing home in 1964.”
Read a report over the weekend that asserted Howard wants to hire as well as fire. His top choices supposedly are Brian Shaw and Michael Malone, proving he’s at least up to speed on worthy candidates.
This just in: Howard does not intend to grant Patrick Ewing an interview.
Howard has little respect for the Magic assistant. Of course, you probably already deduced that, given he felt the need to work on his post moves last summer with Hakeem Olajuwon.
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Shocking … a sham of a marriage involving a Kardashian-by-marriage.
Really, you could have knocked me over with a feather boa when I saw Lamar Odom and the Mavericks had invoked the always-popular “irreconcilable differences” clause.
Odom’s forgettable foray in the Metroplex — 50 games and career-low averages across the stats sheet — has left him in limbo for the rest of the season … as in won’t be waived, can’t be relocated, takes up a roster spot, yet collects a pay envelope.
He’s like a disgraced New York City teacher in a rubber room.
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Over the weekend, Tennessee Williams’ Grizzlies took out both of last season’s Finals participants. Friday night, they mooned Miami before dusting off Dallas at home.
Memphis, 33-23 after blunting the Clippers last night and hiking to within a half game of fourth spot in the West, have won six of seven and eight of 10.
Not coincidentally, the run has come since hired gun Gilbert Arenas hit town. In nine games (15 minutes per), he has taken 42 shots, 24 from the great divide, 10 of those cash, no change. That spreads the defense and the wealth, making Memphis deeper than all comers except ear-Pop-ping San Antonio.
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You know playoff teams are particularly poisonous title contenders when their reinforcements, many who gained fame as starters, are now being utilized as nuclear subs and doing damage against the opposition’s second wave.
It’s an escalating movement (we’ll call it bench jockeying) to combat the impact of instant offensive forces like Jason Terry, who has filled the Vinny (Microwave) Johnson role for years as a Maverick, and the Thunder’s James Harden, who figures to become the first exclusive understudy to receive a near-max contract.
Manu Ginobili has served both functions. He and Stephen Jackson, and, to a lesser degree, Gary Neal, are the Spurs’ current stockpile weapons of choice.
The Grizzlies are employing Zach Randolph, O.J. Mayo and Arenas for that purpose.
Ray Allen’s afterlife as a reserve began two games ago. The Heat signed often-injured Mike Miller for five years ($30 million) to perform that duty.
The Clippers have two compulsive scorers on call in Mo Williams and Nick Young.
Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young and Jodie Meeks are the 76ers’ irregular munitions factory, but, of late, that hasn’t been enough to compensate for the amount of blanks being shot by the regulars.
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If/when Amar’e Stoudemire returns to the job this season, Mike Woodson should seriously consider adopting the same modus operandi, regardless of what kind of shape he’s in. Later for his ego; let him check it at the door like many of the above players are doing.
By the way, Randolph was in car accident early yesterday. Reports, like my power to retain them, were sketchy, and his status for last night’s Clipper conflict at the FedExCon Forum was unknown. Zach referred all queries to his new spokesman, Ozzie Guillen.
peter.vecsey@nypost.com
Dwight Howard, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, Magic, Otis Smith, Charles Barkley, Van Gundy
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