Mar

11

Van Gundy: We Need Leaders

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main 

?????????????????Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (left)?

It isn’t usually a topic that isn’t discussed very much, especially in light of the fact that they are playing winning basketball, but Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy met with team co-captains Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson following Monday’s practice, and according to John Denton of Florida Today, stressed upon both players the need to exert more leadership qualities, even more so since the season is in the last 20-odd games.

Neither Howard or Nelson would divulge details of the conversation with Smith and Van Gundy, but Howard did say that both Smith and Van Gundy is asking them both to assume more of a leadership role down the stretch.? Howard, in part because of his age and experience, has pretty much shied away from the leadership role, but as of late has been more vocal? and assertive.?

Van Gundy has reiterated the fact that the team doesn’t have a so-called “veteran leader” and that “vocal leaders” are overrated; he added that what is important is how players work in practice and how hard they play in games.? Again, you almost never hear about the so-called “leadership void” in Orlando, so assuming that is the case, then Nelson and especially Howard need to “man-up” a little bit, as all successful teams have leadership that gets teams through the bad times, as well as the good.



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