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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - No matter what happens Tuesday night, can we all at least concur on one thing?
Can we unanimously agree that the Magic accomplished far more this season with Stan Van Gundy as coach than they would have with Billy Donovan?
I know it. You know it. And, most of all, Billy Donovan knows it.
"As far as getting that team to take the next step, I don't think there's any question Stan Van Gundy was the right coach for the job," Donovan said from his office in Gainesville. "You have to have a level of humility in this situation and face facts. And the facts are Billy Donovan has never coached an NBA game in his life. There was obviously going to be a learning curve for me. The job Stan has done this year has been phenomenal, and the job he did with the Miami Heat doesn't get talked about enough."
There's a good chance the Magic's season will come to a close Tuesday night in Detroit, but even if Jameer Nelson's guarantee proves to be nothing more than a meaningless motivational ploy, there is no denying one irrefutable truth: This Magic year will end a whole lot better than it began.
The Donovan debacle seems like a harmless and humorous practical joke now when viewed through the prism of Van Gundy leading the Magic to their most successful season in more than decade. Time may not heal all wounds, but 52 wins, a division title and the first playoff series win in a dozen years certainly does.
It was nearly a year ago when the Magic seemed as if they were in utter disarray. President Bob Vander Weide and GM Otis Smith had just fired Brian Hill-for the second time-and then watched in disbelief as their incredible Donovan coup blew up in their faces.
In the span of 24 hours, Donovan went from former Gators coach to current Magic coach to former Magic coach to current Gators coach.
Vander Weide remembers being outside on his cell phone in Grand Rapids, Mich., when he got the news of Donovan's flip-flop.
Appropriately and literally, it started to rain.
But figuratively and fortunately, the Magic did not get all wet. Smith and Vander Weide came up with the biggest save since Old Yeller rescued the hillbilly family from that rabid wolf.
You want to talk about an insane three days?
The Magic were trying to juggle three deals at once. They had to cancel Donovan's contract, negotiate a deal with the Miami Heat to acquire the rights to Van Gundy, then negotiate Van Gundy's contract to coach Orlando.
Gatorguyupnorth 
