Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy ponders a change of strategy in the training camps – NBA News
After analysing the current scenario, Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy has made it known that he is not going to follow the old formula in the training camps, which will start on December 9.
As per his old plan, the players had to battle hard for three quarters each. However, as the upcoming training camps are only going to last for two weeks, Van Gundy had decided to take it slowly. In addition to that, the veteran coach would not carry out two practice sessions in a day, even if the league grants permission to the teams.
"We've always looked at it as a two-month process: a month to get ready for training camp and a month for training camp," Van Gundy said. "And now it's a 2½-week process. So there's no way you can do things the same way."
To handle the training camp, Van Gundy’s support staff comprises of strength and conditioning Coach Joe Rogowski and physical therapist Ed Manalo.
According to the plan charted out by the coaches in a meeting last Tuesday, the Magic would not practice on more than three consecutive days, so the players get some time for recovery.
"You've also got to have them ready to play NBA basketball by the time the season starts, or they're going to end up not being ready," Van Gundy said. "You can't do more than people are ready for, or people start breaking down.
"You can't err on either side of it, I guess. That's what's tough. You can't do too much, but you also can't do too little."
In the mean time, the league has allowed teams to open their facilities for the players from Thursday. So now, the athletes can perform their voluntary workouts at their respective team facilities. However, even now only strength-and-conditioning specialists and athletic trainers will supervise players and that too in gym.
This is because coaches and front office staff are not allowed to provide assistance to their players, nor can they have conversations with them, except for indiscreet talk. It is because of this very reason, Rogowski and Manalo carried out the meeting without Van Gundy.
Even though, lockout prevailed for five months, but Van Gundy still believe that his boys will be in good shape. Having said that the head coach also didn’t forget to mention that there is a disparity between being “in shape” and being in “NBA basketball shape.” For the time being, Rogowski and Manalo will keep their head coach updated about their players.
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