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Indiana Pacers: Top 5 Head Coaching Candidates

By Kyle Nishida

May 26, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird watches the game against the Miami Heat in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 102-90. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird watches the game against the Miami Heat in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 102-90. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indiana Pacers
Jan 15, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Broadcast analyst Jeff Van Gundy before a game between the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Jeff Van Gundy (430-318 NBA regular-season record)

First of all, no one is sure if Jeff Van Gundy is interested in coaching the Pacers, but Bird is capable of talking Van Gundy out of his coaching hiatus.

Van Gundy has been linked to multiple job openings during the past few seasons. While it seems like he is content with his job at ESPN, there are signs he could be getting an inch to be a head coach again.

Last month, Van Gundy was linked to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ coaching vacancy. In fact, Van Gundy reportedly met with the Timberwolves’ front office in person. Prior to this job opening, Van Gundy had never met with any team’s representatives when his name came up in job searches.

If Van Gundy does have the inch to get back into coaching, the Pacers should make a push for him. He has everything a franchise would want if they were replacing a coach of Vogel’s caliber.

Van Gundy has coached a lot successful basketball teams. He consistently made the playoffs with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. Most importantly, he took the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1999.

People may feel Van Gundy is out of touch with the game since being fired by the Rockets in 2007. However, that is far from true. As an analyst for ESPN, Van Gundy has watched tons of NBA games. He has had the freedom to watch offenses and defenses evolve and dissect the rising trends in the game. He most certainly is ready to get back into coaching if offered the job.

Also, Van Gundy has experience working with star talent. He dealt with Patrick Ewing in New York and Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming in Houston. Van Gundy would certainly be able to get the best out of Pacers’ star Paul George.

Van Gundy would be a huge pickup for the Indiana Pacers. However, the Pacers really have no control over his interest. The crucial dilemma for Van Gundy is determining if he thinks he will be successful with the Pacers. If he does not believe he will be successful with them, he will not come.

Next: David Blatt

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