Magic’s Van Gundy is no Scrooge this Christmas

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — One thing that will be a little jollier this Christmas for the Orlando Magic is Stan Van Gundy.

Players say he has changed since Dwight Howard asked the coach last month to limit the negativity. Van Gundy even sent out holidays cards complete with a candy apple to every member of the organization.

Still fiery as ever, the coach admits he’s trying to take a different approach with players. Just don’t expect him to be Mr. Relaxed, especially not with the Magic gearing up for a Christmas Day matchup against the Eastern Conference leading Boston Celtics.

He still takes personal pride in every play and notices even the smallest details. There is rarely a mistake that players won’t hear about from Van Gundy.

Only now they say he’s not as volatile.

Rashard Lewis tested that formula during Orlando’s victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday, when the All-Star forward had an in-bounds pass stolen in the final minutes. The turnover nearly cost the Magic the win.

“I told him if I was the old me, I would’ve thrown a chair at him,” Van Gundy joked. “But since I’m the new me, I just called timeout, and I bit my lip and tried to keep from saying anything.”