Celtics fans have had enough of Stan Van Gundy after bizarre critique of Jayson Tatum
If Stan Van Gundy shows his face in Boston, he shouldn't expect any Celtics fans to buy him a drink. He's more likely to get one thrown in his face.
The TNT color commentator infuriated Celtics fans while calling Monday's Game 4 between Boston and Miami. They thought he was biased against the Celtics. And he essentially admitted it.
An actual quote from Stan Van Gundy on why he didn’t think that Bam Adebayo play wasn’t dirty: “I am a bit biased here because I have not liked the Celtics’ approach this entire game.”
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) April 30, 2024
Dude, get the fuck outta here.
But the moment that really sent Celtics fans over the edge was Van Gundy's reaction to Bam Adebayo's flagrant foul on Jayson Tatum.
Adebayo undercut Tatum while he was taking a warm up shot after a foul a was called on the Heat. The Celtics guard landed on Adebayo's foot and turned his ankle.
Refs looked at the sequence and hit Adebayo with a Flagrant 1. Van Gundy looked at the play and blamed Tatum.
Pick your favorite Stan Van Gundy line from his 5 min speech blaming Tatum for his ankle sprain.
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) April 30, 2024
Mine's: "You don't want this? Then don't shoot the ball." pic.twitter.com/pa0HWRTiRj
Celtics fans listening to that analysis couldn't do much but jump on Twitter to rail against Van Gundy for his bias and his questionable take.
Stan Van Gundy's coverage of Game 4 set off Celtics fans
Stan Van Gundy going on a 5 minute rant on a national TV broadcast blaming Tatum for rolling his ankle which was not his fault is just a bad look for the league. They need to get this guy off the air
— CelticsForum (@CelticsForum0) April 30, 2024
“What is Bam Adebayo supposed to do here” - Stan Van Gundy
— Ben Hayes (@BenHayes212) April 30, 2024
Quite possibly the dumbest question of all time
Van Gundy when he sees you take a shot after the whistle pic.twitter.com/8onVpU8vu5
— Ander (@andernotanders) April 30, 2024
Stan Van Gundy making his case for the worst announcing job done in NBA history tonight!!
— Jim Walsh (@jim_walsh13) April 30, 2024
Lmfao Stan Van Gundy admits on air he’s openly biased against the Celts. We know bud.
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) April 30, 2024
I’ve never seen so much criticism for a defense that’s allowed 78 points. Stan Van Gundy with the worst announcing job of all time
— Karan (@ksenguptaa) April 30, 2024
Broadcasters take stick from just about every fanbase. It's part of the gig. You'll see people claiming the play-by-play or color guy is biased in favor of one team while a whole other group of people could watch the same game and insist those same broadcasters were biased towards the other team.
Having said that, Van Gundy's take on this particular situation was insane. There's no defending his belief that Tatum was in the wrong for taking a warm-up shot, or that Adebayo was justified in contesting that shot the way he did. Tatum didn't deserve to have his ankle turned because he took that shot. And Adebayo should never get up under a player who is shooting, especially when it's a warm-up shot.
The Celtics won Game 4, 102-88, to take a 3-1 lead in the series. They'll head back to Boston with hopes of closing things out on Wednesday.