FanHouse

Notes from a trip to the NBA Playoffs.

Jameer Nelson turned a lot of heads when he "guaranteed" a win in Game 4, but speaking before tonight's game, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he didn't mind the bold talk one bit. "Well, I would hope that's what they all feel," said Van Gundy. "I mean, I think he said it in the right way. He said right away, 'I'm not trying to be arrogant or cocky or anything else, but that's the mind set we have to have.' And it is. I mean, what would I want? A guy coming up here expecting to lose? 'We might win, [or] we hope we'll win.' No, you have to come out here expecting to win. Otherwise don't show up."

Van Gundy also commented on how the media often makes sweeping judgments about a team's character based solely on the outcome of the game. "What happens all the time is how well [we] play determines what you guys write about a team's character and everything," Van Gundy told the gaggle of reporters. "So automatically, if you play well, you have great character. And if you don't play well, it's because you don't have the 'resolve,' and the 'mental toughness' and all of that. We have all of that. We have to play well."

He continued: "It's a matter of a play here or there, that people write, 'It's the Pistons' experience, they know how to win.' And if you get one call or Turk makes the shot [at the end of Game 4], everything's different. That's just the way it is. Players have to deal with that perception of them and everything else and understand that's just the business we're in, and it's the way it is. It's a results-driven business. People are going to make comments on your character and your toughness and all of that based on one or two plays in the series."