Van's The Man

For his part Van Gundy has promised to whip the team into mental and physical shape. "If we look at the Chicago game and say, 'O.K., this is a start,' then we'll be fine," he says. "But if we look at it and say, 'O.K., now we've arrived,' we're in trouble."

Trouble has a way of dogging the coach of the New York Knicks, whoever he is. Van Gundy has watched four of them fall, but he is still standing. And for the moment, his players seem happy to keep him on his feet.