The NHL traditionally has changed coaches early and often. Now Basketball has the quick trigger finger.

"It's just a matter of you don't know the date -- and you can't worry about it," Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I think those guys who went didn't worry about it. You try to win games. And you realize that's the way it's going to go in this profession.

"You just do your job and when the time comes . . . somebody else will do your job."

Van Gundy knows that there's likely an expiration on his stay in Orlando. He just doesn't know when he'll be excused by team President Bob Vander Weide and General Manager Otis Smith.

"Whatever time Otis and Bob think that they've got a better alternative, they should go with that guy," Van Gundy said. "I say that with no qualms."

Van Gundy also says that knowing he currently has as much job security as the league allows -- next to the guys wearing championship rings or named Jerry Sloan.

Heading into the Magic's game tonight against the Golden State Warriors, Van Gundy has been on the job in Orlando for 106 games, 116 counting the postseason.

He's 70-36 in about a season-and-a-quarter. As of Sunday, only two other coaches had more regular-season wins in roughly this time frame -- the coaches who appeared in last season's NBA Finals, Doc Rivers (88-18) of the Boston Celtics and Phil Jackson (76-28) of the L.A. Lakers.

Under Van Gundy, the Magic finished 52-30 last season with a division title and advanced to the second round of the playoffs -- breakthroughs not recorded since the Shaq years.

With an 18-6 record, including three of four wins on its current road trip, Orlando is ahead of last season's pace. The Magic were 17-7 after 24 games last season, but didn't win their 18th game until Game 27.

As one NBA scout says, "Stan can coach his butt off." Although he takes a chance burdening his starters with heavy workloads and everyone with his relentless ranting, Van Gundy has pushed the right buttons -- technically, motivationally.

On this trip, his different set of defensive traps befuddled Portland star Brandon Roy, allowing the Magic to pull off a late comeback against the Blazers.

The Magic's stunning win on Saturday night over Sloan and the Utah Jazz without superstar Dwight Howard (who is doubtful tonight with a sore left knee) was straight out of a coaching handbook.

Van Gundy extracted as much effort and efficiency as possible from a short-handed group unsettled early by Howard's absence.

Van Gundy's performance review likely will hinge on progress the Magic make as a contender. He was 5-5 last postseason.

But with Howard at center and Smith talking title-runs, expectations are high.

"I don't know how I'm judged now or in the postseason," Van Gundy said. "Ultimately, you're only judged by winning or losing."

Van Gundy is comforted by an open, solid relationship with Smith. The Magic have a very good, but not a great roster. It appears Van Gundy is getting the most out of it if you listen to Smith.

"We have, by far, the best coach for our guys. It's not even close," Smith said. "For Stan and I, it's what he's doing with our team in both wins and losses, and what he does in developing our team.

"We have young guys. He's done an outstanding job when it comes to that. We're eons away from where we were a year ago, two years ago."

Even more comforting to Van Gundy should be Smith's feelings about franchises with quick trigger fingers.

"I don't believe those guys go from good coaches to bad coaches in a year," he said.