"It's inappropriate, and it's also ignorant" - When SVG slammed Phil for using his Heat departure as an analogy

The Miami Heat , led by Erik Spoelstra, struggled early in the 2010-11 campaign. The legendary Phil Jackson commented on these struggles, suggesting that the job of his fellow NBA head coach might very well be in jeopardy.

'The Zen Master' drew comparisons to a few years earlier when the Heat and their then-head coach Stan Van Gundy parted ways under similar circumstances. Unsurprisingly, SVG took issue with this comparison and did not hold back in his response.

"To second-guess another coach and comment on a situation he (Jackson) knows nothing about - it's inappropriate. And it's also ignorant…I mean it as ignorant [in that] he doesn't know what that situation was, and he doesn't know what the situation is now," asserted Van Gundy, per the NY Times.

Riley's return to the Heat bench was looming

In the 2010 NBA offseason, the team from South Beach made headlines by signing superstars LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade, forming 'The Big Three.' Expectations were high for a dominant season, but after a month, the team had a disappointing 9-7 slate - a record that "says a lot about coming together with some real talented guys, and not having a base," noted Jackson.

Suggestions arose for the team's president, Pat Riley , who had coached the Heat from 1995 to 2003, to step in again. He had done the same in December 2005 after his successor, Van Gundy, had resigned. 'The Godfather' then guided Miami to the 2006 Championship title before Spoelstra took over in 2008. 'The Zen Master' speculated that Bosh and James, in particular, might soon push for a similar coaching change.

"The scenario that sits kind of behind the scene, is that eventually these guys that were recruited….are going to come in and say, 'We feel you [Riley] can do a better job coaching the team," he remarked.

In conclusion, Phil warned that if "things don't straighten out" for Spoelstra's Heat, it could lead to a "Van Gundy situation all over again."

Related: David Robinson on taking a backseat when Tim Duncan arrived in San Antonio: "It's not tough when you want to win"

SVG was angry; Coach Spo was relaxed

Van Gundy , who was with the Magic at the time, consistently stated that his resignation from the Heat was solely for personal reasons. He was understandably upset about his name being dragged into Jackson's speculation and expressed his frustration even further.

"Phil has no idea what the Van Gundy situation was because, even though he coaches in our league, he certainly had no insight or knowledge of that," SVG remarked . "So an analogy he'd make to my situation would be totally useless.

Anyways, the man in question, Spoelstra , took the comments in a much lighter vein, stating he would even laugh about them with his coaching staff.

This relaxed attitude was evident when Coach Spo and his team made a remarkable turnaround in December 2010, losing only one game.

The Heat then went on to finish the regular season strong, later advancing all the way to the 2011 NBA Finals. Meanwhile, the Lakers, under Jackson, were swept by the Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Related: "Did you really think I wanted to play for Pat Riley instead?" - Shaquille O'Neal once denied involvement in the Heat's firing of Stan Van Gundy