Watch out when you fly too close to the Magic

Opponent File
Orlando Magic
The Magic play in the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. Their 2006- 2007 record was 40 - 42 (third in the Southeast). Here's the Orlando Magic Roster.

Local Papers:
Orlando Sentinel | Magic
Team Pages:
CNNSI.com | Magic
ESPN.com | Magic
FoxSports | Magic
NBA.com | Magic
Sportsline.com | Magic

Head Coach: Stan Van Gundy
2007 Draft: F Reyshawn Terry, (#44), North Carolina (traded to Dallas).
New Players: C Adonal Foyle (Free agent); F-C Marcin Gortat (Trade); F Rashard Lewis (Trade).
Season Goal: Make Magic with Rashard Lewis added to the Dwight Howard show. Do they have enough pieces to make it to the playoffs and beyond?
Record vs. Nets: 0 - 0

Other Opponent Files

Orlando Magic (7 - 2) - Friday, November 16, 2007, 7:30PM EST - Izod Center
Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
They're smoking hot, they're undefeated on the road, and the Orlando Magic come to town with a tight-knit unit that appears to be thriving with new recruit Rashard Lewis. The Magic have only lost to Detroit and Phoenix, no slouches there, and are burning a hole in the nets, averaging 104 points per game, which ranks then seventh in the NBA. Manster Dwight Howard is leading the charge with 21. 5 points per game while being tied for the league lead in rebounds with 14.6. If you looked at their roster, you wouldn't be all that impressed, but new coach Stan Van Gundy has the smarts to get the most out of this group. And in the crash and burn department we have the Nets, who are just trying to regain some momentum lost when Vince Carter got hurt, the offense disappeared, and the losses started piling up. Trying to stop a 3 game losing streak against Dwight and his mates ain't an easy thing to face - don't let the sun go down on the Nets at the Izod yet again.

Why Should You Watch? Dwight Howard is a marvel, truly. Put his athleticism on display against Sean Williams, and see how quickly Williams picks up 3 or 4 fouls. The Nets need to regain some pride, at least on offense, while shutting down the undefeated on the road Magic. That'll be a tall order. Can Richard Jefferson extend the run he's on? Can someone else step up and have a good game and carry the offense besides RJ? Is this a good time for Jamaal Magloire to show what he's got? You betcha.
- Joe

Orlando Magic Cheat Sheet
The Story From Orlando: Some promising exhibition performances have turned into a frustrating start to the regular season for Magic guard J.J. Redick.

Redick remained on the sideline again Tuesday for the sixth consecutive game. He has been out since suffering back spasms Nov. 5 during a practice in Washington. Even before then, though, he was hardly playing.

Redick sustained a herniated disc last summer just before the Magic drafted him, but he said Tuesday that the two injuries were not related. He said an MRI taken last week showed no problems with the previously herniated disc.

He said he didn't expect to be back in uniform until Friday when the Magic play in New Jersey.

"It's frustrating, but there's nothing you can do about it," he said after a light workout Tuesday morning. "It's much better now than it was. I was miserable last week. I couldn't even leave the house for three days, and spent most of the time in bed."

Pain Game: F Tony Battie (shoulder) is out. G JJ Redick (back) is questionable. G Marcus Williams (foot) and G Vince Carter (ankle) are out for the Nets.

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