Orlando
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Doug Christie called in sick yesterday, missing practice. But perhaps what he is really sick of is riding the pine. Brought in to be a defensive specialist and to help distribute the ball as well, he played just six minutes against his former club on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the player the Magic gave up to get him, Cuttino Mobley, played a solid 39 minutes for the Kings. Is Orlando's chemistry blowing up?
If you are an aging veteran who has made his reputation on defense, slick passing, and clutch shots, you can't be happy riding the pine as you enter your twilight. You are at the age when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Most of your career is behind you, and if you have to come off the bench, how can you make a defensive impact? Defense is not an activity that makes an immediate impact. One possession, two possessions, a couple tough shots make it look like nothing has happened when in fact the opponents are taking lower percentage shots.
Christie needs minutes if he is going to be happy and if the team is going to thrive. You can be sure of at least one thing though: if the Magic slip out of the playoffs, there will be a coaching change, and Christie will either become a major focus, or trade bait.
NEXT GAME
The Magic (29-27, third in the Southeast) host the New York Knicks (24-33, fifth in the Atlantic) TONIGHT. The game starts at 7:00pm Eastern and will be broadcast on Sun Sports and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Who took home the Oscars? And, did the Magic players get it right? See who the Magic players picked.
INJURY UPDATE
Mario Kasun(knee) andAndrew DeClercq(knee) are on the injured list.
Brian Schmitz ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: After riding the bench most of the previous night in a game against his old teammates, Orlando Magic guard Doug Christie called in sick and missed Thursday's practice.Christie is clearly upset with his diminished role since a recent lineup change relegated him to backup shooting guard. "I was told he was ill," Magic Coach Johnny Davis said.
Mike Thomas ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: The guys in sports have upped the ante in their personal attacks against me over the Orlando Magic arena issue.First, NBA writer Tim Povtak called me "Bozo" on the radio. And now Magic beat writer Brian Schmitz called me a "Gator-worshipping poopy-head" in his column. There is some validity in Schmitz's statement. But I am beginning to detect increasing desperation from people who fear losing their publicly subsidized jobs program
Marc Narducci ofThe Philadelphia Inquirerwrites: Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic also expressed admiration for James."LeBron, to be so young, has handled himself tremendously," Hill said.
Lacy J. Banks ofThe Chicago Sun-Timeswrites: If the Bulls win at least half their games in March, the Orlando Magic, who made no roster changes, appear to be the most vulnerable to being knocked out of the playoff race.While the Bulls were 7-4 in February, the Celtics 8-4 and the 76ers 5-6, the Magic was 4-7.
The Associated Press writes inCovers.Com: The rejuvenated New York Knicks appear ready to climb out of the Atlantic Division cellar as they visit the Orlando Magic at the TD Waterhouse Centre...The Knicks have won a season high-tying three in a row, including a 117-115 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on Monday. New York is tied for last with Toronto in the mediocre Atlantic. The Raptors visit Memphis on Friday.