Arenas: Last could be ‘for the better’ for Wizards
Gilbert Arenas is already thinking about the possibility of a last-place finish for his Washington Wizards - and finding the silver lining. With Arenas still working his way back from a third knee operation in 1 1/2 years, the Wizards are off to a 1-8 start heading into their game Friday against the Houston Rockets.NBA/~4/460079494″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Pistons are less physical, but more slick
The Bad Boys are long gone. These Pistons have their own personality with Allen Iverson — and it ain’t bad, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/459184172″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Rondo outplays Iverson as Celtics whip Pistons
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There was a look in Jermaine O’Neal’s eye that suggested awe. Grabbing 91 rebounds in five games, after all, seems like a work more of fiction than reality, even for Superman.

Williams’ huge 3 helps Hawks snap 4-game skid
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Nelson leads Magic over Raptors, 103-90 (AP)

Stan Van Gundy predicted at the morning shootaround that Toronto forward Chris Bosh would score 40 points against his Orlando Magic. The Magic coach turned out to be right — and he still got to smile about it. Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis had 22 points apiece as the Magic overcame Bosh’s 40-point, 18-rebound night in a 103-90 win in a rematch of first-round NBA playoff foes.

LIVE: Banged-up Rockets vs. Mavs
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Magic G Pietrus sits out vs. Raptors (PA SportsTicker)
Orlando Magic guard Mickael Pietrus sat out Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors with bruised ribs.

Magic Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Stan Van Gundy doesn’t like the way his team is playing, but he likes what this latest stretch could mean for the future.

Only the good teams can consistently win when they aren’t playing well. And that’s what’s happening now with the Magic.

They must be serious contenders.

The Magic continue to struggle to match their play of last season, but they also continue to win, sweeping all three games on their recently completed road trip.

“We’re winning, but we’re not winning pretty,” admitted forward Hedo Turkoglu. “We will turn it around and play better. And when we do, that will be even better.”

The Magic were the only team in the league last season with a better road record (27-14) than home record (25-16), and this season is shaping up the same.

It’s been a rough stretch for Mark Cuban
The Mavs stink. MLB is blackballing him. And the SEC is on his case. Kevin Hench is almost sorry for billionaire Mark Cuban. Almost.NBA/~4/456564579″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Raptors’ O’Neal the man to handle big guy in paint

There was a look in Jermaine O’Neal’s eye that suggested awe. Grabbing 91 rebounds in five games, after all, seems like a work more of fiction than reality, even for Superman.

BDL NBA Power Rankings: Shattered dreams, broken promises (Yahoo! Sports)
The BDL NBA Power Rankings combine two parts Chivas Regal with one part flippant observation to create the most…

Different stars have greatness in common
With Kobe Bryant passing Larry Bird on the NBA scoring list, Charley Rosen takes the opportunity to compare superstars.NBA/~4/457785297″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Orlando Magic and City of Orlando to help struggling businesses

Now that the new arena’s under construction, the retail stores underneath the West Church Street garage are going under, so Mayor Buddy Dyer and the Magic found some cash for them.

Power Rankings: Cavs eye top spot
LeBron James’ new sidekick is working out just fine, but are the Cavs ready to take over No. 1 in John Galinsky’s Power Rankings?NBA/~4/457649479″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Other than Hedo Turkoglu, Keith Bogans is the Magic’s top asset — and without assets, GMs can’t make trades.

Turkoglu helps Magic beat Bobcats 90-85 (AP)

Dwight Howard has played a role in winning more than a few games for the Orlando Magic in his career. On Sunday night, the Magic showed that they can win a game without him. Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points to lead four Orlando players in double figures in a 90-85 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. Mickael Pietrus added 18 points, Rashard Lewis had 17 and Jameer Nelson 15 for Orlando, which overcame…

‘No question’ Magic GM Otis Smith wants Patrick Ewing back

The Magic would love for assistant coach Patrick Ewing to return next season and help continue all-star C Dwight Howard ’s progress.

Magic Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Stan Van Gundy doesn’t like the way his team is playing, but he likes what this latest stretch could mean for the future.

Only the good teams can consistently win when they aren’t playing well. And that’s what’s happening now with the Magic.

They must be serious contenders.

The Magic continue to struggle to match their play of last season, but they also continue to win, sweeping all three games on their recently completed road trip.

“We’re winning, but we’re not winning pretty,” admitted forward Hedo Turkoglu. “We will turn it around and play better. And when we do, that will be even better.”

The Magic were the only team in the league last season with a better road record (27-14) than home record (25-16), and this season is shaping up the same.

Warriors extend Jackson through 2012-13
Stephen Jackson is one person the Golden State Warriors consider part of their long-term plans. Golden State has signed its leading scorer to a three-year contract extension announced Monday, a deal that takes the explosive guard-forward through the 2012-13 season. Since Jackson arrived in the Bay Area in a trade with the Indiana Pacers in January 2007, he has been a key piece for coach Don Nelson and a major spark for the Warriors.NBA/~4/456576797″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Suicide lines: NJ trade talks, Cuban likes Steph, McDyess … (Yahoo! Sports)
Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your Nutri-Grain cereal…

Orlando Magic (6-3) at Charlotte Bobcats (3-5),

The Orlando Magic will try to close out a three-game road trip with a perfect mark when they take on the Charlotte Bobcats tonight at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Dwight Howard has played a role in winning more than a few games for the Orlando Magic in his career. On Sunday night, the Magic showed that they can win a game without him. Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points to lead four Orlando players in double figures in a 90-85 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. Mickael Pietrus added 18 points, Rashard Lewis had 17 and Jameer Nelson 15 for Orlando, which overcame…

Shaq thrown out for flagrant foul
Shaquille O’Neal was ejected from Sunday night’s game between the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons for a flagrant foul. The call came with 5:19 left in the second quarter when Rodney Stuckey went up for a layup and O’Neal sent the Pistons‘ player chest-first onto the court. The flagrant foul two, which is an automatic ejection, was upheld after a review by the officials. O’Neal stayed on the court to argue vehemently before finally leaving.NBA/~4/455533689″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Wade outguns Bosh but Raptors get last laugh
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‘No question’ Magic GM Otis Smith wants Patrick Ewing back

The Magic would love for assistant coach Patrick Ewing to return next season and help continue all-star C Dwight Howard ’s progress.

Magic Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

It looks like the success that the Magic had on the road last season was no fluke. They are shaping up the same way this season.

The Magic were the only team in the league last season with a better record on the road (27-14) than at home (25-16), and they could be looking at a repeat now.

The Magic on Sunday will try and complete a road-trip sweep when they play at Charlotte. They crushed Oklahoma City Wednesday and came from 15 points down to win in Dallas on Friday. They are 4-2 at home and 2-1 on the road going into Sunday night.

They seem to have no fear of being away from home, where most teams play better. They won in Dallas Friday for the first time in 10 years.

Suns hammer Pistons without Shaq
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Grizzlies ragged now but they have a future
O.J. Mayo and the Grizzlies are frustrating to watch at times, but more experience will solve many problems, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/454023694″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Magic Trade Bait? Hottest Asset Is On A Hot Streak

Other than Hedo Turkoglu, Keith Bogans is the Magic’s top asset — and without assets, GMs can’t make trades.

Magic Weather Mavs’ Early Surge But Trail

The Magic were cold as Alaska in the first quarter, missing 10 of their first 11 shots.

Even without Garnett, Celtics pull through in OT
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Magic Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

It looks like the success that the Magic had on the road last season was no fluke. They are shaping up the same way this season.

The Magic were the only team in the league last season with a better record on the road (27-14) than at home (25-16), and they could be looking at a repeat now.

The Magic on Sunday will try and complete a road-trip sweep when they play at Charlotte. They crushed Oklahoma City Wednesday and came from 15 points down to win in Dallas on Friday. They are 4-2 at home and 2-1 on the road going into Sunday night.

They seem to have no fear of being away from home, where most teams play better. They won in Dallas Friday for the first time in 10 years.

Magic ownership to Shaq and Grant Hill: You’re not buying this team

Shaq and Grant may be in Phoenix now, but they want to buy the Orlando Magic Orlando Magic ownership has a bold message for Shaquille O’Neal and Grant Hill, who are telling anybody who will listen that they …

Grizzlies ragged now but they have a future
O.J. Mayo and the Grizzlies are frustrating to watch at times, but more experience will solve many problems, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/454023694″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Don’t be fooled, Jazz still hitting high notes
Don’t be fooled. Under bandleader Jerry Sloan, the Jazz are still hitting all the high notes — just like they always do, Mike Kahn says.NBA/~4/450898184″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

NBA’s most dominant force? Injuries
The list of the NBA’s walking wounded grows by the day. Randy Hill looks at who’s been hit worst by an abundance of early injuries.NBA/~4/452007863″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Court Awareness: Wednesday review
We should be talking about Shaq’s historic night, but a silly fight stole the show, says Andrew Ungvari in his Wednesday review.NBA/~4/451773616″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Former Sonic Lewis will miss trips to Seattle

OKLAHOMA CITY : Rashard Lewis remembers fondly the last time he got to step off a plane in Seattle, drive down the same highways and past the same landmarks as he made his way to KeyArena.

James has Manilow on iPod
Get this: LeBron listens to Barry Manilow. Or Brian Manilow. A big fan of all styles of music, Cleveland’s superstar always gets ready for games by listening to hip hop. On Thursday before facing the Denver Nuggets, James walked into the Cavaliers‘ locker room wearing headphones and bouncing as a track by rap star, Jay-Z, one of his good friends, blared in his ears.NBA/~4/452617726″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Magic Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

There might not be anything now that Dwight Howard can’t do.

Howard led the league in rebounding last season, and he came into this season talking about a new goal of leading the league in blocked shots.

He retained his blocked-shot lead Wednesday night by putting together a dominating triple-double in an easy victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He had 30 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocked shots. It also was his second 30-point game of the season.

It was the first game of a three-game road trip, and he wanted to make sure the Magic got off to a good start.

“You just can’t get more dominant than that,” said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. “I just wish he could have had one more rebound.

Cavs clamp down on defense, win 6th straight
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There might not be anything now that Dwight Howard can’t do.

Howard led the league in rebounding last season, and he came into this season talking about a new goal of leading the league in blocked shots.

He retained his blocked-shot lead Wednesday night by putting together a dominating triple-double in an easy victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He had 30 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocked shots. It also was his second 30-point game of the season.

It was the first game of a three-game road trip, and he wanted to make sure the Magic got off to a good start.

“You just can’t get more dominant than that,” said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. “I just wish he could have had one more rebound.

Sixers can’t create any Magic of their own

The 76ers mounted a valiant comeback attempt in the third quarter against Orlando last night, but they ran out of time and possibly, energy.

Magic’s Howard gets first triple-double (AP)

Even after his latest feat made his nickname a little outdated, Dwight Howard doesn’t mind if people still call him “The Daily Double.” Howard recorded his first career triple-double with 30 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks Wednesday night and the Orlando Magic beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 109-92.

This is the case of the disappearing bench.

The Magic embarks on its first real road trip of the season—three games in five days—wondering why they need so many hotel room reservations. They don’t play many people. The production has been limited to a select few.

Outside of the top six players, no one is averaging more than four points a game. Coach Stan Van Gundy doesn’t have the confidence to go deep on his bench. And when he does, no one does very much for him.

It has become a problem.

“We’re not getting a lot there,” Van Gundy said.

The Magic’s bench has been outscored by the opponent’s bench in each of seven games this season. It was never more obvious than Monday night when the Portland reserves outscored the Magic reserves 40-12.

…

Kings have coveted Magic’s Turkoglu ever since trading him

Nov. 11–It wouldn’t surprise the Magic to hear from the Sacramento Kings at the February trade deadline.

4 Magic players make NBA All-Star ballot

As the Orlando Magic boarded the plane this afternoon for their first extended road trip of the season, they are also celebrating the inclusion of four players on the 2009 All-Star Ballot which was announced on …