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From Orlando Sentinel

MAGIC 105, BOBCATS 92

Van Gundy isn't pleased with Magic after win over Charlotte

Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
November 24, 2007

Two themes curiously emerged from the Orlando Magic's 105-92 victory against the Charlotte Bobcats Friday night, just in time for the arrival of the Miami Heat.

Orlando Coach Stan Van Grumpy, er, Van Gundy, sounded a lot like Heat mentor Pat Riley and center Dwight Howard continued to do a dead-on impersonation of Shaquille O'Neal.

Such is the intriguing backdrop for the Magic's game against the Heat tonight: Van Gundy goes against his former team and boss (Riley) while Howard, 21, faces Shaq, 35, in a generational showdown.

Van Gundy likely learned how to grouse about winning in Miami, where he was an assistant under Riley before becoming the Heat head coach. He has the poor-mouth routine perfected, judging from his caustic comments following the Magic's easy dispatch of the Bobcats at Amway Arena.

Even though the Magic improved to 11-3, increased their Southeast Division lead to four games and were never seriously threatened, a glum Van Gundy could only point to a 22-point margin that shriveled to 11 in the final period. This is right out of the Riley Motivational Handbook.

"I thought our defense was horrible and I didn't think very many guys played well. I think we are getting caught up in the scoreboard and the record," Van Gundy.

"Everybody is kissing our butt because we are 11-3, so we think we are great."

With the Bobcats making a run with less than 3 minutes left, Van Gundy pulled Adonal Foyle and Carlos Arroyo and re-inserted Howard and Jameer Nelson, meaning the club's starters had to secure the game.

"When I have the lead, I want to make sure I win the game, and the guys we had on the floor didn't look like they cared too much about winning it, so I made the change," Van Gundy said. "There was no excuse what happened at the end, and if they are going to play like that then they are not going to play."

If Van Gundy believes his team is a little full of itself, you can hardly blame it when it marvels at Howard.

He put up 34 points and 17 rebounds against the Bobcats, following a 34-point, 16-rebound night against the Spurs in San Antonio. Howard had some help, from with Hedo Turkoglu (16 points), Nelson (14 points) and Keyon Dooling (14), as the Magic shot 47.5 percent. Rashard Lewis was passive again, finishing with 12 points.

Selected No. 2 behind Howard in the 2004 draft, Bobcats forward Emeka Okafor had the quietest 12-point, 18-rebound night you've seen, lost in a Howard alley-oop dunkfest.

Howard no longer has much of a rivalry with Okafor. His sights are now set on grabbing the big-man torch from Shaq.

"I want to be a great player in this league, even one of the greatest players ever to play," Howard said. "I want to come out every night and dominate."

It isn't the points and boards he easily amasses. Howard also had two assists, four blocks, three steals and — playing with an edge — numerous snarls.

Longtime Magic observers can't help but notice how Howard is progressing on the Shaq growth chart. He had nine dunks over various Bobcats. He still struggles at the free-throw line (12 of 21) and also has to reel in his temper when defenders virtually gang-tackle him.

Shaq isn't Shaq anymore, but he did come up with 26 points and 14 rebounds in pacing the struggling Heat's win against the Houston Rockets Friday night.

The meeting of the center of today and the center of yesterday should spice up the Magic-Heat main event. As should the Van Gundy-Riley undercard.

The Heat's demand for compensation when the Magic wanted to hire him still burns the franchise. Chances are Van Riley, er, Van Gundy will take any kind of win tonight.

Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.

Related topic galleries: Amway Arena, Hedo Turkoglu, Vehicles, Carlos Arroyo, Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, Emeka Okafor

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