- Nov 17, 2006
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The Magic will also be missing shooting guard J.J. Redick (back spasms) tonight along with forwards Hedo Turkoglu (sprained left ankle) and Rashard Lewis (right-knee tendinitis), and point guard Rafer Alston could be questionable after missing Monday morning's shootaround with a migraine.
It's enough to give Coach Stan Van Gundy a headache.
But there was good news: Turkoglu, said Van Gundy, has no swelling in his ankle and could have played against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight if the game meant something. He should be ready for the first round of the playoffs this week, which open in Orlando.
Turkoglu sprained his left ankle late in Saturday night's loss to the New Jersey Nets.
"He was had very little swelling and no discoloration," Van Gundy said. "To be quite honest, if this were a game we had to have, I think he could actually go tonight. He and Rashard could both go."
Redick said he twisted his back going for a rebound against the Nets.
Alston came over the the Bradley Center for shootaround, but was in too much pain because of a migraine and returned to the team hotel.
Van Gundy gave Lewis the night off to rest in New Jersey and will do the same tonight.
" J.J.'s (injury) was weird. He went in for a minute and came down on a rebound and landed funny and now he has back spasms. Rafer came over this morning with us. But he got a migraine, so we sent him back to the hotel," Van Gundy said.
The Magic, who have lost four of their last seven games, are stumbling to the finish line. But with the club locked into the No. 3 seed in the East, getting players healthy is Van Gundy's focus.
"The last week wasn't as good as we would like. Now it's all about what you need to do to be ready for the weekend," Van Gundy said."And as much as I'd like to come out play with our whole group and play well, that's not going to be possible tonight. So the next best thing is you want to get guys ready and be the best you can be."
Van Gundy said the team "has had a hell of a year" and doesn't think the late swoon will affect their confidence heading into the playpffs.
"I think our guys are very confident. I don't think this will do anything to their confidence. Now it's about getting healthy and energetic. We've played tired and lethargic. You have to look at your group and as upset as you get as a coach, you have to say, 'You know what? Maybe guys are legitimately tired and banged up a bit.'"
The Magic had only nine players at Monday's shootaround and were so short-handed that assistant coach Steve Clifford had to fill in at guard during the walk-through.
Added Van Gundy, "The lineups you could see tonight will be interesting."
I have to wonder if Van Gundy might sit Dwight Howard with Turk and Lewis out.Superman looks tired, and hasn't looked more powerful than a Tonka truck, much less a locomotive, the last few games.
It's enough to give Coach Stan Van Gundy a headache.
But there was good news: Turkoglu, said Van Gundy, has no swelling in his ankle and could have played against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight if the game meant something. He should be ready for the first round of the playoffs this week, which open in Orlando.
Turkoglu sprained his left ankle late in Saturday night's loss to the New Jersey Nets.
"He was had very little swelling and no discoloration," Van Gundy said. "To be quite honest, if this were a game we had to have, I think he could actually go tonight. He and Rashard could both go."
Redick said he twisted his back going for a rebound against the Nets.
Alston came over the the Bradley Center for shootaround, but was in too much pain because of a migraine and returned to the team hotel.
Van Gundy gave Lewis the night off to rest in New Jersey and will do the same tonight.
" J.J.'s (injury) was weird. He went in for a minute and came down on a rebound and landed funny and now he has back spasms. Rafer came over this morning with us. But he got a migraine, so we sent him back to the hotel," Van Gundy said.
The Magic, who have lost four of their last seven games, are stumbling to the finish line. But with the club locked into the No. 3 seed in the East, getting players healthy is Van Gundy's focus.
"The last week wasn't as good as we would like. Now it's all about what you need to do to be ready for the weekend," Van Gundy said."And as much as I'd like to come out play with our whole group and play well, that's not going to be possible tonight. So the next best thing is you want to get guys ready and be the best you can be."
Van Gundy said the team "has had a hell of a year" and doesn't think the late swoon will affect their confidence heading into the playpffs.
"I think our guys are very confident. I don't think this will do anything to their confidence. Now it's about getting healthy and energetic. We've played tired and lethargic. You have to look at your group and as upset as you get as a coach, you have to say, 'You know what? Maybe guys are legitimately tired and banged up a bit.'"
The Magic had only nine players at Monday's shootaround and were so short-handed that assistant coach Steve Clifford had to fill in at guard during the walk-through.
Added Van Gundy, "The lineups you could see tonight will be interesting."
I have to wonder if Van Gundy might sit Dwight Howard with Turk and Lewis out.Superman looks tired, and hasn't looked more powerful than a Tonka truck, much less a locomotive, the last few games.
