NBA-Best Magic Get Another Shot At Champ Celtics

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Jameer Nelson believes the Orlando Magic are close to commanding almost as much respect as the Boston Celtics.

Really close, in fact.

"They're a great team. We're a good team," said Nelson, the Magic point guard. "We're trying to get to where they are."

A quick glance at the standings shows Orlando is rapidly closing whatever gap exists between the teams. When the Magic wake up Thursday morning, they'll have the best record in the NBA. Better than LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Better than Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Better than any team, period.

Finding a way remain on that perch into Friday morning, well, that'd be a neat Magic trick.

It's only one of 82 regular-season contests, yet there will be a distinct big-game feel for the Magic on Thursday night when the reigning NBA champion Celtics visit for a matchup of teams jostling for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference as well as the league's overall best record.

Forgive Magic coach Stan Van Gundy if he wants no part of the inevitable hyperbole.

"I've said all along, and I honestly think it's true: If they'll give us two wins for the Boston game, then I'll make it bigger than the other games," Van Gundy said. "Otherwise, it's not."

At 33-8, Orlando has matched its franchise record for best 41-game start, has won seven straight games and is coming off a road trip where it beat all three division leaders in the Western Conference. No slouches themselves, the Celtics took a 34-9 record and five-game winning streak into Miami on Wednesday night.


click here for more details

source : NBA.com