Magic-Heat Notes: MP Doesn’t Know If He’ll Play

This will be a collection of information leading up to Orlando’s game against the Heat in Miami. As news continues to break and stories are published, Brian and I will update this page accordingly.

Per Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, Dwight Howard thinks the Magic simply have to weather the storm early to beat the Heat.

"Even Dwight Howard acknowledged as much when asked if the Magic can make a statement against the Heat.“We can make a statement,” Howard answered. “But we don’t want to go out there and be so hyped emotionally that you forget your purpose. We know we’re going to be playing against a team that’s gotten all the hype all year. And our biggest thing is coming out and executing the right way, limiting their possessions and making them play against us. That’s the biggest thing.“I think when you go into a game that’s hyped up and very emotional, that stuff wears off as the game goes on. So, we just come out and weather the storm, because they’re going to come out hyped and ready to go. If we weather the storm early, we should win.”"

Our own Brian Serra of HtD and MagicBasketballOnline says it’s key that Dwight avoid foul trouble against the drives of LeBron and Dwayne Wade.

"Long story short: It is imperative that Dwight Howard avoid foul trouble and stay on the floor if the Magic are going to be able to handle the new look Miami Heat.  The Magic are plenty capable of handling the scoring load when Dwight isn’t effective on offense, but the same can’t be said when his defensive presence is lacking or located on the bench.  Especially against the LeBron James and Dwayne Wade lower-your-head-and-plow-to-the-hole style of basketball."

Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel calls this the Magic’s “biggest little game of the season.”

"The Magic have drawn the league’s toughest assignment as the Heat’s first guest in this nationally televised showcase of celebrity. They are being thrown into a playoff-like caldron before Halloween. There’s no getting around it.As much as the teams might say this is just a regular-season game, everyone involved knows better.It hasn’t been much of a state rivalry, frankly. Since 1989, when the Magic and Heat first met, the teams seldom have been good at the same time. They merely were circling each other. Well, until now.If the basketball is as aggressive, hard-hitting and intriguing as the offseason sniping, it will easily become one of the best rivalries in sports, ratcheted even higher in possible playoff meetings."

Zach Lowe of The Point Forward tells us what to watch for in Friday night’s contest.

"• Who does Jameer Nelson guard?If the Heat go to their point guard-less lineup — James, Wade, James Jones, Chris Bosh and a big man — where does that leave Orlando point guard Nelson? This lineup doesn’t figure to see a ton of floor time, but the Heat have used it already and view it as a crunch time option. The Magic can likely get away with hiding him on the jump-shooting Jones if they want to keep Nelson on the floor against this group, and Nelson will have no trouble guarding Arroyo and Eddie House in other situations."

Mickael Pietrus was very surprised he didn’t get any action in the first half Thursday night and isn’t sure if he’ll play Friday night.

Eddy Rivera talks Magic-Heat with Kevin Arnovitz and Tom Haberstroh of The Heat Index.

Check out this cool promo video for the game.

Marcin Gortat has head enough about the Heat.

The Heat are ready for their home opener.

Heat Resources:

Peninsula is Mightier
The Heat Index
Hot Hot Hoops
All U Can Heat
Miami Heat Beat
Miami Herald

(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger, a contributor on the Fansided Front Page, and co-host of CB Sports Radio from 5-7 pm week days (1420sports.com). Subscribe to his RSS feed, follow him on Facebook and add him on Twitter to follow him daily. You can download the HTD app here).