Denton: Carter Likely Out Tonight
By John Denton
December 14, 2009
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO – Vince Carter left the Orlando Magic’s practice facility Monday morning with a troubled look on his face and a doctor’s appointment ahead of him. And after missing practices Sunday and Monday, it appears that the star shooting guard won’t play tonight when the Magic (17-6) host the Indiana Pacers (8-13).
Carter has a stomach ailment, causing him to miss the past two days of practice. The team had hoped that Carter would be well enough to practice Monday morning and play tonight, but that idea was scratched when the illness lingered.
The Magic’s leading scorer (19.5 points per game) missed most of the second half of Friday’s 106-103 loss to the Phoenix Suns because of knee and hip pain. That injury wasn’t deemed serious, but the stomach ailment could very well keep Carter from playing against the Pacers.
``We don’t know anything (about the knee/hip) because he hasn’t been able to do anything because he’s sick,’’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``We didn’t go through the walk-through and I don’t know about tonight. But I don’t think the knee or hip are an issue, but it’s hard to tell when a guy hasn’t practiced.’’
Van Gundy said he didn’t think that Carter has the flu because he hasn’t had any fever.
If Carter can’t play, J.J. Redick has been told that he will start at shooting guard for the Magic. Redick has played particularly well in spot duty in the Magic’s past two games, scoring nine points in Phoenix and 10 points in Utah.
He’s averaging 8.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists on the season. He ranks 23rd in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage (42.1) and he’s 30th in 3-pointers made (32).
``If Vince can’t go I will start,’’ Redick said. ``I’ve been around enough that I’m going to play the same way that I always play. Whether I start or I come off the bench and Vince is playing 35 minutes, I’ll be prepared no matter what.’’
Redick actually sprained his ankle twice in the Phoenix game, but he played through the injury because Carter was unable to go.
``I’m a little sore, but -- knock on wood – I’ve never really had a bad ankle sprain,’’ Redick said. ``I just rolled it twice. The first time I rolled it in the second half I looked over at our bench and I realized that Vince was back in the locker room, so I played through it. I rolled it again and just played through it after I got it taped up.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
By John DentonDecember 14, 2009
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO – Vince Carter left the Orlando Magic’s practice facility Monday morning with a troubled look on his face and a doctor’s appointment ahead of him. And after missing practices Sunday and Monday, it appears that the star shooting guard won’t play tonight when the Magic (17-6) host the Indiana Pacers (8-13).
Carter has a stomach ailment, causing him to miss the past two days of practice. The team had hoped that Carter would be well enough to practice Monday morning and play tonight, but that idea was scratched when the illness lingered.
The Magic’s leading scorer (19.5 points per game) missed most of the second half of Friday’s 106-103 loss to the Phoenix Suns because of knee and hip pain. That injury wasn’t deemed serious, but the stomach ailment could very well keep Carter from playing against the Pacers.
``We don’t know anything (about the knee/hip) because he hasn’t been able to do anything because he’s sick,’’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``We didn’t go through the walk-through and I don’t know about tonight. But I don’t think the knee or hip are an issue, but it’s hard to tell when a guy hasn’t practiced.’’
Van Gundy said he didn’t think that Carter has the flu because he hasn’t had any fever.
If Carter can’t play, J.J. Redick has been told that he will start at shooting guard for the Magic. Redick has played particularly well in spot duty in the Magic’s past two games, scoring nine points in Phoenix and 10 points in Utah.
He’s averaging 8.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists on the season. He ranks 23rd in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage (42.1) and he’s 30th in 3-pointers made (32).
``If Vince can’t go I will start,’’ Redick said. ``I’ve been around enough that I’m going to play the same way that I always play. Whether I start or I come off the bench and Vince is playing 35 minutes, I’ll be prepared no matter what.’’
Redick actually sprained his ankle twice in the Phoenix game, but he played through the injury because Carter was unable to go.
``I’m a little sore, but -- knock on wood – I’ve never really had a bad ankle sprain,’’ Redick said. ``I just rolled it twice. The first time I rolled it in the second half I looked over at our bench and I realized that Vince was back in the locker room, so I played through it. I rolled it again and just played through it after I got it taped up.’’
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Orlando Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard on ESPN 1080 AM on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
