Assuming the snowstorm that’s pounding the northeast slows down, the Nets will play host to the Orlando Magic Monday night in Newark. The Nets have already played Orlando twice this year, but not exactly the Magic they’ll see tomorrow night.
Orlando, slotted firmly behind Boston in the Eastern Conference pecking order, experienced a massive shake-up a couple of weeks ago. Two separate trades sent out Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Mickael Pietrus and Marcin Gortat while bringing in Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark.
The trade took place during a time where the Magic lost eight of nine games, a highly uncharacteristic slide for a team that’s been really good in the regular season the last few years. New-look Orlando has rebounded with two huge wins: a convincing win over San Antonio and a come-from-behind win against Boston on Christmas.
The Nets haven’t played since Wednesday, when a loss to the Hornets in New Orleans ruined their chances at winning three straight games for the first time all season.