Tonight's Game: Orlando Magic vs. Phoenix Suns - Open Thread

	vs.
4-2		5-1
Amway Arena
7:00 PM
Sun Sports
Probable starters:
Steve Nash	PG	Jameer Nelson
Raja Bell	SG	Keith Bogans
Grant Hill	SF	Hedo Turkoglu
Shawn Marion	PF	Rashard Lewis
Boris Diaw	C	Dwight Howard

25 words or fewer: The Magic and the Suns meet in a matchup two of the NBA's hottest teams in this early part of the season.

Know your enemy: The Suns have struggled in the early-going, mostly because they have not been able to consistently hit the three-point shot.

Useless information: In the Suns' last visit to Orlando, Dwight Howard was held to 4 points. Also, Tim Donaghy was one of the officials that night.

Bullet points:

• Despite trailing by 5 points late in the game, Phoenix rallied to beat the Heat in Miami last night behind Steve Nash's 30-point, 11-assist performance.
• I hope to goodness that the Suns don't wear their hideous orange alternate uniforms. I know I've mentioned them before. They are that offensive to me.
• Mike Bianchi is not backing down from his prediction that the Magic won't make the playoffs. I'm going to hold him to that.
• Tonight's game should be a sellout. Not only is Phoenix a perennially exciting team to watch, but they also feature former Magic player Grant Hill, who doesn't know if he'll be cheered or booed. Damien Nielsen of Believing in Magic has decided to boo, as has his colleague, Brendan Sonnone.
• I have no idea how Rashard Lewis expects to score tonight. He'll likely be guarded by Shawn Marion, who should be named Defensive Player of the  Year each year. Hedo Turkoglu and Dwight Howard will have to pick up the slack in the scoring department.
• Tim  Povtak checks in with his All-Former-Magic-Players first- and second- teams. No surprises on either of those lists.
• Jameer Nelson needs to remain aggressive in taking the ball to the basket. Steve Nash is not a great defender, so Nelson should be able to get to the rim easily. That will open up the lane for lob dunks to Howard, as we saw last night in New York.
• The Suns are on pace for a 53-win season; the Magic are on pace for 57 wins.
• UPDATE: Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports that Raja Bell is questionable for tonight's game with a sprained ankle suffered last night. If he is unable to play, Leandro Barbosa will start in his place. Thanks to Bright Side of the Sun, SB Nation's Suns blog, for pointing that out.

I'll be at the game tonight, and I've decided that I won't cheer Grant Hill. But I also won't boo him. His community contributions balance out the way he left us, so I will have a neutral reaction to his presence.