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Brooklyn Nets head south for meeting with rebuilding Orlando Magic

By Net Income
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Kidd will finally make his coaching debut Sunday after a two game suspension and he'll be going up against his former back-up, Jacque Vaughn, who's in his second year. Kidd and Vaughn were teammates on the Nets for two years, from 2004 through 2006.

"This summer was real. This preseason was real," Kidd said during a recent "SportsCenter" conversation, when what it will like when he finally mans the sidelines. "Being a head coach started a long time ago."

Vaughn said he won't be giving Kidd any pointers on transitioning from player to coach. "Absolutely nothing," Vaughn joked. "I'm trying to beat him tomorrow."

On the court the contrast between the Heat and Magic couldn't be bolder. The Heat are the two-time champions. The Magic are rebuilding with a lot of young players (although they still have the 15th oldest roster in the NBA). They won only 20 games last season and so far this season are 1-2, with a 20-point win over the Pelicans and losses to the Pacers and Timberwolves.

Arron Afflalo has started off strong, averaging 22.3 over three games, shooting 48 percent overall and 53.3 from deep. The starting lineup's only other real veteran, Jameer Nelson, is averaging 13.3 points and 6.7 assists. Orlando reportedly is willing to trade Nelson, a former All-Star, for a first rounder.

Three young players, two acquired from Philadelphia in the Dwight Howard trade, are also in double figures:  Maurice Harkless, the St. John's player, is averaging 12 and shooting 57 percent from deep. Nikola Vucevic, among the top young rebounders in the NBA at 11 per game, is averaging a double-double, as he did last season. And Andrew Nicholson, the St. Bonnies product, is getting his share of shot and hitting better than 50 percent overall and from three.

The biggest draw in Orlando, however, is Victor Oladipo, the 6'3" Indiana shooting guard the Magic think can make the transition to point guard. The consensus pick for rookie of the year (until this weekend), he's doing well if not spectacularly, with averages of 11, 4 and 5, but he's not shooting 40 percent from inside or outside the arc.Tobias Harris, who blossomed last year after a trade from Milwaukee, is out with a severely sprained ankle as is Glen Davis, who's nearing a return from off-season foot surgery.

Orlando has shot surprisingly well from deep, hitting better than 44 percent ... on 22.7 attempts. They're also rebounding well, with 45.7 per game.

The Nets appear healthy and whatever restrictions Deron Williams might have faced have been removed. No word on whether the same is true of Andrei Kirilenko. The Nets are looking for their fifth straight win over the Magic after sweeping Orlando last season. And If Kevin Garnett plays seven minutes in tonight’s game, he’ll move past Wilt Chamberlain into 5th place in minutes played in NBA history.

Meanwhile, Jeff Van Gundy seemed to call out Kidd, saying DUI or domestic violence --both of which Kidd has admitted to, should lead to a season long suspension, not just a couple of games.

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Game 3 - Brooklyn Nets vs. Orlando Magic, 6:00PM

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