Giricek already in midseason form By John Denton FLORIDA TODAY CELEBRATION -- Three straight trips down the floor Tuesday during the Orlando Magic's first training camp scrimmage ended with long jumpers from Gordan Giricek. While other shots misfired, passes were thrown away and players huffed and puffed for air, Giricek looked to be in midseason form already. And for good reason -- the 6-foot-6, 210-pound guard spent a major portion of his summer playing for the Croatian National Team in the European Championships. Giricek was clearly the star of the first day of training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports, nailing several long jumpers and attacking the basket much the same way he did after joining the Magic last February. Giricek, 26, has played professionally in Croatia since 1993, but was required to be at camp Tuesday because he has been in the NBA just one season. Veterans with at least four years of service time in the NBA don't have to report until Friday. Giricek, a self-professed gym rat, said the extra work was just fine with him. "I don't mind being here because it will help me a lot later on," said Giricek, who sported a buzzed haircut and braces on his teeth. "I will be in better conditioning. If I would have started October 5, maybe I wouldn't be in as good shape. I don't mind if I don't make a basket now. It's not the right time to make them now. It's a long season and I want to make them then." Giricek's Croatian didn't fare very well in the European Championships, finishing ninth. Team building: One of the reasons the Magic are practicing at Disney as opposed to being at their headquarters across town in Maitland is that Rivers hopes the team can build some unity. In that vain, the Magic started Tuesday by taking a trip together to Disney's Animal Kingdom. It was an eye-opening experience, Drew Gooden said. "The craziest thing was when they fed the crocodiles," Gooden said. "They rang this bell and they all started squirming and then they tore that chicken up to pieces. It was awesome." Added coach Doc Rivers: "Those gators eating the chickens was pretty wild. They were going crazy. I'm never going in a lake again." Rough rookies: A big reason why rookies Keith Bogans and Zaza Pachulia are expected to help the Magic this season is because of their aggressive styles of play. Rivers thinks Pachulia, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound bruiser from Turkey, has a good shot to be the team's opening-day center despite being just 19 years old. Pachulia severely sprained his ankle in Tuesday's night's practice when he landed on Bogan's foot. His availability for the rest of the week is questionable. "Every player has their own character," said Pachulia, whom the Magic snagged with the 42nd pick of the draft. "When they picked me up, they knew what kind of player I was because they followed me in Europe. That's why I am here. I came to the NBA not to just wear a jersey like a lot of guys, but I want to be on the floor and play and have success. I never want to lose. I'm hoping my style will help this team
I like G-squared, but he will come of the bench this year and needs to be more aggressive and make the second unit his own. I dont know anything about Pachullia is he actually good?
