Howard, Lewis Only Players Assured Spots

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<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">ORLANDO - Maybe it's just "coachspeak" or merely a motivational ploy, but Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has informed his team that only two players -- franchise center Dwight Howard and free-agent import Rashard Lewis -- have guaranteed starting positions.</font></p>

<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">The other three starting spots are wide open, Van Gundy claims.</font></p>

<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">That leaves Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu, Magic mainstays each of the past two seasons, having to fight for starting jobs at point guard and small forward. Van Gundy did hedge a bit Tuesday when asked if he truly was considering using Turkoglu off the bench. He said he fully expected Turkoglu would "certainly play starter's minutes."</font></p>

<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">As for Nelson, he is battling Keyon Dooling and Carlos Arroyo for the starter's job at point guard. Van Gundy said he wants to see Nelson "become nastier as it relates to being a leader." Improving his defense and decision-making also are issues. Nelson said he's fine with having to fight for his position and show that he's the best player to lead the Magic's offense.</font></p>

<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">"It is what it is," Nelson said with a shoulder shrug. "Nothing has ever been given to me in my life. Everything I've always had to earn it, and this is the same.</font></p>

<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">"This is a new year, a new coach, a new strategy and a totally different style of play. There's not a first group right now. I've played on Dwight and Rashard's team and I've been with the other group, too."</font></p>

<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">Nelson started all 77 games that he played in last season. He's been the Magic's starter at point guard since the middle of the 2005-06 season. But Van Gundy has opened up the competition to liven up practice and elicit the best play out of Nelson.</font></p>

<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">"I'm not surprised. If I was surprised I'd be stressing myself about it," he said. "I'm just going to go out there and play basketball the way I know how to play."</font></p>

<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">Van Gundy said when the team last scrimmaged for two 12-minute quarters, the three point guards combined for 16 assists and just one turnover.</font></p>

<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">J.J. Redick, Trevor Ariza, Keith Bogans and Dooling are in the mix to be the starter at shooting guard. Van Gundy praised Redick and Bogans play so far.</div></font></p>

<font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">Source: Florida Today</font></p>