<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If there was any doubt of Mickael Pietrus' job description after he signed with the Magic on Thursday, Coach Stan Van Gundy cleared it up. "He can guard LeBron (James) and (Dwyane )Wade," Stan Van said. Pietrus, sitting to his left, didn't flinch. He loves playing defense. "Trust me, I'm having fun out there," he said during a news conference at RDV Sportsplex. "I'm happy when it helps the team.. .Getting a steal, blocking a shot and drawing a charge, that's fun." It was GM Otis Smith who pointed out that the Magic were No. 8 in scoring last season, but needed to stop more people to contend. Now maybe the Magic also have found somebody to defend Chauncey Billups, too. The 6-6 Pietrus will take on all challengers at any position except center. Opposing 2-guards lit up the Magic for an average of 18 points per game, with Wade averaging 40 (two games), Kobe 32 (two games), Joe Johnson 23.8 (four games) and Rip Hamilton 21.7 (four games). Pietrus played five seasons with the Golden State Warriors in Don Nelson's frenetic sytem, and he was by far, their best defender. He signed a four-year, $22 million deal with the Magic. He came to Orlando partly because of his relationship with Otis Smith, who worked in the Warriors' front-office when Pietrus was drafted in 2003. But he chose the Magic mostly because of Dwight Howard. "I like the team. I like Superman," he said. "He makes everybody better."</div> http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_ma...van-expect.html
