Already burned two seasons in a row by Grant Hill's devastating ankle injury, the Orlando Magic are becoming increasingly concerned about the nagging back injury to standout guard Tracy McGrady.

McGrady missed two weeks of training camp and later three games of this season because of the recurring back spasms. And twice this past week, McGrady limped meekly to the sidelines after hard hits that had his back aching again.

Magic coach Doc Rivers had his playing career cut short by back injuries, and he still has to spend time with the team trainer because of persistent pain. That McGrady is a tender 22 years old and already experiencing back pain has Rivers tossing and turning at night.

"Back injuries just scare the hell out of me, and his is something we're going to have to deal with sooner or later," Rivers said. "Back injuries don't ever just go away. I've never seen one just go away forever."

Did you hear Pat Riley whining about the physical play in last week's loss to the Magic? How dare him say another team is playing too rough after the bump-and-grind style he has taught for years. Riley was personally responsible for setting the game back 10 years with his thuggish tactics of the early '90s.

Please forgive the Utah Jazz if they have not exactly caught Olympic fever. After Saturday's game, the Jazz will be forced to vacate Salt Lake City for the next 26 days. Their nine-game roadtrip is the longest in NBA history.

I'll take the second-string East All-Stars (McGrady, Jason Kidd, Jermaine O'Neal, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen) to beat the starters (Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, Dikembe Mutombo, Antoine Walker and Vince Carter).

With the NBA shifting to ABC-TNT next season, NBC now has lost the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball. So where's the network heading? At halftime of the Super Bowl, NBC will shamelessly show Fear Factor with Playboy Playmates as the contestants. What's next, a return of the XFL?

First, it was the Sports Illustrated cover jinx. Now, the Curse of the Bobble-head is sweeping through the NBA like the plague. Earlier this season, Lamar Odom was suspended for drug use the same night his bobble-headed likeness was handed out to Clippers fans. Dallas guard Michael Finley had never missed a game in the NBA until he popped a hamstring on -- you guessed it -- his bobble-head night. Dan Issel? The tirade at a fan that cost him his coaching job came as fans were jiggling his likeness. And just last week, Orlando's Mike Miller missed 10 of his first 12 shots on bobble-head night. The Magic also have made Patrick Ewing and Grant Hill bobble-head dolls. Both players now are on the injured list.

Talk about when you're hot you're hot, and when you're not you're not. Check out Latrell Sprewell's past five games: 32 vs. Philly, 0 vs. Charlotte, 35 vs. Toronto, 15 vs. Phoenix, 48 vs. Milwaukee.

TNT's Charles Barkley unplugged. On the Knicks' coaching change this season: "Jeff Van Gundy is going to get 'Coach of the Year' for bailing on them. He's got my vote."
On the NBA's new TV deal: "They got 4 billion dollars to televise these games next year, and some of these teams stink. David Stern is my new hero because that was the greatest shaft job since we stole everything from the Indians."

On his January 31 weigh-in on TNT, a.k.a. 'Charles vs. the Scale': "I haven't decided what type of underwear I'm going to wear, but it will be skimpy."

Washington Wizards coach Doug Collins admitted recently that he has not done a good job of coaching rookie Kwame Brown, who is averaging just 3 points a game this season. How does he know? Brown, the first pick last summer after jumping from high school, has the acne to prove it.
"That's always a sign of stress," Collins said. "I remember when I was 18 and things bothered me, stressed me out, my face broke out too. On draft night (Brown's) skin was so smooth and he wore that big smile. I expected too much of him and, in doing so, I demanded things of him he wasn't ready to do. I wish I'd made him feel more comfortable and relaxed. Now he seems to have retreated and lost that zest."

Speaking of Brown, if Jordan had traded the top pick in last summer's draft for Elton Brand -- the deal was on the table -- his Washington Wizards might be the favorites now to win the Eastern Conference.

Say what you will about Charles Oakley's thuggish play and declining skills. But he is second only to Barkley when it comes to consistently delivering some of the game's most refreshingly honest comments.
When some of his Chicago Bulls groused about the ovation Michael Jordan received in his return to Chicago, Oakley shot back. "I could have waited a half hour," Oakley said. "These guys (who complain) have never done anything."

As for the horri-Bulls, Oakley basically has thrown in the towel. "A trade isn't going to make a difference," he said. "It isn't like we're going to win six or seven in a row."

Headbands are not just for players seeking extra attention any more. They're also superstitions. After losing 12 of 14 games, the Detroit Pistons decided to don headbands and ultimately beat Charlotte. The next game, trailing Toronto at home at halftime, the Pistons took off their white headbands and put on blue ones. Remarkably, the Pistons still lost.

Denton's top 10: 1. Lakers; 2. Kings; 3. Mavericks; 4. Spurs; 5. Timberwolves; 6. Bucks; 7. Nets; 8. Raptors; 9. Celtics; 10. Sonics.John Denton writes for Florida Today. To ask John a question about the Magic or the NBA, you can e-mail him at jdenton@flatoday.net