He issued a 'guarantee' on Sunday that the Magic would take this series back to Charlotte, the city he called (to be kind) "a boring place."

He reassured everyone that he's still the best player out there, as if he merely loaned the title to Baron Davis for Game 3.

He shouted in mock disgust, "I'm not afraid! I'll take the blame here!" after being asked about Allen Iverson's public sprint from responsibility as Philly's franchise player.

Tracy McGrady then ambled out to one of the 12 cars he owns after practice. (Who needs 12 cars -- other than Jeff Gordon?)

McGrady, 22, is a rich, brash, fun-loving kid, but we're lucky he's mature beyond his years.

We're lucky he doesn't take up too many parking spaces. We're lucky he sees the big picture and L.A.'s not in it. We're lucky, most of all, that he's patient.

"I have patience," McGrady said, leaning against his Mercedes. "A lot of patience."

The Magic should not test it.

McGrady wants to play for a contender. He needs help in Orlando. He needs Grant Hill to be healthy, of course. He needs a good big man for his team to be taken seriously.

Tracy once said he wanted to be the "winningest cat" in the NBA and he'd prefer to be purring here until retirement. He's at his home-base, having grown up in Auburndale.

He believes he'll be well on his way to wrestling Shaq and Kobe for rings by the time he can become a free agent again. He is doing the math and figures that he'll be only 25 when he can exercise an "out" in the fifth year of his seven-year $90-million contract he signed in the summer of 2000.

"I don't want to think about that," he said.

"How long did it take Michael Jordan to win a championship? Seven, eight years? I feel the help is going to come."

All the same, General Manager John Gabriel better realize T-Mac's contract countdown is on.

Gabriel has three seasons to keep his superstar happy ? and keep him from even listening to recruiting pitches. Teams will come a'courtin' T-Mac in the summer of 2005. This time, it'll seem like the Great California Gold Rush compared to his exit from Toronto as a promising but uncertified star.

As bleak as the prospects for big men might be, Gabriel has to somehow find McGrady a rebounder. Or the climate will turn and it could be Gabe looking for another team.

The Magic don't look that far away from contending in the pliable East. They've spotted the Hornets a few good men and are still within a play or two of sweeping them, given two close losses. Looks can deceive.

"You look at Baron's team and you look at my team," McGrady said, referring to the Hornets' spectacular point guard. "He has a lot more help. He has guys who can score and rebound on a nightly basis. Our guys are kind of inconsistent."

The Magic must assemble the parts while McGrady is young and too full of fame and faith to doubt the future. Because down the road, the stars who carry the load and the burden of blame eventually discover the role wears on them like wool underwear.

Hill left Detroit to get out from under that weight. It's enough to make Iverson lose his head and foolishly proclaim he's not the Sixers' best player. "You don't want Tracy to panic. He won't. I won't," Coach Doc Rivers said. "I don't think Tracy gets discouraged. He's still learning."

Learning and earning a Ph.D in patience.