Patrick Ewing News

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said last night the Nets would be making a mistake if they didn't at least interview Orlando assistant Patrick Ewing if they undergo a search for a permanent head coach after the season.

The Orlando Magic now have the second-best record in the NBA, trailing only the Los Angeles Lakers.

Orlando Magic fans haven't seen much of Brandon Bass lately because of the team's logjam at power forward.

Writer's note : Thanks to an NBA, Best Buy, HP and Windows partnership, I interviewed Hall of Fame guard Clyde Drexler Sunday afternoon.

Knicks legend Patrick Ewing, an NBA assistant coach for the past seven seasons, told The Post yesterday he would love to coach the Nets and hopes to be considered whenever they decide to fill the position permanently.

Imagine how good the Orlando Magic could be if their core trio of Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, and Rashard Lewis ever capitalized on the enormous potential that their athleticism and skills suggest.

Orlando center Patrick Ewing watches from the bench during a game in 2001. Ewing averaged six points and four rebounds in 65 games for the Magic in his final season playing in the NBA.

First, let me say this: If Wednesday's dismantling of the Orlando Magic was a sign of things to come, LeBron James almost certainly will re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers next summer.

Orlando Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing , who has been there and dunked that, was asked to name another prominent NBA center who works full time in the painted area.

At NBA.com, we're talking all ball, all the time. After a bunch of arguments and spilled coffee, along comes a book to solve all our quarrels... and to start some new ones.

NOBODY SAW THE greatest basketball game ever played. Check that. The players, coaches and those directly connected with the 1992 Olympic basketball "Dream Team" did.

Tiger sitting courtside tonight. Because who doesn't like a Tiger Woods picture.

Charles Barkley joined the show to talk about the NBA season and more. "The Lakers and the Celtics are the two best teams in the NBA," Barkley said.

Wednesday night will be all about taking the first step toward an NBA championship for the Orlando Magic.

It's pretty ironic that prior to reading what I saw on ESPN.com about Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson, I was listening to Lit's 1998 Modern Rock hit "My Own Worst Enemy." You'll know why in a second, but for those that aren't familiar with the Thomas-Johnson drama, well in a very swollen nutshell , this is it.

NEW YORK More than seven months back, in a far different climate than the one that wrapped Game 1 of this ALCS in a raw sheet of ice, CC Sabathia threw his very first fastball in the role of $161 million ace.

Orlando assistant coach Patrick Ewing stood underneath the hoop, took the ball after it swished through the net and passed it back to Dwight Howard standing at the free throw line.

When Heat swingman Quentin Richardson was playing for the Knicks, Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing told him late last season that he needed to lose weight.

For a portion of the team's practice open to the media last week, Dwight Howard spent time working on something Magic fans haven't seen in game situations: mid-range jumpers off the pass.

Stan Van Gundy getting after Vince Carter at practice a few days ago caught a lot of people's attention earlier this week.