What They're Saying: Magic vs. Celtics 11/20

-Dwight Howard told the Orlando Sentinel that he had a private meeting with Stan Van Gundy asking him to tone back his trademark negativism. Fortunately Van Gundy agreed and is trying his best to help his team pick up the energy with more positive, less sarcastic and biting commentary during practices and games (and even press conferences).

-Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel says Stan Van Gundy and the team are showing growth after Van Gundy promised to tone down his criticisms after meeting with Dwight Howard behind closed doors.

-Rashard Lewis is among the Magic players who feel tonight's game in Boston is a big measuring stick for the team and a potential statement game.

-Larry Bird talks with Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe about the little interesting tidbits in his new book, When the Game Was Ours, co-written with Magic Johnson and Jackie MacMullan.

-The Celtics are certainly not overlooking the Magic this year and the sense of title entitlement is gone as they understand Orlando is the team to beat in the East after winning the conference title last year.

-Even Boston is going through some growing pains, but patience is the word from Celtics managing partner and governor Wyc Grousbeck tells Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.

-In a brief recap of a New York Times article, Ben Q Rock of 3rd Quarter Collapse gets hard numbers on why the pick and roll is in vogue right now and how the Magic are one of the leaders in the pack.

-Doc Rivers may avoid the answer to the question all Boston fans wonder about, Paul Pierce is more than assured the Celtics would have beat the Magic in last year's playoffs with Kevin Garnett in the lineup. He even thinks they would have done it with Leon Powe healthy.

-John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com writes that even though the national media may be overlooking Orlando, do not expect a team like Boston to take Orlando lightly.

-Jeff Clark of Celtics Blog is not feeling the excitement for tonight's game and flat out asks, "Are we ready for the Magic?" He is hoping, as are Magic fans, that this is the game that awakens the sleeping giants.

-Zach Lowe of Celtics Blog and Ben Q Rock of 3rd Quarter Collapse exchange Q&A sessions to preview tonight's game.