Are The Magic Done Playing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

Come tip-off time, it's hard to know which Orlando Magic team is going to show up.

The team, with Mr. Franchise Dwight Howard leading the way, and Vince Carter flashing All-Star numbers early on, jumped to a fast start this season. However, Orlando has cooled off considerably since then by playing mediocre ball and losing to several sub-.500 teams along the way.

To the relief of fans, the Magic team that took the floor against the Indiana Pacers in O-town Wednesday night resembled last season's Eastern Conference champs.

They ran, passed, contested shots and hustled. The Magic kept their collective sneakers pressed against the Pacers' throat in a wire-to-wire victory.

Sure, Indiana is a sub-.500 team, but the Pacers looked like champions in trouncing the Magic just a week ago in Indiana. On Wednesday, the Magic got their revenge.

So, which Magic team will show up for tonight's game against the Sacramento Kings?

I'm betting on the Magic maintaining their killer instinct against the Kings. The team appears to have turned the corner from the ugly, out-of-synch style of play that had them losing six of seven during a recent stint.

The Magic have not quite gotten their act together this season, and they certainly could make excuses for themselves. Guards Jameer Nelson and Carter have been out of the line-up with injuries. Star forward Rashard Lewis missed the first 10 games of the season because of a league suspension for testing positive to steroids. In the meantime, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy has an array of new faces on the roster and he's been juggling lineups in an effort to find a combination that clicks.

With a tough West Coast trip behind them, look for Howard and the Magic to get their act together heading into the second half of the season. I see the Magic scratching the 60-win mark again this season as they go into the Eastern Conference playoff bracket as the team most likely to advance into the NBA Finals again.

O