"This could be your big chance, Gilbert Arenas.

Tonight's the night.

Don't blow it.

Starting shooting guard Jason Richardson has been suspended from tonight's crucial Game 4 of the Magic's playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks. This could be the opportunity you've been waiting for, Gilbert, to get back into the rotation and earn that $18 million salary Magic fans believe is the biggest waste of money since frozen coffee drinks.

"He's got to play well …" Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Saturday when I asked him what it would take for Arenas to get back into the Magic's regular rotation. "There will be more perimeter playing time open up with Jason Richardson's suspension. Gilbert will get an opportunity and hopefully make the most of it."

If ever there was a time for Agent Zero to become a Magic hero, this is it.

Call me Mr. Melodrama if you want, but there isn't just one game riding on tonight's outcome; the season is riding on it. The future of the franchise could be riding on it.

This is as close to must-win as you can get without actually being mathematically eliminated from a series completely. Let's face it, does anybody really think the Magic can afford to go down 3-1 to the Hawks – a talented and athletic team that has beaten the Magic 5-of-7 times this season? If the Magic lose tonight, the chances of them winning this series are about the same as the chances of Van Gundy being invited to be on "Dancing With the Stars.''

This could be Gilbert's grand opportunity to not only save the Magic's season but to save good friend and Magic GM Otis Smith's reputation – and perhaps even his job."