"Almost everyone around the Orlando Magic agrees that the Gilbert Arenas who arrived in a trade last month has shown only a slight resemblance to the Gilbert Arenas who tormented defenses a few years ago.

Even Arenas acknowledges that.

He has tried to fit in rather than play aggressively. He has missed shots he typically makes in practices. And his troublesome left knee limits his quickness, especially when the weather makes his knee stiff.

"Mostly, December is my bad month," Arenas said. "That's what I've noticed the last couple of years. From February to October or November is my break. That's when I don't feel any pain. There's no soreness. There's no achiness. Usually, I feel sore just from the change in pressures."

But the Magic may need the old Arenas — or at least a reasonable facsimile — to emerge sooner than they first hoped.

With first-string point guard Jameer Nelson nursing a sore right knee, Arenas may have to start when the Magic face the hapless Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at Amway Center.

Nelson played only the first 7 minutes, 34 seconds in Orlando's loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. Nelson said he doesn't believe he suffered a serious injury, and he also didn't rule out playing against the Cavaliers. Nonetheless, the Magic may choose to be cautious with Nelson and hope he'll be at full speed for big games against the Miami Heat on Thursday and the Boston Celtics on Super Bowl Sunday.

Arenas' brief Magic tenure has featured more downs than ups, especially lately.

In almost 32 minutes against the Bulls, his second-longest single-game stint with Orlando, he recorded only three assists and four turnovers."