Orlando Magic notes: Stan Van Gundy very pleased with play of Matt Barnes

Coach Stan Van Gundy has been happy with the play of SF Matt Barnes as a starter, but he said that he can't guarantee if the lineup will remain the same through season's end.

"You never know about that," Van Gundy said of Barnes. "There's still a long way to go. You don't know what adjustments have to be made. I couldn't be happier the way he's playing. We have 11 weeks left and you never know how you'll end up."

It is assumed that the other four starting spots occupied by PG Jameer Nelson, C Dwight Howard, SG Vince Carter and PF Rashard Lewis will not change (outside of injuries.)

Barnes made his 14th consecutive start against the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night since replacing Mickael Pietrus on Dec. 30 against Milwaukee.

Barnes was averaging 13.6 points per game until having an off-night on Friday night, scoring just three points on 1-of-7 shooting against the Sacramento Kings. He scored a season-high 28 points in a loss to the Denver Nuggets and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds on Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers.

Brown does heck of a job

Van Gundy saluted the job that Bobcats coach Larry Brown, 69, has done to turn the team into a winner.

He also admires Brown as a pure teacher of the game.

"With coach Brown … the guy just loves to teach basketball," Van Gundy said. "Even though he's made a ton of money, you get the impression that he's not in it for the money. If it didn't work out at him being a pro coach, he'd be in a high school gym somewhere teaching basketball."

Layups

One Magic player said he forgot his suit for Saturday's game, risking a $10,000 fine from the league for violating the dress code. To avoid being seen, said player quickly moved out of view from Howard as a camera crew was filming the entrance of Magic players. No, we'll never tell.

PF Ryan Anderson is sporting a shiner under his left eye, a souvenir he received in practice while guarding Lewis. Lewis inadvertently hit him in the eye after following through on a shot. With his goatee and assorted scruff on his face, Anderson says he definitely looks tougher.