CHARLOTTE — Here’s how Charlotte Bobcats forward Corey Maggette described the absurd predicament presented by the Orlando Magic’s offensive spacing:

“We could either let them shoot 70 plus percent in the paint or 40-plus percent from 3-point range,” Maggette said after the Magic swamped the Bobcats 100-79 Friday night at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Since there was no good answer, the Bobcats ended up allowing 43 percent shooting from 3-point range. That generated 36 points of the Magic’s offense, including 5-of-12 from the arc by forward Ryan Anderson (23 points).

It’s not a revelation how well the Magic spreads the floor around All-Star center Dwight Howard. That’s precisely how the Magic swept the Bobcats in the 2010 playoffs.

But Howard has grown greatly as a passer, both in his willingness to share the ball and how quickly he reads approaching double-teams. Howard finished with four assists, along with 20 points and 24 rebounds.

“Dwight’s unselfishness is a big thing. He’s throwing the ball out and encouraging guys to shoot,” said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. “If they come and double, he’s throwing the ball out and making the right basketball play 95 to 96 percent of the time.”

That creates incredible opportunity for the shooters surrounding Howard – Anderson, Hedo Turkoglu (15 points), Jason Richardson (16) and J.J. Redick (11).

“Having Dwight in there makes for probably the most wide-open shots ever,” said Anderson. “We keep a shooter (stationed outside the 3-point line) at all times.

“Even if he’s not scoring the ball, he has so many guys coming at him. He sucks in the defense, and that makes for wide-open shots.”

To hold up against something like that, the Bobcats (1-2) needed great shooting and great energy. They had neither Friday, as Orlando scored the first 11 points. It took eight possessions for the Bobcats to score.

They shot 36 percent (30-of-83). The starting backcourt of D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson combined to shoot 7-of-24.

Maggette (20 points off 15 shots) was the only effective scorer for the Bobcats, and there was a clear letdown from the first two games.

“The energy level was down,” said coach Paul Silas, “It seemed like nothing was happening at all in our favor.

“But I can’t kill them (for a bad performance) while they’re still learning the game. It takes time and I need to be patient.”

Henderson said his legs are stronger than before the operation and the former Duke star hasn’t felt this good since he was 16.

Strangely enough, Henderson needed hip surgery to relieve chronic knee soreness. A Colorado orthopedist diagnosed that Henderson’s leg was planting “twisted,” so the procedure corrected that, relieving strain on the joints.

Henderson’s health is a big deal to the Bobcats after his breakout the second half of last season. A starting spot opened after the Bobcats traded Gerald Wallace to Portland, and Henderson had four games of 20 points or more in March and April. Among those was a career-best 32 points against the Orlando Magic.

Now Henderson is a core piece of the rebuilding process, so him spending two months on crutches was a concern. Coach Paul Silas said Thursday the delay caused by the lockout probably worked in Henderson’s favor, as far as not rushing his recovery.

“I probably would have been ready for the first game,” about a month ago, Henderson said. “It could have been a little rushed, you never know. Obviously the workout regimen (of training camp) will be a little different as we play every day. But I think my legs are ready for it.”

Henderson spent most of last season playing in pain:

“My knee does feel better. It will probably never 100 percent go away, but this has relieved a lot of the pain.”

Before the diagnosis and surgery, Henderson planned to spend much of the off-season in Charlotte, working with assistant coach Stephen Silas on ballhandling and shooting. Henderson couldn’t work with coaches, because of the lockout, but he was able to practice those skills once he was cleared to play.

“My ballhandling, I worked on a lot,” he said. “I feel like I’m a good 3-point shooter. For a while there, my first two years (as a Bobcat), I just didn’t shoot them. So I never really got any confidence.”

Gerald Henderson wasted no time Friday answering the biggest health question involving a Charlotte Bobcats starter.

“I’m back to 100 percent – I’m ready to go,” Henderson said, following a five-month rehab from left hip surgery in Colorado.

Henderson had demonstrated as much in a four-on-four scrimmage of NBA players – some Bobcats, some ex-Bobcats, some Charlotteans – at the team practice gym. He gracefully skied for a tomahawk dunk. He fluidly changed direction off the dribble. He guarded super-quick Bobcats rookie Kemba Walker.

Henderson said his legs are stronger than before the operation and the former Duke star hasn’t felt this good since he was 16.

Strangely enough, Henderson needed hip surgery to relieve chronic knee soreness. A Colorado orthopedist diagnosed that Henderson’s leg was planting “twisted,” so the procedure corrected that, relieving strain on the joints.

Henderson’s health is a big deal to the Bobcats after his breakout the second half of last season. A starting spot opened after the Bobcats traded Gerald Wallace to Portland, and Henderson had four games of 20 points or more in March and April. Among those was a career-best 32 points against the Orlando Magic.

Now Henderson is a core piece of the rebuilding process, so him spending two months on crutches was a concern. Coach Paul Silas said Thursday the delay caused by the lockout probably worked in Henderson’s favor, as far as not rushing his recovery.

“I probably would have been ready for the first game,” about a month ago, Henderson said.

Henderson spent most of last season playing in pain:

“My knee does feel better. It will probably never 100 percent go away, but this has relieved a lot of the pain.”

Before the diagnosis and surgery, Henderson planned to spend much of the off-season in Charlotte, working with assistant coach Stephen Silas on ballhandling and shooting.

Henderson couldn’t work with coaches, because of the lockout, but he was able to practice those skills once he was cleared to play.

The Magic’s regular-season opener at home against the Charlotte Bobcats was scheduled tonight at Amway Center, but the NBA lockout interrupted the party.

We realize fans are longing for the work stoppage to end. Until then, we will try to give you a dose of Magic basketball, looking back at previous seasons.

Today, you can relive a Nov. 2 game from Magic history…..

Nov. 2, 2002: Magic 100, Milwaukee Bucks 90 in Milwaukee, Wi.:

This game was selected because it reflected the different directions the careers of 2000 free-agent class members Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill had taken.

McGrady was at the top of his game, scoring 47 points in the win against the Bucks. Meanwhile, Hill’s troublesome left ankle — as usual — overshadowed Orlando’s play the court.

Hill played just 29 games in the 2002-03 season and was placed on the injury list Dec. 18, 2003. In fact, he had sat out the 2003-2004 season.

These were considered part of the lost years for Hill and the Magic. He was never quite able to team with T-Mac and turn the Magic into a contender, leading to McGrady’s unhappiness and subsequent trade in 2004.

Here’s the Magic-Bucks game story as it appeared the next day in the Sentinel:

Not Again!

Grant Hill Feels Soreness In Left Ankle And Misses 2nd Half

Concern Over Hill Overshadowed Tracy McGrady’s 47-point Output In The Magic’s Win

By Jerry Brewer Sentinel staff writer

MILWAUKEE — Before excitement over a 3-1 start inflates, before giddiness over tossing away an old archenemy proceeds, the Orlando Magic must again ask a question that has haunted them for more than three years:

How is Grant Hill’s ankle?

Hill did not play the second half of the Magic’s 100-90 victory over Milwaukee on Saturday night. For the first time this season, he felt soreness in his thrice-repaired left ankle, and the Magic told him to wait to play another day.

The team is calling it a precautionary measure. Hill, who scored two points in 10 minutes, is expected to play in Tuesday’s game against Sacramento. The Magic say they expected there would be games like this throughout the season. They just finished a stretch of four games in five nights. Hill hasn’t played a stretch this brutal since last November, when the Magic played five games in seven nights.

Though Hill’s problem seems minor, the uneasiness of this season has flared up again. After three surgeries and two lost seasons, it is the last chance to get this right. Hill’s career and the Magic’s dream of a championship lie in jeopardy this year.

The issue of how much to play Hill has risen anew. The plan is to keep him in the 25-35 minute range every game, but there are no restrictions playing on back-to-back games, as this was. There is no idea to have him play a reduced number of games or even to skip practices. The Magic may revisit their plan now.

Before the scare, all was superb. The Magic have had two dominating performances in the second of back-to-back games this season. They struggled in such games last season.

Tracy McGrady had an incredible game as the Magic ended an eight-game losing streak at the Bradley Center. A night after Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett had defended him so well — “the best ever,” McGrady said — he erased the memory with 47 points.

No Bucks players could guard him. When they used power forward Anthony Mason to muscle him, McGrady shot 3-pointers over him and then went around him. When they put small forward Tim Thomas on him, McGrady jumped over him.

McGrady hit six 3-pointers. He scored 19 points and hit four 3-pointers in the second quarter. He barked and yelled and mocked the crowd all game. He was dogged.

Everything else was going well, too. Pat Garrity spent time at power forward, and he spent much of the game at center. He had 13 points and 15 rebounds.

The Magic had not won here since April 8, 1997. They took command of the game during an 11-0 run in the second quarter. They increased the lead to 24 points in the third quarter.

Mike Miller played Hill’s role and had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

After a McGrady three-point play in the second quarter, one disgusted Bucks fan berated his team.

“How can you stink this bad this early in the season?” he said. “Usually, it takes you until midseason to stink this bad!”

bschmitz@tribune.com

With the Orlando Magic playing for nothing but pride tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats, the Free Earl Clark movement should gain some momentum. We already know that Gilbert Arenas will start at the 2 and Jason Richardson will take the night off.

It should give us plenty to talk about in the live chat.