ORLANDO, Fla. — It is Tracy McGrady vs. Vince Carter tonight — a tale of two Florida-born high-fliers leaping in opposite directions.
McGrady planned to spend yesterday hanging with Carter, his cousin, before their faceoff in the Knicks-Magic match (7:00, MSG, WEPN) at Amway Arena. The disparity of their games — and careers — will be on display.
McGrady is amidst a dispiriting comeback from microfracture knee surgery — his performances getting worse, solidifying coach Mike D’Antoni’s belief, according to sources, the Knicks should not bring him back next season.
McGrady once glided above this old arena’s rims with as much grace as anyone who has ever played the game. Now he labors. Meanwhile, Carter still soars, not quite as high, but he could be flying into his first NBA finals.
McGrady told The Post last week he would relish returning to Orlando next season as a role player for the minimum contract, though he may be living in Disney’s Fantasyland. McGrady said he thinks the Magic could be coming off a championship — he has Orlando beating Cleveland and making its second straight trip to the finals.
“I think they’re actually better than they were last year,” McGrady said. “They match up great against Cleveland. Although [Cleveland] has [Antawn] Jamison, Orlando still has [Rashard] Lewis. It will come down to shot-making; they couldn’t guard [Lewis].”
Carter, the ex-Net from Daytona Beach, is getting his groove on, averaging 16.5 points in 31 minutes.
“Vince had his struggles early,” McGrady said. “He had to adjust to playing with a big guy [Dwight Howard]. He never really played with a big guy. It was a different role for him. I think he’s found his comfort level with that team.”
McGrady has not found any comfort level with the Knicks. In a telling remark, he said after Wednesday’s 2-of-12 performance in Indianapolis he no longer judges his comeback by results.
“I know I’m progressing. I don’t care how I’m playing right now,” he said. “As long as I’m feeling good and my body is feeling good and my knees are getting stronger.”
Since McGrady arrived in the Feb. 18 blockbuster, the Knicks are 3-0 when McGrady sits — 6-16 when he plays. He’s averaging 9.8 points, shooting just 39 percent. His jumper is a mess and he has shown no evidence of regaining explosion. He said even squatting for his jump shot is an adjustment because of the knee.
In Indianapolis, McGrady looked in pain on the bench. He constantly adjusted a bulky wrap he wore after sitting out two straight games because of knee swelling — both Knick wins.
“The taping gave me discomfort,” he said. “I hadn’t done it in a while.”
McGrady, who grew up in Polk County, 30 minutes from downtown Orlando, still gets booed by the local fans, his four-year Magic stint never amounting to a second-round playoff berth. Perhaps tonight, the fans will ease up when they watch the gimpy 30-year-old.
“What matters to me is my health,” said McGrady, who lived briefly in the Isleworth community near Tiger Woods. “I don’t care how I play in Orlando. It’s not like we need the game for the playoffs.”