Monday, October 29, 2007 By AL IANNAZZONE STAFF WRITER Jamaal Magloire has made his case to be the Nets' starting center. Right now Jason Collins seems to have the job, but his hold on it may not be as strong as in the past. The physical 6-foot-11 Magloire totaled 24 points and 18 rebounds in the Nets' final two preseason games. Collins' totals in six preseason games were 13 points and 19 rebounds in 93 minutes. Collins is a better team defender and does the things that get his teammates open. But Magloire gives the Nets someone they can throw into in the post who can score or draw fouls and get the opposition in the penalty. The Nets haven't had someone like that in the Jason Kidd era, and the confident big man knows it. "Playing against the Nets for the last seven years, that's a void they've always had," Magloire said. "Now they have it in me. I can score on anybody. I feel comfortable on either block. And I put the work in. It's just another threat that we have on the team." Coach Lawrence Frank hasn't named his starting five for Wednesday's opener against the Bulls and would never tell the media until he tells the players. It's believed Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Nenad Krstic and Collins will start, but Frank conceded it could change at some point. "Is this the anti-Collins campaign?" Frank joked. "Can Jamaal be a starter? Sure he can be a starter. So you have to keep an open mind. And it's a long season. So if he doesn't start at the start of the season, that doesn't mean he can't start [eventually]." "It doesn't really matter to me," Magloire said. "But I'm a competitive player. I want to start. I want to be an integral part of this team." Magloire will be. He has been working hard to learn the Nets' system and improve his game. He has high expectations for himself and the team. "I'm very driven," he said. "I see an opportunity for us to go to the Finals. I think we can compete with any team in the Eastern Conference. "We're as good as any team in the Eastern Conference. The fact that window is kind of closing for all of us, this is a good opportunity to grasp getting back there." COACH'S TAKE: Frank on whether Jefferson has something to prove this season: "I think he has a chip on his shoulder. Richard is ultra-competitive, and I think he understands and knows how good he can be, and he wants to prove it." INJURY REPORT: The 12 players expected to be on the Nets' opening-night active roster practiced in full for the first time since Oct. 10. --

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