What do the Orlando Magic need right now? That is, what do they need that they have a chance at getting, Grant Hill being out of the question?

How about the flu?

Just kidding, of course. Illness is nothing to wish on anybody. But Magic coach Doc Rivers recalled Wednesday night that when he was a player, he never sat out with the flu and usually played pretty well when sick.

"I think you overcompensate, because you think you're not doing anything," he said. "You think you're moving slower. I know I had one really great game with terrible sickness, and after the game they (teammates and coaches) were joking, Stay sick.' "

Playing can even cure the flu, Rivers said, recalling a game at Milwaukee during his days with the Hawks when he was so sick he had to drag himself off a training table to head for the court, but after the game he felt fine.

ARMSTRONG PAYS PRICE

All this came up because of the Magic's battered state, which has left them in a three-game losing streak, short on bodies as well as confidence.

It has put the local media into "how-could-things-get-worse" mode, hence the flu talk.

The injuries to Hill and Tracy McGrady have caused more than a losing streak. Without those two, Darrell Armstrong's minutes and responsibilities have increased.

Armstrong now needs to score more, handle the ball more, pick up the opposing point guard on defense most of the time and play more minutes than he should.

Armstrong doesn't shrink from this, not for an instant.

HURTING ALL OVER

But his shooting is off (8-for-34 his last three games). He is not getting the usual elevation on his jumpers -- a sure sign of tired legs.

"Darrell probably shouldn't have played the Dallas game (Saturday)," Rivers said. "He probably shouldn't have played against Washington (on Friday) either."

Armstrong has back problems, leg problems and overall aches and pains that are inevitable when small size is combined with big intensity in a 33-year-old body.

Throughout last year, Rivers talked about getting Armstrong more rest. After the season, Armstrong spoke eagerly about the opportunity to become the Magic's sixth man with Hill healthy.

Now here we are amid the 2001 season and Hill is out again and the Magic are four games below .500, in the same spot they were in going into their Dec. 28, 2000, game.

Rivers would like Armstrong to play 20-25 minutes per game. He's averaging 33. Wednesday night, he played 35.

And yet, night after night, Rivers really has no choice.

You catch the flu, you keep playing or you don't, you sleep and drink fluids and chances are good that in a week or so you'll be fine.

Rivers doesn't want his players to catch the flu, but he'd sure like to have problems that could be solved so simply and quickly.