Perception never quite meets reality when it comes to sweet-shooting forward Pat Garrity. And, without question, that's a good thing for the Orlando Magic.

In one sense, he's kind, well-spoken, has those rugged Boy Scout good looks and possesses the witty intelligence of a former pre-med student. He doesn't exactly ooze athleticism out of every pore and that slender build of his seems ill-suited for the nightly battles under the boards. And even his reputation as one of the NBA's best 3-point shooters carries a stigma -- that he's 'soft' and probably shies away from contact.

Funny things, those perceptions. Sometimes they can be dead wrong.

On the court, Garrity is rip-your-heart-out fiery and intense. Tracy McGrady and Mike Miller are clearly the Magic's best players, but Garrity just might be the team's most fearless player. He shies away from no shot and backs down from no power forward in the paint. Why, just last week, when he wasn't beating the Philadelphia 76ers with his 3-pointers, he was banging with the 270-pound Derrick Coleman in the lane.

"Pat plays with such passion and intensity," Magic coach Doc Rivers said. "He's such a great shooter and a lot of times shooters get labeled as being soft. But Pat will fight you, and those who know him know that's his real personality. His fight is so infectious. (Wednesday in Philadelphia) he was wrestling Derrick Coleman and keeping him off the glass. After our other big guys saw that they knew they couldn't give up rebounds."

Garrity and the Magic travel to Milwaukee to face the rival Bucks tonight. Milwaukee knocked the Magic out of the first round of the playoffs last season and at one time had an 11-game winning streak against Orlando. Milwaukee (23-13) is back on top of the Central Division after winning its past five games.

"They will always be in our minds until we learn how to beat that team," said Magic point guard Darrell Armstrong, who struggled with a severe groin strain during the playoffs last April. "Their fans know we struggle against (the Bucks) and that's why it's like a madhouse up there. What we got to do is win games against them, and that's got to start tomorrow."

"They feel like they can beat us no matter what. We have to beat them up there and beat them when they come back here."

Garrity's fight is a big reason why the Magic (20-20) have played much better of late, winning seven of their past 10 games. Garrity moved into the starting lineup five games ago when veteran center Patrick Ewing went on the injured list with tendinitis in his right calf and Achilles' tendon.Garrity has more than held his own at power forward -- whether it's beating bigger defenders with his deadly outside shot or smothering them with his intensity and physical play.

"If you look at me -- 230 pounds, 6-feet, 9-inches -- I don't look like many power forwards in the NBA," Garrity said with a self-deprecating laugh. "But the way I have to play is hard-nosed all the time. I'm not going to beat anyone with my quickness or jumping ability so I have to be physical and use my body."

Garrity, a tireless worker who has been known to get up an extra 200 shots a day after practice, ranked seventh in the NBA in 3-point shooting last season. And this year he's 11th in the league in 3-pointers made.

The return to Milwaukee tonight will surely rekindle memories of a time when Garrity's shooting from afar was never better. During the playoffs last year, Garrity emerged as one of the Magic's most fearless competitors. With Miller, a rookie at the time, struggling in his first playoffs and Armstrong hobbled, Garrity stepped up when the Magic needed him most. He hit 10 3-pointers in the four games, each one seemingly bigger and bigger in terms of importance. And he averaged slightly more than 12 points a game.

"Toughness is also wanting to take big shots," said Garrity, who has hit four game-winning shots the past two seasons. "And also it's not hiding when there's 2 minutes left in a close game."

Armstrong, who knows a thing or two about hustle and scrappy play, said that Garrity's fire and fearlessness has had a carryover affect on the Magic of late.

"A lot of people don't realize it but Pat's a fighter," Armstrong said. "Everybody has always told him he couldn't play defense, but he's proven he can do that now. He gives so much effort all the time, and you like that about him because you know you're always going to get his best."

With the effort he plays with you can sometimes overcome things that people say you can't do." Rivers' favorite story regarding Garrity came from a game against Boston last year, and gives some insight into the Magic forward's gritty toughness. After banging and battling with Boston center Vitaly Potapenko all night, Garrity positioned himself under the basket for a rebound only to be hit in the back of the head by a deliberate forearm shiver thrown by Potapenko.

"We had made this tremendous comeback and were up by one with 14 seconds left when Pat got hit," Rivers recalled. "Pat runs over to the bench and screams, 'Coach, can I take (a technical foul) right now?' I told him no, but if I had said yes I think Pat would have popped the guy right then and there."

Away from the court, Garrity's love of heavy metal and hard rock 'n' roll is famous among his teammates. For example, when asked last year to name three people he would most like to meet, Garrity's picks were diverse to say the least. He chose physicist Stephen Hawking, Jesus and Metallica lead singer James Hetfield.

"I enjoy the energy of the music," Garrity said.

Surprising stuff for a person who hopes to study internal medicine once his basketball days are over?

"Don't judge a book by its cover," he said with a laugh.