Magic Players : Nelson Will Play in Finals

[MikeMan™]

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Orlando Magic players say Jameer Nelson will play in the NBA finals, even though the All-Star point guard and his coach remain publicly pessimistic.

Nelson participated in a full team practice Tuesday for the first time since tearing the labrum in his right shoulder Feb. 2. While Nelson and coach Stan Van Gundy still said the point guard's status won't be determined until game day, players said Nelson looked "terrific" and expect him to be on the court against the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I expect to see him out there at some point in the series," backup point guard Anthony Johnson said.

Nelson had what was then called season-ending surgery Feb. 19. Nelson's rehabilitation was supposed to take at least another two months.

Game 1 of the finals is Thursday night in Los Angeles, and healed or not, Nelson wants to play.

"I'm not saying I'm any tougher or stronger than anybody, but I've been known to do some amazing things sometimes," Nelson said Tuesday, again lobbying for playing time.

Magic general manager Otis Smith had repeatedly said Nelson will not play again this season. But he recanted his comments Monday and said a quicker recovery and the chance of winning a championship has forced him to at least take a look at Nelson

"It's still no in my mind," Smith said. "There's a very smidgen of a chance he can play."

That "smidgen" seems to be growing.

Nelson has been playing full-court games and practicing in non-contact drills for the last two weeks. Tuesday, he participated in every drill.

Players said Nelson wasn't in his All-Star form, but even not completely healthy, he was better than most NBA point guards.

"He was terrific," Magic forward Mickael Pietrus said. "Hopefully, he will play and can help us win."

Starting point guard Rafer Alston expressed similar optimism.

"I was going to try to run him ragged out there, but I didn't want to cross him over," Alston said. "He did cross me over a couple times."

The Lakers are preparing as if Nelson will play -- and for good reason.

Orlando was 2-0 against Los Angeles this season. Nelson was Orlando's leading scorer in both those games, averaging 27.5 points.

And with the Lakers' troubles guarding point guards in the postseason, they're not taking any chances.

"He's a terrific player. He's really come on a lot in the last year as a player," Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "Someone's got to play that position and we have to match whatever happens there. He has the speed and intelligence to play that position very well for that team."

Nelson has been trying to convince the Magic for a chance at playing since the playoffs began, with each round the team advances the idea -- and the talk -- of him returning growing.

For the Lakers, Nelson is just one more offensive weapon they have to worry about.

"They add another scorer," Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant said. "They have a team full of them, but he is another player you're going to have to deal with on defense."

The Magic's title hopes seemingly took a major hit after Nelson was injured. A trade-deadline deal that brought Alston from Houston largely saved the Magic's season, allowing the rotation to remain the same and Johnson to continue to provide solid play as Alston's backup.

The Magic are hoping Nelson can only add to that success.

Van Gundy, perhaps trying to keep his coaching strategy a secret, again expressed doubt Tuesday whether Nelson could seriously return for the finals. But he also said that even if Nelson doesn't play in Game 1, he could play later in the series.

"He was OK," Van Gundy said, shrugging his shoulders. "We'll have to wait until and see."

[Brave Sir Rubin]

I really don't get why people post article links without commenting on them here.

Do you really lack all opinion?

It's not like 99% of the people who post haven't stumbled upon that article already.


In other news:

I don't know if this will help or hurt the Magic. I really hope that we don't get too Nelson-happy. He has progressed tremendously during this season, but we have a pretty good team chemistry going. I'd rather see him coming off the bench for the first couple of games (replacing Alston somewhat early, and then exiting somewhat early... allowing for him to play with the starters and for Alston to play both with the starters and the bench), to see how he fits in with the rotation. It's truly an upgrade on Anthony Johnson, even though he has been rather solid for the Magic this year (especially when it comes to slowing the game down after Alston regresses to his Skip to My Lou days and throws half-court alley-ups.)

Plus, who knows how healthy the fucker is.

Not to mention that he's a defensive liability on a team that's doesn't play good transition defense to begin with.

[shadowgrin]

I really don't get why people post article links without commenting on them here.

Do you really lack all opinion?

He didn't even bother to post a link. Just copy and paste.



If the Magic lose the Finals, we can all blame it on Nelson.

[Modifly]

If the Magic lose the Finals, we can all blame it on Nelson.

Good point.


and as I've mentioned in the other thread:

...Personally I dont think he should play in the finals though, not because he's not physically ready or anything but because the Magics will have to adjust so many things in order to fit him in after all those games he missed, and there's nearly not enough time to make changes and I dont think it'll work out in such a short period of time. I think the Magics are better off without Nelson at the moment, their current rotation right now is working well and I dont think the risk is worth taking. He could make instant positive impact but on the other hand he might completely interrupt their flow. That's why I wouldn't take the risk. Besides, he's not fully recovered anyway and he'll definitely struggle on the court. How much he struggles is a different story but he definitely will.

[dopeboy]

And if Magic loses without Nelson, who you gonna blame then?
Nelson this year was so good, that even not 100% healthy he is a lot better than Alston. If he's able to play, they have to put him on the floor. This isn't the case with Amare few months ago. These are NBA finals.

[MikeMan™]

And if Magic loses without Nelson, who you gonna blame then?

Otis Smith . . .

[dopeboy]

And if Magic loses without Nelson, who you gonna blame then?

Otis Smith . . .

Yeah, always find someone to blame..

[Alejandrov011]

It's like the Celtics. They lost. Blame Marbury


So, Jameer Nelson will be a Willis Reid like?

[Cartar]

And if Magic loses without Nelson, who you gonna blame then?

I would blame the Lakers, for being a better team.

Is it just me or Mikeman is starting to be a spambot like xbox360/gilbertarenas/McDwyane/MVP/whatever else he was/ creating tons of useless threads (also just posting some random news for the sake of posting them here), making posts that make no sense at all etc...?

[Andrew]

Presumably they'll play it by ear. Having him available allows them to keep their options open, he's there if they need him and if not they can stay the course with Alston and Johnson. If I were the Magic I'd certainly be treating his availability as a luxury rather than the key to the series.

[JaoSming]

It's like the Celtics. They lost. Blame Marbury

We've been blaming Marbury?

[Alejandrov011]

No, but in other topics I read that. And in ESPN transmitions I heard it too

[Brave Sir Rubin]

I've been talking to some people around the town and a few say that this could simply be a rouse played by the Magic in order to scare the Lakers into re-evaluating their defensive strategy. Seems rather far-fetched though.

Most people do agree that Nelson won't see any playing time in the first couple of games unless the Magic have a big lead.

[MikeMan™]

This could simply be a rouse played by the Magic in order to scare the Lakers into re-evaluating their defensive strategy.

Pretty much right , IMO

[Martti.]

Well, getting an all-star PG even off the bench for 10-20 minutes is a privilege.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Well, getting an all-star PG even off the bench for 10-20 minutes is a privilege.

Unless he plays the same way he did last season.