All the prior insistence that Nelson was done for the season and was hoping to be ready for next preseason may have been mere lip service to keep fans from getting their hopes up about his return and to avoid any public pressure for him to return too early. I wouldn't be completely surprised if they brought him back now. A year ago, we wom the playoff games Rafer was in and lost the ones he was injured for. He was a big part of the Rockets' success.
why? dwight will dominate the lakers front line. Orlando likes to get out and run. Orlando has size and versatility with hedu and lewis. plus they have JJ redick...i mean, how can they stop him?!
If its true, then the Magic would have depth in the point guard position. Question would be, Can he regain his playing form before the injury?
We lost to Utah last year because Rafer went down. He's a good point guard, just not a great shooter.
he'll have neither his stamina nor timing. not that what i think matters, but i don't think its a good idea to bring a player back to play in the nba finals after he has been out for months. w/o his stamina or strength, his jump shots will be flat and he won't be able to push the ball like he was earlier in the season.
I hope he doesn't attempt to come back. He would ruin the great team chemistry that the Magic have at this point.
10/10 ESPN NBA writers picked the Cavs to win that series. Only 1 had the Cavs needing 7 to do so. So I'd say your statement is exaggeration in the least. Glad for you that you saw it coming, but 90% of basketball nation didn't. They were waiting for the Magic to get exposed against a team that had drilled its first two postseason opponents in consecutive sweeps and all double digit wins. If Jameer Nelson comes back, it's off the bench taking Anthony Johnson's role. And I don't know that Van Gundy misses with his rotation like that. The Finals is not the time to let a PG shake off very significant rust - he'd be a wild card (in a bad way) and unnecessary when PG is one position that the Magic shouldn't be sweating.
According to this ESPN article, some of his teammates claim he looked "terrific" in practice and that they expect him to play, including backup PG Anthony Johnson (who would clearly be the odd guy out if Nelson were to return). http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4224810
Since the Magic got to the NBA Finals to play the Lakers, I would have really liked to see how they would do against them with Rafer Alston being their starting PG rather than Jameer Nelson. We shouldn't forget that the two games the Magic won against the Lakers were both early in the season with Jameer Nelson playing long before his shoulder injury.
Is a rusty Jameer Nelson any worse than Anthony Johnson in limited minutes? That's the real question....
he had some monster games against the lakers early. It will be nice to have him "in case" but i wouldnt expect anything from him. I keep using the sets i've been and if you desperate, that's when you go with him. would be an amazing story if he steps in and torches the lakers D
Hmmmm I read he isn't going to play tonight though. Well not expected to play. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-jameer-nelson-magic-060409,0,3816142.story LOS ANGELES - Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson isn't likely to play tonight in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the L.A. Lakers, but he is expected to be activated and dress out, the Sentinel has learned. The chance of him playing in the series is still remote. Nelson has been feverishly trying to come back early from Feb. 19 shoulder surgery. The Magic have been evaluating his progress the last few days, and it appeared he might be a long shot to play after returning to practice this week. Nelson was two months ahead of his projected six-month rehab schedule and had increased the intensity of his workouts the past three weeks, he did not participate in his first formal practice with the Magic until last Tueday in Orlando. He also worked out with the team in L.A. on Wednesday.
ESPN just reported he will be active tonight and SVG has confirmed he will be his second option at the point behind Rafer.
And it didn't exactly work. He was a -19 and Rafer was a -6. Nelson+Alston only outscored Fisher by 3 points.
Rafer and Jameer got off to a good start, but then Van Gundy decided to play Jameer the whole 2nd qt. and it went down hill from there.
unbelievable. i can't believe a coach would play him anything more than spot minutes. the current roster got you to the finals and you're going to screw with that chemistry, rotation, etc.?
