If you're a Magic fan, or betting on the Magic in the NBA Finals, you should be scared to death of point guard Jameer Nelson putting on his uniform this week.It will be a disaster if it happens. He will go down in flames, taking his team along for the ride.
General manager Otis Smith should come to his senses and kill the idea of his return later today after letting him practice with the team again in Los Angeles.
Also See: 2009 NBA Finals Predictions
If you've forgotten, Nelson sustained a season-ending shoulder injury February 2 that required surgery and a six-month rehab schedule. A quicker-than-expected recovery, plus Nelson's intense competitive nature, has prompted his persistence on returning.
And when you've been feeding his ego for the past few years, telling him he's such a big part of the team's future, it's hard to just say no. After all, he wants to share in the glory. With an NBA ego, it's not easy to sit on the sideline and watch your team flourish with you – no matter how much of a team player you are.
"I tried to talk with him about not falling into the trap of `I hope the team does well, but not too well without me,''' said Smith. "And I think he's handled it well.''
But Nelson wants his uniform back. He's tired of sitting in a suit behind the bench, listening to how great his teammates are. He wants to feel the love again, making sure people don't forget this is his team, and not replacement Rafer Alston's team. He is an All-Star.
It's a touchy subject around the organization, but the fact is that bringing him back now makes no sense. The chemistry, such a fragile thing, is great as is. The Magic have shown some outstanding mental toughness is reaching the Finals. Alston and backup Anthony Johnson have manned the position well through the post season.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy didn't sound thrilled with the idea of his return, even though most of the players think it will happen. Van Gundy knows how rusty Nelson will be. There is such a fine line in the NBA between winning and losing that any disruption now, anything that knocks the Magic out of rhythm, is major trouble. As good as Nelson was this season before his injury, he will struggle if he tries to play now.
Nelson had two great games this season against the Lakers. He wants to abuse Lakers point guard Derek Fisher again on the league's biggest stage. But he hasn't played in four months.
Smith is concerned that if he doesn't let Nelson return, it will damage him down the road, making him feel like he just missed the biggest moment in franchise history. It's why he let Nelson open this door, and start all the talk about his return.
Doctors have assured Nelson that he has healed up nicely, and that the possibility of re-injury is slim now. It has taken away the convenient excuse that they can't risk his return because of long term health issues.
It's going to be a tough call later today for the organization, but to give the Magic the best chance of winning the NBA Finals, they need to keep Nelson in a nice looking suit and his seat on the sideline.
Previously on FanHouse:
Magic Players Expect Nelson Will Play
Nelson Will Practice Tuesday With Magic
Jameer Nelson Might Return for Finals
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yah. Talk about fixing what ain't broke. If they make that mistake it will be a legendary mistake.
As a Laker fan, I hope Orlando takes your advice, because either he plays great and really helps Orlando, or he plays poorly, and spends his time sitting on the bench and thus not hurting Orlando's chances.
Farmar came back early after his knee injury, and his first game back had a tremendous game. Unfortunately after that first game, he hasn't played as well as before his injury. However, if Orlando can get one great game out of Nelson, that may be all it needs.
That was a dumb article. For one you are not a doctor or a trainer to tell him if he can or cannot play. Second thing is hes not going to kill the "chemistry" coming off the bench playing 10-15 minutes, its not like hes going to come back and start. I think he would be just fine playing and if hes not healthy enough to play then he will need to man up and sit the rest of the series. By the was him playing 10 minutes is not going to "be a disaster if it happens. He will go down in flames, taking his team along for the ride." as you so kindly said it. Of course the lakers dont want to see him because he destroyed fisher during the regular season. How about you let the team decide if they want nelson to play and not worry about what you think.
what's naive about Nelson coming back is that the situation is totally unpredictable...NO ONE can tell what forces will be at work internally or externally in a game situation, especially with a 'rushed' return to play. He may well be able to and he may be able to help his team, there are dozens of outcomes and factors around this scenario...it could be he is the edge to get over the hump with the Lakers but if he, the coaching staff and the players are thinking they, they are already subconsciously revealing that they think they NEED that edge...which exposes a weakness in their resolve. Nelson didn't get them to the finals, he didn't get them to the end of the season, through the playoffs and through the ECF...as far as chemistry goes? well, it's also naive to think that returning a person to the lineup in GAME situations is the same as playing them in practice or them having been there the whole time.
I, too, agree with J, but just not so poetically. Jameer coming off the bench to play (at the most) eight minutes won't do anything to disrupt the team. If anything they'll just have Turk playing Point-Forward like he does at times and leave Jameer on the wing. If he can shoot the ball like he did prior to injury, L.A. better watch out. It's all speculation, and nobody can be right until it occurs, so we'll see. I, personally, just don't see any losing scenario for the Magic if he's put in as a backup.
It doesn't matter who plays! The Magic will win big!
You hope.
Yeah....You hope!!!
Lakers will win .....4 straight!
Povtak,once again you've proved you are the biggest fraud of a sportswriter that has ever walded this planet. Your lack of knowledge amazes me. How can an all-star PG hurt a team? Even in a limited minutes role, he's bound to help. If the rust factor is too great....then sit him. I hope you don't get paid for this job...'cause it's stealing!!!
If athletes were machines, Nelson coming back prematurally might not hurt, but it also wouldn`t be much point watching the games. As the Lakers being BI-polar, and smirking about it, in the playoffs indicate, the athletes are NOT machines. Every year, the worst team in the league beats the best, and supposedly makes their season. If the Magic depend upon Nelson coming back, winning games for them, and let down, let Jameer do it, guess what, it won`t get done. The Cavs didn`t achieve nearly as well as the hype, because most Cavs felt, James is the Savior God, according to the press, best ever, let HIM do it. No one man can win. Not even Wilt, who really WAS the best individual ever. It wasn`t until Wilt got on teams good enough to win some without him that he won Championships, by tipping the balance. Ego/hype don`t win. If the Lakers count on Bryant to win for them, they will lose. If the Magic count on Nelson and/or Howard to win for them, they will lose. So even practicing Nelson can raise fales expectations and is a risk. But if Nelson does not dominate Alston and Johnson in practice, the Magic should not think of playing him. The team needs to focus on their own jobs, not Nelson maybe to the rescue. He just can`t rescue them. They have to win or lose on their own. Maybe Next season, on schedule, he might be ready. Probably now he`d just be a distraction which would psyche up the Lakers and undercut the Magic.
I think a lot of people are misconstruing this whole thing. Nobody's saying "Oh, we need Jameer back!" No, it's simply Jameer, being the competitive all-star that he is, wanting to get back in the game, and his TEAM trusting him enough to consider giving him that opportunity. C'mon now, folks, of ALL the teams in NBA where you say only "one" guy can help them win . . it's definitely not the Magic. Any one of the players on that starting five and a good three or four off the bench can light it up at any given night. This is a TEAM in every sense of the word. Jameer is another component (a very damn good one, might I add), and if they want to give him a chance, then I say let them. It's honestly not even that big of a deal if you think about it . . .
The Magic can win it all if they focus on Kobe & Kasol.The Lakers will self distruct with the frustration of not being able to contain the Magics outside game, Kobe is gonna get his just like Labron did!!Nelson wont hurt the Magic,Stan wont let that happen he knows when a timeout is needed & always make the right subs.The only thing is, Howards gotta play big & not let the Laker bigs not frustrate him into a technical foul,If Howard keeps his composure the Magic in 5 & once again shock the nation!!!!!