Reply With Quote
+1
If I'm SVG, I wouldn't risk it - unless, of course, the Magic are getting their asses handed to them.
+1
If I'm SVG, I wouldn't risk it - unless, of course, the Magic are getting their asses handed to them.
3-6, after Melo was clearely limping! He owned Ariza and everyone else everyway he wanted in the first two games. GTFO and watch some basketball you troll!
Dampier is the reason why Jameer has been out for so long
If I'm Phil I remind Bynum to lay anyone's ass down who drives into the paint.
Nelson will just be added to his body count. They can send flowers after the Lakers collect the O'Brien trophy.
The latest.
Magic mull possible return of Nelson for finals
By Antonio Gonzalez
Jameer Nelson wants to play in the NBA finals. Whether the Orlando Magic will let him remains a mystery.
Nelson said Monday that he has been playing full-court games, participating in contact drills and practicing with the Magic for the first time since tearing the labrum in his right shoulder Feb. 3.
The All-Star guard had what was then called season-ending surgery Feb. 19. His rehabilitation was supposed to take at least another two months.
Magic general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy still expressed doubt Monday whether Nelson could seriously return for the finals. Smith said a quicker recovery and the chance of winning a championship has forced him to at least take a look at Nelson. Game 1 is Thursday night in Los Angeles.
“It’s still no in my mind,” Smith said, adding that the team will explore the idea even if Nelson doesn’t return for Game 1.
Orlando was 2-0 this against the Lakers this season. Nelson was the Orlando’s leading scorer in both those games, averaging 27.5 points. He has been lobbying 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.
But even Nelson admits it will be difficult to convince the training staff and coaches that he isn’t risking future damage.
“A miracle has to happen,” Nelson said.
The Magic had the best record in the NBA in January behind Nelson, who was having a career season. He averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 42 games this season.
But their le hopes took a major hit after he was injured. A trade-deadline deal that brought Rafer Alston from Houston largely saved the Magic’s season, allowing the rotation to remain the same and Anthony Johnson to continue to provide solid play as Alston’s backup.
That Alston trade was one of the best of the season.
Magic players: PG Nelson will play in NBA finals
By Antonio Gonzalez
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 it won’t be determined until game day, players said Nelson looked “terrific” and expect the point guard to be on the court against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Backup point guard Anthony Johnson said, “I expect to see him out there at some point in the series.”
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.
I hope he plays and now I'm fully expecting it, it will be nice to see him back out on the floor again. But to expect him to actually contribute and be in NBA shape after 4 practices after being out for 4 months is just a stretch IMO. Can't wait for Thursday!!!
Dwight imitating SVG was classic.
"Patrick, talk to Dwight, he's not making his Free Throws" LMAO!
Updated.
Magic players: PG Nelson will play in NBA finals
By Antonio Gonzalez
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 le 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."
Last edited by duncan228; 06-03-2009 at 12:58 AM.
this is kind of interesting. if he has the ability to play 15-20 minutes, this will be pretty big. nelson has torched the lakers in the regular season and proved to be pretty clutch and an effective leader for the magic.
Nelson, if he comes back, will only came back off the bench.
That means he will go up against Shannon Brown. NOT DEREK FISHER.
Ultimately I don't expect him to be much of a factor. Being out of the game for 4 months and then reinserting yourself in the Finals isn't easy.
A dude from one of the local LA radio stations was on one of our local stations today talking about how small, fast guards cause headaches for the Lakers. Why is that?
Injuries don't matter to Laker fans just ask them about Vujacic shutting down Manu last season in the playoffs. It's the same situation here. Carmelo's injury really had nothing to do with it.
That is why most Laker fans suck.
I don't know, but Phil Jackson always make TP one of the number 1 priorities to beating the Spurs. That's why TP had to improve his jumper.
Hopefully he comes back healthy
Because DFish can't guard anybody.
i think this will be the starting lineups:
Howard vs Gasol
Lewis Vs Odom
Turkoglu vs Ariza
Lee vs Kobe
Alston vs Fisher
Gasol would likely get into foul trouble trying to guard Howard if the Lakers don't double team him or get his lunch handed to him; Pau also presents a tougher matchup for Lewis. For those reasons I think they start Bynum and bring Odom in off the bench. That lineup may be on the floor to end the game, but I don't think it will be there to start for the Lakers.
Looking "more and more likely" that he plays.
Jameer Nelson: (Shoulder) Returning for Finals?
Update: Nelson (shoulder) took part in Tuesday’s practice and teammates are convinced he will return for the NBA Finals, the Orlando Sentinel reports. “I’m pretty sure he’s going to be given the benefit of the doubt. I expect him to be out there sometime during the series,” said backup point guard Anthony Johnson.
Recommendation: The final say will come from team officials, but it looks more and more likely that Nelson will make an appearance in the championship series. He was highly effective against the Lakers this season and would give the Magic a big boost.
Good for Jameer, no way he drops 28 on us every game like he did in the regular season though. I hope not..
Great news for Jameer, Bad news for the Lakers...possibly VERY bad news for the Lakers.
Jameer led the Magic in scoring vs the Lakers ... 55 damn points in just two games.
All we fans can hope for now is 6 months of rust and a Superman performance by Farmar Brown cuz if Jameer's on, he'll burn Fish.
Probably unwise because he takes away possessions from Dwight Howard.
Plus they made it to the finals without him.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions