The Los Angeles Lakers took away game one of the 2009 NBA finals with an easy 100-75 thrashing of the Orlando Magic, Thursday night at the Staples Center. The suspense behind the status of all-star guard Jameer Nelson was finally unraveled as coach Stan Van Gundy reactivated the 6-0 guard from the injury list in time for the opening game. Nelson played 23 and a half minutes contributing 6 measly points and took away a lot of playing time from starter Rafer Alston. But did Gundy made the right decision in playing Nelson? It seems unfair for Alston to play second fiddle to Nelson, who didn’t see any action the entire Easter Conference playoffs. It was Alston in tandem with Dwight Howard which help propelled the Disneyworld outfit to its first appearance in the finals after 14 years of absence.
Nelson had already been given the clean bill of health by his Doctors and cleared to start practicing with the Magic. But is the NBA finals the right time for a comeback? How will it affect the present Magic chemistry?
So let’s hear it from the Magic camp on what’s on their mind with regards to Nelson’s comeback:
Jameer Nelson: I'm a competitor. No matter what the situation is, I always think I can go out there and get contact. A miracle has to happen. I can go out there and, no matter what the situation is, I can adapt. We still play the game the same way.
I'm not saying I'm any tougher or stronger than anybody, but I've been known to do some amazing things sometimes."
Otis Smith, General Manager, Orlando Magic: "It's still no in my mind. There's a very smidgen of a chance he can play. I just told him, 'Don't fall prey to the trap. The trap is, you want your team to do well, but you don't want them to do too well because you feel like you're not needed or missed. Ultimately, you have to make the decision that's best for your organization."
Stan Van Gundy, Head Coach, Orlando Magic: "You always worry about that. But that's just the decision that I'll have to make after a couple of days and he's practicing. ... But to me, four months is a long time to be out to have two practices and play in the NBA finals.
Right now, he's not the guy we had the first part of the year, and he won't be. I'm not against it, for it, anything. Just wait and see. My concern would be … just not having played the game in four months, now you're going to go play at the absolute highest level. That seems to be a pretty tall order."
Dwight Howard: "I just want him healthy. He doesn't have to play if he doesn't feel up to it. I'd rather see him healthy more than anything because his career in the long run is more important. This is just one series."
Anthony Johnson: "I expect to see him out there at some point in the series."
Mickael Pietrus: "He was terrific. Hopefully, he will play and can help us win."
Rafer Alston: "I was going to try to run him ragged out there, but I didn't want to cross him over. He did cross me over a couple times."
Based on the result of the series opener, the Magic's chances of winning it all seems better off with Alston.
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Another Jordan had taken a front office seat in the NBA. The Philadelphia 76ers had just announced that they had signed former Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan to a three-year contract as head mentor of the team. Jordan had been on the Sixers radar as early as December of last year after the City of Brotherly Love outfit unceremoniously dismissed erstwhile head coach Maurice Cheeks.
The Sixers will be the third team that Jordan will handle in his NBA coaching career. With his new appointment, "Fast Eddie" can not help but get excited with his new team. "This team has a good core group, has future stars in the waiting, they've had playoff experience for two years," Jordan said. "Now it's time to go uptown." Jordan also explained why is bringing in former NBA players Mike O’Koren and Aaron Mckie in his Sixers coaching staff. "If you're a basketball player with a basketball IQ, it will be easy to learn," Jordan said.
Jordan, who was well known for his up-tempo type kind of game during his NBA playing days, is expected to turn the Sixers offense into an exciting and fastbreaking team. It is will definitely be a new beginning for Jordan and the 76ers.
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