"Magic considering G Nelson for Finals" - ESPN

[wdleehi]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4219606

Orlando is evaluating All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson for a possible return to the Magic lineup for the NBA Finals that begin Thursday night in Los Angeles.

Nelson has been working out and has said he has full range of motion.

Well, this certainly gives us another thing to talk about.

[winsomme]

you know they interviewed him before or during last nights game and it was weird.

they asked when he planned to be ready to play and he basically said for the start of training camp but also said something that seemed like he was talking about coming back for the Finals if they got there.

the interviewer let it go and it was pretty unclear, but it definitely had this hint of coming back.

I had never heard anything about coming back, so i just i misunderstood what he was saying.

I guess not.

[PosImpos]

Bad idea.  Why risk ruining chemistry and having him come back only to be rusty?  The Magic are good enough to potentially win the Championship, they don't need to have Nelson come back and risk messing things up.

[wdleehi]

Bad idea.  Why risk ruining chemistry and having him come back only to be rusty?  The Magic are good enough to potentially win the Championship, they don't need to have Nelson come back and risk messing things up.

Because he was their starting all star callibur PG for half the season.  Because if he is healthy, it makes stronger a position where the Lakers are weak. 

[Roy Hobbs]

Bad idea.  Why risk ruining chemistry and having him come back only to be rusty?  The Magic are good enough to potentially win the Championship, they don't need to have Nelson come back and risk messing things up.

I don't think they should replace Alston with him, since Rafer has been playing well.  However, as a potential upgrade over Anthony Johnson, I'd absolutely be in favor of it.  (That presumes, of course, that he can play.)

[cdif911]

Bad idea.  Why risk ruining chemistry and having him come back only to be rusty?  The Magic are good enough to potentially win the Championship, they don't need to have Nelson come back and risk messing things up.

I don't think they should replace Alston with him, since Rafer has been playing well.  However, as a potential upgrade over Anthony Johnson, I'd absolutely be in favor of it.  (That presumes, of course, that he can play.)

I'm with Roy - the Magic got to the finals with Rafer as their point, you stick with that - but Jameer gives you an all-star calibre backup, you take it

[PosImpos]

Bad idea.  Why risk ruining chemistry and having him come back only to be rusty?  The Magic are good enough to potentially win the Championship, they don't need to have Nelson come back and risk messing things up.

Because he was their starting all star calibur PG for half the season.  Because if he is healthy, it makes stronger a position where the Lakers are weak. 

Yeah but even if he is healthy now who says he is starting calibur if he hasn't played in a while?  And the Magic have gone through the playoffs with Alston and including Jameer could make Alston play worse and could disrupt the team as a whole.  It just seems like an unnecessary risk that's not worth the possible reward.  

It's not like the Celtics - the Celtics with KG as opposed to without are an entirely different team in a very negative way but the Magic with Alston and without Nelson are still a really good team, even if they aren't perhaps quite as good as the Magic with Nelson playing his best.

Edit:

If we're talking about having Nelson play instead of Johnson, then you have a good idea there.  Johnson has been okay for them but nothing to write home about.  Nelson could definitely be a good guy for their second unit, and if it doesn't work out Johnson probably wouldn't be too insulted by not playing a game or something.

[guava_wrench]

Bad idea.  Why risk ruining chemistry and having him come back only to be rusty?  The Magic are good enough to potentially win the Championship, they don't need to have Nelson come back and risk messing things up.

I don't think they should replace Alston with him, since Rafer has been playing well.  However, as a potential upgrade over Anthony Johnson, I'd absolutely be in favor of it.  (That presumes, of course, that he can play.)

I'm with Roy - the Magic got to the finals with Rafer as their point, you stick with that - but Jameer gives you an all-star calibre backup, you take it

You can stick with Rafer AND play Jameer.

[kozlodoev]

The question "why risk chemistry" has an easy answer: because the chance of Alston showing up for any given game is 50/50, roughly speaking.

The better question is why risk the guy's health. There is a huge difference between being ready for training camp and being ready for the NBA finals this season.

[Eja117]

[dang it]!

I have NEVER wanted an injured player from another team to come back SOOOOOOOO bad

[hwangjini_1]

i hope he comes back and can contribute.

i hate LA.

in the two meetings between orlando and LA this year, orlando won both and nelson played outstanding basketball in both games.

it seems LA has no one who can defend him well.

[Redz]

[dang it]!

I have NEVER wanted an injured player from another team to come back SOOOOOOOO bad

Hello?

[Roy Hobbs]

[dang it]!

I have NEVER wanted an injured player from another team to come back SOOOOOOOO bad

Hello?

Another team. 

[Redz]

[dang it]!

I have NEVER wanted an injured player from another team to come back SOOOOOOOO bad

Hello?

Another team. 

Oh..right 

Been writing and editing papers all night.  Hope I do a better job editing my own stuff.

[Who]

I'm dubious about Nelson being able to play at a high enough level to make it worthwhile.

He's been out for months, how is he going to be able to match the intensity and sharpness of an NBA Finals opponent? How is he going to be in sync with his teammates?

I don't like the look of this. I don't think it's going to work out.