PROTECT THE PAINT

Rafer Alston sat during the entire second quarter of game 1 of the NBA Finals as the injured Jameer Nelson tried an dfailed to play up to par during an NBA Finals game..

Will Jameer Nelson Undermine the Magic? (AP)

Yes, That is 12 minutes, a full quarter, that your starting PG, the player whom played and helped you win the prior playoff games that brought you there, in fact did not play a even a single second. Instead, we were all left scratching our heads wondering why in the world Stan Van Gundy decided to put Jameer Nelson for the entire duration of second quarter.

I know starters are not supposed to lose their starting position due to injury, but find it strange that a player 2 months ahead of schedule to return from a season ending shoulder injury, not having played in a single playoff game, is suddenly expected to deliver the type of performance to win.

Furthermore, I question if the Magic, whom after learning of the loss of Nelson for the season due to his Labrum tear, considered that their season was more or less finished at the time. I mean, If he is 2 months ahead of schedule, is it possible that it was their belief they had no chance making it deep into the playoffs without him?

Let’s be real about this: 2 months is a large discrepancy of time between a estimated recovery time, and actual recovery time. I mean, a flu bug, sprained ankle, perhaps even Orthoscopic surgery, maybe……. but an outright invasive reconstructive procedure to repair  your  shoulder’s torn labrum? I find that extremely odd.

Perhaps Nelson is forcing his way on to the court because he wants the “Willis Reed” tag, or some other type of self fulfilling prophecy. Either way, I am a basketball purist, and believe in the old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it”.

Rafer Alston came into the situation with everything to prove, and has more than succeeded to do so in the leadership role. He was banished from Houston, and now has played himself and The Magic into the Finals.

Our deepest apologies to Jameer; All-Star season and all, but you had nothing to do with these accomplishments. I adamantly say play Rafer, continue to defer to Johnson as your #2, and resort to Nelson as the third and final option.

Nothing personal to Nelson, but he had absolutely nothing to do with The Magic getting where they are, so why should he step in, and undermine team chemistry and everything they have accomplished without him?

Some people argue to go with your best players, but I recommend you go with who is playing the best, and give that player the minutes. In this case, that player is Rafer Alston.

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