Nelson Plays, Magic Lose. What Would Mr Hand Say?
It seems that everytime Stan Van Gundy makes a smart coaching coacing decision, he proceeds to take two steps back. In Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Van Gundy had Jameer Nelson on the court for the entire 4th quarter and overtime period.
In Nelson’s postgame interview he states “Obviously, uh, I think I let Fisher get into a rhythm…….I was there….. He shot a good shot.”
Jameer Nelson was defensively out of position, and unable to locate his defensive rhythm. His floor spacing was nonchalant, and he gave up enough room that Phil Jackson could have taken that shot.
The other question to ask is why didn’t Jameer Nelson commit the no brainer foul on Derek Fisher, and let the home crowd pressure him at the line for 3 game deciding foul shots?
When David Aldridge asks him if he game him too much room, Nelson replied “I don’t know”.
| Had Ray Walston’s character Mr. Hand from Fast Times at Ridgemont High was in the room he could have given Jameer Nelson a lesson for saying something this rediculous. Mr Hand: “Gee Jameer, will the Orlando Magic have a chance to win the series?” Jameer: “I don’t know.” Mr Hand: “Do you think Rafer Alston should have been in there for part of the 4th quarter, or overtime?” Jameer: “I don’t know.” Mr Hand: “I like those words Jameer. I am going to leave them up in my locker room so that all my players can read them, giving you full credit for them of course” Jameer: “Well allright.” |  Mr Hand would know how to handle Jameer Nelson |
The point is Nelson is not playing at the game speed that the NBA Finals game demands from a player. His decisions are all over-thought. He is not reacting, but rather thinking too hard on the court. Rafer Alston has played the majority of minutes in the lone victory the Magic have had thus far.
If Stan Van Gundy could keep his composure, not pannick, he only then might realize the wrong guard is playing at the wrong time. You cannot play the game of favorites and expect to win in life. So Why would you in basketball?
Either way, Jameer Nelson would probably say “I don’t know.”
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Fri, Jun 12, 2009 by Adam Sedie
News, Opinions