| 10 September 2010
Jameer Nelson has done a lot for the Magic, but he might need to do more.
Newscom/PicApp
Jameer Nelson.
Just saying the name will elicit emotions across the gamut from Magic fans. The headline to this article is probably enough to get some people into a rage. Nelson divides most Magic fans in a way that very few players in team history have -- maybe since Drew Gooden, were we ever really divided on his worth? How about Mike Miller?
The point is: few players who have played a major role on an Orlando playoff team, let alone two conference finalist teams, divide Magic fans more than the (listed at) 6-foot point guard from St. Joseph's.
The Chris Paul rumors throughout the summer never helped and his leadership style on the court have Magic fans thinking Nelson might be the weak link in their lineup. And possibly the thing holding them back. It is tough to say whether either of these are true.
Nelson, predictably, came back down to earth after his All Star campaign that ended with his torn labrum. He averaged 12.6 points per game and 5.4 assists per game in 65 games (suffering a torn meniscus early in the season and missing a little more than a month). In 2009 he averaged 16.7 points per game and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 45.3 percent from the 3-point line.
Expectations for Nelson were raised, to say the least, after he earned his first invite to the NBA All-Star Game.
So when he struggled early in the season -- especially after Nelson's ill-fated decision to return from his shoulder injury in the 2009 NBA Finals -- and then went down to an injury, fans began once again to question Nelson's status as the team's point guard.
A lot of the criticism has a sound basis.
When Orlando traded for Nelson on draft night in 2004, the team was drafting a talented backup point guard with a shooting guard's mentality. Essentially, the team was drafting a less selfish Steve Francis, whom the team would acquire shortly after draft night. Nelson slipped because of his height and his penchant for scoring rather than distributing. It is the criticism that still follows him.
Nelson is listed at six feet tall, but could be closer to 5-foot-10. That should make what he does on the floor that more amazing. But rather it has always been the thing that has followed him around throughout his entire career.
I will admit that until recently, I was in that party. It is perfectly sane for someone to think a guy that small would not be able to defend well as a starter. We saw Chauncey Billups abuse him in two consecutive playoff series. Bigger point guards could have his way with him in the post even though Nelson is a strong guy for a guy his size. It seemed like his size was always a detraction.
I remember calling Nelson a "pesky" defender as a rookie while he was backing up Francis. In short spurts off the bench, he could hold his own. As a starter: no way, he is too small.
The numbers really neither support nor dismiss these claims about his defense. But I know I came around to believing he could be a starting point guard. He has always felt like a net gain on the floor. His individual defensive rating has never been below 100 points per 100 possessions and has only been lower than 105 once -- the 2009 season where Nelson played out of his mind all year.
But unless he was playing against bigger point guards, he is not a horrible defender. It also helps to have Dwight Howard behind you.
And that might be where Nelson's worth is really shown.
For better or worse, Nelson is Howard's best friend on the team and a guy the Magic's superstar listens to closely. Nelson does not demonstrably show his leadership on the floor. He may or may not have the clout to pull someone aside on the floor and instruct him -- he is only entering his seventh year in the NBA. But from all reports, he does this in the locker room where fans do not necessarily see him display his leadership.
Perhaps he should show more leadership on the court. But as the team's captain, he fulfills several of his leadership requirements.
Not only that, Stan Van Gundy completely trusts him. And that might be the most important thing of all for a point guard. The coach trusts him to run the team efficiently. His track record the last two years shows that he is doing something right.
On just a basic level Nelson knows this offense. He is exactly the point guard Van Gundy wants. Someone who can shoot and score. His efficient offensive abilities make him a perfect weapon on the pick and roll. And unlike some point guards who feel obligated to pass the ball, Nelson is encouraged to fire away and attack the basket as he sees fit.
Luckily for Orlando, Nelson is pretty unselfish and understands what is a good shot and what is not.
The way Nelson has played the last two years prompted me to believe -- and to a certain extent still believe -- Nelson is the perfect fit for point guard in this offense. And even adding Chris Paul may not improve that. But Stan Van Gundy is smart and would undoubtedly find a way to maximize the talent on his roster. And that is what he has done successfully with Nelson.
The question Orlando struggled to answer at times last year (and certainly in the Eastern Conference Finals) was who would be "the distributor" on the floor. Nelson tried his best to fill that role, but he could not re-capture the magic (excuse the pun) Hedo Turkoglu had in the 2009 Finals run. Orlando fans were lamenting his absence during the conference finals.
As good as Nelson has played, he -- or someone else -- needs to take on the role of initiator and distributor. The load can be shared. If Vince Carter improves as much as fans hope he can and become the distributor everyone imagined he could be.
Until then, Nelson is the team's leader and it is his responsibility. As good as Nelson has played the last few years, he not only has to keep it up. He also has to improve. Might be unfair to ask, but that is the cost of being a team leader.
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