Nelson Displays Growth Against Defending Champs
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Jan 22, 2009
ORLANDO -- As Jameer Nelson walked off the court battered and worn down following Thursday’s hard fought loss to the Celtics, the positive gleam in his eye clearly displayed his growth from last season.
There was no sense of panic, no visible urgency and no tenseness about possible criticism from the awaiting media in the locker room.
Instead, he demonstrated the same composure he maintained during a very physical match-up with the defending champions.
After struggling from the field for three quarters, going 2-of-10 from the floor, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week remained calm and led a fourth-quarter charge that brought the Magic to the brink of victory.
Despite notching just six points through the first three frames, Nelson erupted for 11 points in the final session to help Orlando cut a once 14-point gap in half. And with the opportunity to trim the deficit to five, Nelson didn’t hesitate to pull up for a 17-foot jumper, which fell just short.
“His confidence is high and I have respect for him doing that,” head coach Stan Van Gundy said. “He hung with the game and he made some big shots late in the game.”
“He wasn’t tentative or anything else. That is a very, very good sign.”
It’s that type of confidence that has not only impressed Van Gundy, but his teammates as well.
“This is the year for him,” said Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard about the guard whom he playfully refers to as Mighty Mouse. “He’s been playing great basketball and our record would not be what it is now without him.”
Nelson said earlier in the week that he feeds off the support he gets from his teammates and coaching staff. And it’s clear that this season, he has no qualms about being the go-to guy, even on a night when he couldn’t seem to find his rhythm early on.
“Jameer said in the fourth quarter, ‘I am going to try and get it going.’” Howard recalled. “I said, ‘Go ahead this is what you do.’ He tried his best and that’s what we have to do.”
Yet, don’t let that confidence be mistaken for complete satisfaction with his game. Nelson is the first to point out the need for him and his Magic squad to remain humble and not be content with their current record.
For improvements regarding his own skill set, he believes he doesn’t need to look any further than the fellow All-Star hopeful guard who blanketed him for good portion of the contest with tenacious defense.
“Even though he is a young guy, I can take some stuff from (Rajon Rondo) and incorporate it into my game,” Nelson said. “The way he controls the game and his pace in the game is phenomenal.”
If Nelson remains as dedicated to implementing those upgrades as he’s been to everything else over this past year, don’t be surprised if he’s touting even better control just in time for Orlando’s playoff push.
