Point-counterpoint: Nelson getting the better of Rondo

Sports

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. To join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address. Once you do, your comments will post automatically. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

May 28, 2010

Point-counterpoint: Nelson getting the better of Rondo

On Pro Basketball Michael Muldoon The Eagle Tribune Fri May 28, 2010, 04:43 AM EDT

Early on in the series, it appeared Boston had exposed Jameer Nelson as another pseudo All-Star.

Just like the Celtics had done to Miami's Michael Beasley, Cleveland's Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison and Nelson's Orlando teammate Rashard Lewis.

But in the last two games, Nelson has not only played like an All-Star, but like the series MVP.

If he continues, Orlando will probably beat Boston today at TD Garden (8:30 p.m., ESPN).

Then who'd dare predict a Celtic victory in Game 7 in Orlando on the heels of an historic three-game collapse?

None other than the great Magic Johnson had hailed Boston's Rajon Rondo as the NBA's premier point guard. Rondo had been unstoppable, easily surpassing the play of Boston's Big 3.

But now the Sports Illustrated cover boy is meeting his match.

And then some.

The powerful 6-foot, 200-pound Nelson has torched Rondo and the C's with his long-range shooting and some rarely displayed point guard skills.

Nelson, who was National College Player of the Year when he was teamed with Delonte West in the St. Joseph's backcourt, has been hitting skywalking bully Dwight Howard for monster dunks and running the pick and roll to perfection.

Boston hangs its hat on its defense but it has looked like a JV team as Nelson and the Magic have routinely carved the C's up with the pick and roll.

"We're playing more of our game now, getting out in transition and just attacking and staying on the attack and trying to do it for 48 minutes," the 28-year-old Nelson said after the Game 5 win, which sent Celtic Nation into a full-fledged panic.

Nelson realizes his club is on the doorstep of history. They'd be the first NBA team ever to come back from an 0-3 series deficit.

Ninety-three tried and failed.

Nelson told the Orlando Sentinel, "We've broken a lot of records and done some great things over the last couple of years. Other than winning a championship, this (rallying back from 0-3) would be one of the greatest things you could accomplish."

Nelson will have to work a bit harder as Celtic center Kendrick Perkins had a technical foul rescinded by the league.

If he hadn't, he would have exceeded the playoff limit and been suspended for the game.

• • •

Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.

Walking wounded

Glen Davis was diagnosed with a concussion after blacking out on the court from Dwight Howard's "inadvertent" elbow to his face in Game 5. Rasheed Wallace injured his back and couldn't even sit down to watch film yesterday.

Coach Doc Rivers said they are gametime decisions and that reserve Marquis Daniels (concussion) likely won't play tonight.

Rajon Rondo continues to deal with a muscle spasm.

Rajon Rondo vs. Jameer Nelson

First three games

Points Assists FG percent 3-pters 3-pt percent

Rondo 14.7 9.3 .450 0 .000

Nelson 14.7 2.3 .386 6 .286

Last 2 games

Points Assists FG percent 3-pters 3-pt percent

Rondo 14.0 7.0 .400 0 .000

Nelson 23.5 7.0 .542 7 .636

• • •