Denton: Magic-Wizards Notes
By John Denton
February 5, 2010
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO – Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson’s latest knee trouble flared up last Sunday during the second game of a back-to-back set of games, but he and coach Stan Van Gundy said there’s no plan to limit his playing time when the Magic play on consecutive nights.
That is relevant considering that the Magic are entering one of their most grueling stretches of the season with five games in seven nights. Included in that stretch is two back-to-backs: Sunday afternoon in Boston and at home Monday against New Orleans and then road games in Chicago and Cleveland on Wednesday and Thursday.
Nelson returned to the starting lineup Friday night after missing Tuesday’s defeat of the Milwaukee Bucks. Nelson said he hyper-extended his left knee in Sunday’s win in Detroit, the same knee that knocked him out of 16 games in November and December following arthroscopic surgery to repair torn meniscus.
Nelson said he isn’t worried about this stretch of five games in seven days wearing on his surgically repaired left knee.
``God forbid anything happens with my knee, but if it does I’m going to be honest with the team and let them know,’’ said Nelson, who is averaging 11.7 points and 4.7 assists per game. ``I won’t be selfish and go out there and try to play hurt and hurt the team.
``Stretches like this are tougher than most people imagine, but we’re used to it and that’s why we’re professionals,’’ Nelson continued. ``I guess us being pros is why our bodies can do things that normal humans can’t do.’’
EWING’S CHANCE: Patrick Ewing went to 11 NBA All-Star Games as a player, but he will be going to Dallas next week for the first time as a coach. He’ll be on the staff for the All-Star Game serving under Van Gundy. He’ll also serve as the head coach in the Rookie-Sophomore Game next Saturday along with former NBA great Adrian Dantley.
Van Gundy is hoping that the spotlight of the All-Star Game will help Ewing possibly land a head coaching job in the NBA soon. Ewing, 47, has been an assistant coach with the Magic for three seasons and he also worked as an assistant in Houston and Washington.
Van Gundy feels that Ewing has put in the work and time to prove that he is serious about possibly becoming a head coach in the NBA. Ewing has worked hard with all the Magic players and with game films and game plans to dispel the myth that he’s nothing more than a ``big man’’ coach.
``I think it’s good for Patrick going to the all-star game to raise his profile as a coach,’’ Van Gundy said. ``He’s a Hall of Fame player who has worked really hard at coaching and he deserves an opportunity real soon. You just hope a moment like the all-star game can raise his profile as a coach.’’
ANDERSON’S CONNECTION: As a native of suburban Sacramento, Magic forward Ryan Anderson grew up rooting for the San Francisco 49ers during their dynastic days. His only rooting interest in Sunday’s Super Bowl in Miami is that his former high school friend, Austin Collie, is a starter at wide out for the Indianapolis Colts.
``I’d go with the Colts and I hope that Austin plays well,’’ Anderson said of the rookie wide out who has developed into one of Peyton Manning’s favorite targets. ``He’s two years older than me and we talked a lot last summer about the draft process. I’m sure he didn’t plan on being in the championship game in his first season, but he’ll be ready for it.’’
ETC: Nelson just passed the one-year anniversary of him tearing the labrum in his left shoulder last Feb. 2 during a collision with Dallas center Erick Dampier. Nelson chuckled at the notion that his arthroscopic knee surgery was a ``minor surgery.’’ Said Nelson: ``There is no such thing as minor surgery. Surgery is surgery. You never know how you’re body will respond to a surgery, so it’s never minor.’’ … The Magic recorded their 52nd consecutive sellout Friday night. Amway Arena has been sold out for all 23 home games this season, 12 in a row during the playoffs last spring and the final 17 regular-season games of last season. … Magic small forward Matt Barnes said the reason for the Magic’s dramatic improvement of late has been an increased desire to get stops defensively. Said Barnes: ``We’ve locked up teams a lot better. We’re so talented offensively, but playing defense has to be a staple of our team. We don’t even have to shut teams down, we just have to slow them down because our offense is so good. Defense is a mindset and you have to want to stop somebody. We’ve been better about that lately.’’ … Nelson, all 6-foot of him (maybe) drew some chuckles in the first quarter, when he chucked 5-foot-5, 133-pound Washington guard Earl Boykins. Boykins, a replacement when Washington lost Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton to suspensions for gun possessions, is the shortest player in the NBA.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
By John DentonFebruary 5, 2010
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
ORLANDO – Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson’s latest knee trouble flared up last Sunday during the second game of a back-to-back set of games, but he and coach Stan Van Gundy said there’s no plan to limit his playing time when the Magic play on consecutive nights.
That is relevant considering that the Magic are entering one of their most grueling stretches of the season with five games in seven nights. Included in that stretch is two back-to-backs: Sunday afternoon in Boston and at home Monday against New Orleans and then road games in Chicago and Cleveland on Wednesday and Thursday.
Nelson returned to the starting lineup Friday night after missing Tuesday’s defeat of the Milwaukee Bucks. Nelson said he hyper-extended his left knee in Sunday’s win in Detroit, the same knee that knocked him out of 16 games in November and December following arthroscopic surgery to repair torn meniscus.
Nelson said he isn’t worried about this stretch of five games in seven days wearing on his surgically repaired left knee.
``God forbid anything happens with my knee, but if it does I’m going to be honest with the team and let them know,’’ said Nelson, who is averaging 11.7 points and 4.7 assists per game. ``I won’t be selfish and go out there and try to play hurt and hurt the team.
``Stretches like this are tougher than most people imagine, but we’re used to it and that’s why we’re professionals,’’ Nelson continued. ``I guess us being pros is why our bodies can do things that normal humans can’t do.’’
EWING’S CHANCE: Patrick Ewing went to 11 NBA All-Star Games as a player, but he will be going to Dallas next week for the first time as a coach. He’ll be on the staff for the All-Star Game serving under Van Gundy. He’ll also serve as the head coach in the Rookie-Sophomore Game next Saturday along with former NBA great Adrian Dantley.
Van Gundy is hoping that the spotlight of the All-Star Game will help Ewing possibly land a head coaching job in the NBA soon. Ewing, 47, has been an assistant coach with the Magic for three seasons and he also worked as an assistant in Houston and Washington.
Van Gundy feels that Ewing has put in the work and time to prove that he is serious about possibly becoming a head coach in the NBA. Ewing has worked hard with all the Magic players and with game films and game plans to dispel the myth that he’s nothing more than a ``big man’’ coach.
``I think it’s good for Patrick going to the all-star game to raise his profile as a coach,’’ Van Gundy said. ``He’s a Hall of Fame player who has worked really hard at coaching and he deserves an opportunity real soon. You just hope a moment like the all-star game can raise his profile as a coach.’’
ANDERSON’S CONNECTION: As a native of suburban Sacramento, Magic forward Ryan Anderson grew up rooting for the San Francisco 49ers during their dynastic days. His only rooting interest in Sunday’s Super Bowl in Miami is that his former high school friend, Austin Collie, is a starter at wide out for the Indianapolis Colts.
``I’d go with the Colts and I hope that Austin plays well,’’ Anderson said of the rookie wide out who has developed into one of Peyton Manning’s favorite targets. ``He’s two years older than me and we talked a lot last summer about the draft process. I’m sure he didn’t plan on being in the championship game in his first season, but he’ll be ready for it.’’
ETC: Nelson just passed the one-year anniversary of him tearing the labrum in his left shoulder last Feb. 2 during a collision with Dallas center Erick Dampier. Nelson chuckled at the notion that his arthroscopic knee surgery was a ``minor surgery.’’ Said Nelson: ``There is no such thing as minor surgery. Surgery is surgery. You never know how you’re body will respond to a surgery, so it’s never minor.’’ … The Magic recorded their 52nd consecutive sellout Friday night. Amway Arena has been sold out for all 23 home games this season, 12 in a row during the playoffs last spring and the final 17 regular-season games of last season. … Magic small forward Matt Barnes said the reason for the Magic’s dramatic improvement of late has been an increased desire to get stops defensively. Said Barnes: ``We’ve locked up teams a lot better. We’re so talented offensively, but playing defense has to be a staple of our team. We don’t even have to shut teams down, we just have to slow them down because our offense is so good. Defense is a mindset and you have to want to stop somebody. We’ve been better about that lately.’’ … Nelson, all 6-foot of him (maybe) drew some chuckles in the first quarter, when he chucked 5-foot-5, 133-pound Washington guard Earl Boykins. Boykins, a replacement when Washington lost Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton to suspensions for gun possessions, is the shortest player in the NBA.
John Denton writes for Orlandomagic.com. His Magic ``Behind the Scenes’’ segment can be heard each week on ESPN 1080 AM. Submit questions to John for his ``Ask J.D.’’ mailbag feature that will appear every Friday at AskJD@orlandomagic.com.
