Magic mull possible return of Nelson for finals
Jameer Nelson's
Magic mull possible return of Nelson for finals
 Though that doesn't add up to Nelson being healthy enough to play  it does create a dilemma for the Magic's front office.
 Nelson said Monday that he has been playing full-court games  participating in contact drills and will practice with the Magic for the first time since tearing the labrum in his right shoulder Feb. 2 against the Dallas Mavericks.
 "I'm a competitor " Nelson said. "No matter what the situation is  I always think I can go out there and get contact."
 He had what was then called season-ending surgery Feb. 19. Nelson's rehabilitation was supposed to take at least another two months. Game 1 of the finals is Thursday night in Los Angeles.
 Magic general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy expressed doubt Monday whether Nelson could seriously return for the finals. Smith  who had repeatedly said Nelson will not play this season  said Monday a quicker recovery and the chance of winning a championship has forced him to at least take a look at Nelson.
 "It's still no in my mind " Smith said  adding that the team will explore the idea even if Nelson doesn't return for Game 1. "There's a smidgen of a chance he can play."
 Orlando was 2-0 against the Lakers this season. Nelson was Orlando's leading scorer in both those games  averaging 27.5 points. He has been lobbying the Magic for a chance at playing since the playoffs began. With each round the team advances the idea -- and the talk -- of him returning has grown.
 But Nelson would likely just be a shell of his All-Star form. He hasn't played in four months  and even he admits it will be difficult to convince the training staff and coaches that he isn't risking future damage.
 "A miracle has to happen " Nelson said.
Jameer Nelson's injured right shoulder can take contact and he's been cleared by doctors to practice ahead of Orlando's NBA finals series against the Lakers.
 Nelson has been lauded by players and coaches during the playoffs for his leadership. He has been sitting between the coaching staff and players on the Magic bench  offering pointers during timeouts and acting like "a fifth or sixth assistant coach " Smith said.
 But Smith worried from the beginning that Nelson would feel excluded. The two met before the playoffs to make sure Nelson wasn't tempted to rush back early.
Magic mull possible return of [TGT] for finals
 Though that doesn't add up to [TGT] being healthy enough to play  it does create a dilemma for the Magic's front office.
 [TGT] said Monday that [TGT] has been playing full-court games  participating in contact drills and will practice with the Magic for the first time since tearing the labrum in [TGT] right shoulder Feb. 2 against the Dallas Mavericks.
 "I'm a competitor [TGT] said. "No matter what the situation is  I always think I can go out there and get contact."
 [TGT] had what was then called season-ending surgery Feb. 19. [TGT]'s rehabilitation was supposed to take at least another two months. Game 1 of the finals is Thursday night in Los Angeles.
 Magic general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy expressed doubt Monday whether [TGT] could seriously return for the finals. Smith  who had repeatedly said [TGT] will not play this season  said Monday a quicker recovery and the chance of winning a championship has forced [TGT] to at least take a look at [TGT].
 "It's still no in my mind " Smith said  adding that the team will explore the idea even if [TGT] doesn't return for Game 1. "There's a smidgen of a chance [TGT] can play."
 Orlando was 2-0 against the Lakers this season. [TGT] was Orlando's leading scorer in both those games  averaging 27.5 points. [TGT] has been lobbying the Magic for a chance at playing since the playoffs began. With each round the team advances the idea -- and the talk -- of [TGT] returning has grown.
 But [TGT] would likely just be a shell of [TGT] All-Star form. [TGT] hasn't played in four months  and even [TGT] admits it will be difficult to convince the training staff and coaches that [TGT] isn't risking future damage.
 "A miracle has to happen " [TGT] said.
[TGT]'s injured right shoulder can take contact and [TGT]'s been cleared by doctors to practice ahead of Orlando's NBA finals series against the Lakers.
 [TGT] has been lauded by players and coaches during the playoffs for [TGT] leadership. [TGT] has been sitting between the coaching staff and players on the Magic bench  offering pointers during timeouts and acting like "a fifth or sixth assistant coach " Smith said.
 But Smith worried from the beginning that [TGT] would feel excluded. The two met before the playoffs to make sure [TGT] wasn't tempted to rush back early.