What happened to Jameer Nelson?

[BobCatsFanInTx]

Just two seasons ago we were all talking about how good Jameer Nelson was looking and now it appears according to most sources on basketball news forums that Otis Smith desperately wants Steve Nash and if not him several other point guards are mentioned. Has Jameer been bad due to changes the team has made or if not that why has he seemed to fall so far out of favor?

I am not one to say Jameer has been a top point guard but in my opinion Otis Smith is treating Jameer like a scape goat. It seems like despite a fairly solid record with all the Dwight Howard trade talk that things are quite negative in Orlando. Stan Van Gundy should get coach of the year if the Magic make the playoffs as a 6th seed or better.

People are jumping the gun. To think an old Steve Nash is somehow what the Magic need to alleviate some of the pain from losing Dwight Howard is absurd. Steve Nash is nearing his end as an NBA player and he sure as hell is not going to take the Magic anywhere special unless they somehow have a 3 or 4 team trade. Phoenix just is not that loaded.

Also I feel that a motivated and inspired Jameer Nelson would end all talk of Orlando needing a pg. Some may want to say the problem is with Jameer but I am going to say that in my opinion it is more a matter of the organization than any one player. Although Dwight Howard's situation does make things awkward. Since the last trade Orlando made the environment of the Magic has been seemingly negative.

[Toocool]

I think the bigger question here is can Jameer actually stay on the floor?
Granted he got all-star in 09, but I really don't think it was warrented whatsoever (from memory he only played 40~ or so games that season?).
Frankly I just think Jameer is overrated in his achievements, but he's not bad.
Solid, but not an all-star.
Can a motivated and inspired Nelson take Magic to the next level? He was an important cog in their machine during their championship run, but he's not the same player he once was.
You also have to take into account he's 30 and it's hard for PGs every season from 30+ (as younger quicker faster stronger guards just blow right by you on defense).

Definately Magic is going the wrong way chasing after Steve Nash. If they had another 2-3 years of a championship window before it closed, by all means grab Nash.
Otherwise they're just getting older and wasting assets and talent on a guy that will probably retire in 2-3 years.

[adam187]

i remember when the magic upset the cavs in the ECF. i thought it was awesome, although i'm pretty sure jameer was injured and rafer alston was running point (which made it even cooler). aside from dwight, almost all of those guys on that team seem to have really fallen off - hedo, rashard lewis, and pietrus were all great, and now they all seem kinda crappy. makes me sad, i really enjoyed watching that team. seems weird that their championship window opened and closed so suddenly.

[Plowright]

All I remember is Nelson destroying us lol. I don't know, some times I think situation and players around a pg can have a massive effect. Look at Raymond Felton in Portland, Devin Harris in Utah or even Lin in NY. I think things have just changed for him, plus he has not been able to stay healthy

[adam187]

definitely agree with all that. i remember how after felton left, the team was close to getting devin harris for diaw, he'd start and let dj come off the bench. now we're hoping to send dj to utah to start and hoping to get a pick back because harris is struggling. it's a wild and crazy league.

and yeah, jameer has always seemed to destroy this team.