The Orlando Magic host the Boston Celtics in the NBA’s best game Thursday night, three days after they were embarrassed in Beantown. And no one should be more embarrassed than Jameer Nelson.
Nelson has gotten off to an awful start this season. He appeared to turn a corner last week with a pair of 17-point games, but that turn only took him down a dark alley.
In Monday’s 87-56 loss, Nelson “piloted” the Magic’s offense to the lowest total in franchise history. You could time an egg with Orlando’s offense as they averaged a field goal every three minutes, finishing with 16, an NBA record low for the shot-clock era.
In 25 minutes, Nelson had five points, three assists and five turnovers. You could probably excuse that sort of showing if Nelson had been matched up against Rajon Rondo. But Nelson struggled facing Avery Bradley, a second-year guard getting the most minutes of his brief career as Rondo nurses a wrist injury.
Bradley spent most of Monday’s game picking up Nelson at three-quarter court and making it difficult for him to initiate any offense. It was disappointing to watch a former All-Star taken totally out his game by a youngster.
But that has been the story for Nelson this season. His 8.3 points and 39 percent shooting are career lows. His
2.7 turnovers per game are a career high.
Nelson had another subpar game Tuesday at Indiana with two points and five assists. But Orlando overcame his poor play with a 102-83 victory and will be looking for some revenge vs. Boston.
The Celtics have their fair share of problems. They are in the bottom fifth of the league in both scoring and rebounding, and again will be without their starting backcourt of Rondo and Ray Allen (ankle).
Boston also likely will not have center Jermaine O’Neal (knee). That might present a problem in defending Orlando center Dwight Howard, who struggled with his shooting at Boston and with fouls at Indiana. He has three 20-20 games in the last two weeks and is due for a breakout game.