Hooped Up

The man with the last name of a fish Brandon Bass, cast his line and reeled in this mammoth dunk off a Jameer Nelson missed three, delicious!

On day after getting Rashard Lewis back from a 10 games suspension. The Orlando Magic will have to do without Jameer Nelson who needs surgery — again.

The All-Star will have arthroscopic surgery Wednesday on torn cartilage in his left knee, the team said. He is expected to miss four to six weeks. Nelson was injured in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s win against Charlotte. But he finished the game on the court and showed no signs of injury.

“I feel pretty good,” Nelson said after the game. “My energy level just physically wasn’t there, but mentally … I think that’s one of the parts of my game that adds toughness to this team.”

After the Magic lost to the Lakers in convincing fashion in the NBA finals and retooled their line up to be “Kobe proof”, they sure didn’t account for bad luck.

Another van glorious season of NBA basketball is about to begin and Hooped Up does a quick and dirty preview of all 30 clubs.

The Orlando Magic made it to the top of the NBA mountain last season and in the end, they lost to a much better Los Angeles Lakers club. This year, they’ll attempt the same ascent with Vince Carter, but will that be enough for them to get past the vastly improved Celtics and Cavs this time around in the east. Read More »

As it turns out, Jameer Nelson can drain the longball and also hit the longball. Yesterday, Nelson who is a Chester, PA native and a few of his Magic teammates showed up at Citizens Bank Park before the Phillies vs. Diamondbacks game for a little team bonding road trip.

Before the Phillies put the hurt on the D-Backs 12 – 3, Jameer Nelson put the hurt on a baseball going yard in batting practice. Rafer Alston couldn’t do that.

Via The Fightins + Ball Don’t Lie

Kobe Bryant wasn’t in the mood for taking prisoners in Game 1 and the Magic had no chance with Kobe Bryant on his superstar grind. Bryant dropped 40 points, 8 assist, 8 rebounds and got up in that @ss and spray painted on the walls leading the Lakers to a 100 – 75 victory.

Pau Gasol finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. While Lamar Odom controlled the glass with 14 rebounds and 11 coming off the bench.

Life in he paint was difficult for Dwight Howard all night as the Lakers frontline helped him finish the night 1-6 from the field with 12 points, 15 rebounds and 10 – 16 from the charity stripe. Although he was abused by Bryant most of the night Mickael Pietrus finished with a team high 14 points. In a surprise move by Stan Van Gundy, fresh off injury Jameer Nelson played 23:28 minutes finishing with 6 points and 4 assist.

My prediction for the Magic in game 2 —  pain!

Game 2 happens Sunday.

Highlights after the jump.

Read More »

Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson isn’t likely to play tonight in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the L.A. Lakers, but he is expected to be activated and sat out, the Sentinel has learned. The chance of him playing in the series is still remote.

Nelson has been feverishly trying to come back early from Feb. 19 shoulder surgery. The Magic have been evaluating his progress the last few days, and it appeared he might be a long shot to play after returning to practice this week.

Nelson was two months ahead of his projected six-month rehab schedule and had increased the intensity of his workouts the past three weeks, he did not participate in his first formal practice with the Magic until last Tuesday in Orlando. He also worked out with the team in L.A. on Wednesday.

Orlando Sentinel

Nelson said Monday that he has been playing full-court games, participating in contact drills and practicing with the Magic for the first time since tearing the labrum in his right shoulder Feb. 3.

The All-Star guard had what was then called season-ending surgery Feb. 19. His rehabilitation was supposed to take at least another two months.

Magic general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy still expressed doubt Monday whether Nelson could seriously return for the finals. Smith said a quicker recovery and the chance of winning a championship has forced him to at least take a look at Nelson. Game 1 is Thursday night in Los Angeles.

“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.

Press Release

The Orlando Magic likely will have to continue their push for home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference without All-Star guard Jameer Nelson.

Magic general manager Otis Smith told Florida Today that Nelson likely will undergo season-ending surgery next week to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

Nelson was having a break-through season, averaging a career-high 16.7 points and 5.4 assists before suffering the injury in a February 2 loss to Dallas.

Via National Post

By far the funniest basketball commercial of the year thus far. I now think Dwight Howard is hilarious like Dave Chappelle’s son thinks Nick Cannon is.

If you can watch this clip of Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard talking about upstaging last years Superman dunk, and not laugh. 

You don’t like comedy.

The NBA has announced that Ray Allen has been selected as the replacement guard for the east All-Stars after Jameer Nelson went down earlier this week. This will be Ray Allen’s ninth All-Star appearance.

“Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen will replace injured Orlando guard Jameer Nelson next week in the NBA All-Star game.

Allen was added to the Eastern Conference team Thursday by commissioner David Stern after Nelson was forced to pull out because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Allen joins teammates Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett on the roster for the Feb. 15 game in Phoenix.

“He should have been on there, so it’s nice,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “Having those three doing things together is nice, so I’m happy with the news.”

Via Press Release