Orlando

Can Jameer and Steve-O Co-Exist?


Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services 

Two of the biggest question marks in Orlando these days are: is Jameer Nelson the real deal? And, is Steve Francis too small to play shooting guard? In other words, can you build a contender having such a small starting backcourt?

Though they are relatively small by today's standards where 6-6 guys are often found in the backcourt, both players tend to play "taller" than themselves. They are strong at finishing and can carve out some space when needed for the rebounds. Steve-O has never had a season where he's averaged fewer than five rebounds per game. This year he is averaging nearly six. Jameer is not far behind: in fact, in his second start against Miami, he led the team with eight rebounds.

Yes, 6-foot Jameer Nelson led all Magic with eight rebounds. More than Dwight Howard, more than Tony Battie, and more than Kelvin Cato.

Jameer is a purer point guard than Steve-O is and the pairing gives the Magic two ballhandlers on the court, much like the Heat use Damon Jones and Dwyane Wade, and how Milwaukee used to use Gary Payton and Sam Cassell. In the long run, there is no reason this can't work. What it requires, however, is a tall, strong backup guard who can play the point or the shooting guard. Someone like Payton, perhaps, in his youth, or Mark Jackson. Someone who could get physical with opposing big guards and even post them up on occasion.

Is Doug Christie that guy?

In the meantime, the combination of those two guys in the backcourt should see the total assists numbers for the Magic elevate over time. In the last game, the two combined for 13 assists. Unfortunately, they also combined for 9 turnovers.

NEXT GAME
The Magic (28-27, third in the Southeast) host the streaking Kings (36-21, second in the Pacific), who are riding a two-game win-streak, tomorrow, March 2nd. The game starts at 8:00pm Eastern and will be broadcast on WRBW and NBA League Pass.

TEAM NOTES
Who took home the Oscars? And, did the Magic players get it right? See who the Magic players picked.

INJURY UPDATE
Mario Kasun(knee) andAndrew DeClercq(knee) are on the injured list.

NEWSLINES

Brian Schmitz ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: March has arrived for the Orlando Magic.It's the month they'll likely make a move toward the playoffs . . . or the draft lottery. It's pretty simple. The Magic play 16 games this month, five against teams which now have winning records.

Tim Povtak ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: "That [the cancellation of the NHL season] is on the minds of everyone," said Orlando Magic forward Pat Garrity, an officer in the National Basketball Players Association, the union for the league's athletes."Unlike hockey, we see the next few years as a period of growth for us. And no one wants to jeopardize that." 

Peter Kerasotis ofFlorida Todaywrites: Two things bothered me about Francis, who likes to call himself Steve-O: With the Houston Rockets last year, Francis missed a team flight, reportedly because he went to the Super Bowl instead. If you're jettisoning Me-Mac for not buying into the team concept, then you must make sure you're not getting someone with similar leanings. When I asked Francis after he arrived in Orlando about his atrocious history of turning the ball over, he sneered, "It's not my fault if I pass the ball and guys drop it." A half season later, Francis hasn't changed. Not one bit. He missed the Magic's first team practice after the All-Star break, deciding instead to stay at his Houston home for his birthday. Then he had an ugly performance in Orlando's first game after the break. At a time when you want to charge from the second-half gates, Francis spit the bit. By the way, he's also the league-leader in turnovers.