Orlando's Nelson Is Allowed to Give It a Go

LOS ANGELES, June 4 -- The Orlando Magic eventually decided to allow point guard Jameer Nelson to participate in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. Nelson, the all-star guard, had been trying to return since having surgery to repair a torn labrum on Feb. 19 and was activated prior to the game.

"We just think he's ready to go, think he can put some pressure on their defense, and we think he'll get better as the series goes on," Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said before the game.

The Magic decided that Nelson playing was worth the risk. He played in place of Anthony Johnson, one of just two Magic players with experience in the NBA Finals, and finished with six points and four assists in 23 minutes.

Nelson averaged 16.7 points and 5.4 assists in 42 games for the Magic before injuring his shoulder on Feb. 2 against the Dallas Mavericks. He was expected to miss six to eight months but was ahead of schedule on his rehabilitation and had been practicing with the team this week. Nelson led Orlando in scoring in the Magic's two regular season wins against the Lakers, averaging 27.5 points per game.

"You just want to play," Nelson said before practicing with the team on Wednesday. "You never know when you're going to get to the Finals, to compete with your team. But if I'm not able to, I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to do anything crazy or to jeopardize my future."

Jackson's Early Hunches

Phil Jackson is making his 12th appearance in the NBA Finals, and he said that he usually has a hunch if his team is going to struggle before a series begins. Such was the case in 2004, when the Detroit Pistons beat the Lakers in five games, and last season, when the Boston Celtics won in six.

"I was worried against Detroit," Jackson said. "I was concerned that Detroit was riding the momentum of a surprise season the way we did last year. Boston, I was also concerned about because I didn't think we really and truly understood the nature of their defense, how strong a defensive team they were. I think sometimes you think you can overcome that with just playing and not a real heavy way to move the ball."

This time? "Because our team showed that in the last two series [against Houston and Denver this postseason], of matching the defensive wits of the teams -- and not just with bailout passes to Kobe Bryant, but with a team attitude -- I feel very good about this series" against Orlando, Jackson said.

Jackson entered this series with an impeccable 43-0 series record when winning the first game of a playoff series. The Lakers lost the first game against Detroit and Boston.

Stern Talks to LeBron

NBA Commissioner David Stern said before the game that he spoke with Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James on Wednesday after the league's most valuable player refused to acknowledge the Orlando Magic or address the media after his team was eliminated from the Eastern Conference finals last Saturday.

Stern said he assessed James a $25,000 fine and asked that he apologize. Stern originally elected not to fine James, but changed his mind because "sportsmanship is appropriate whether you win or whether you lose." . . .

Stern added that if the economy does not recover in the next six to 12 months that league revenue likely will decline by as much as 10 percent next season.

"The reality is there will be discounts and price cuts because we're trying to respond to what our fans are telling us, so our revenues will likely be down some percentage I can say, maybe as much as 10 percent."