Magic's Nelson Struggling in Return to Action

ORLANDO, June 13 -- The return of all-star Jameer Nelson was supposed to give the Orlando Magic its best chance of upsetting the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. But Coach Stan Van Gundy's decision to throw him back into the rotation has drawn considerable criticism -- especially after Nelson played the entire fourth quarter and overtime of Orlando's Game 4 loss and allowed Derek Fisher to make the game-tying three-pointer with 4.6 seconds left in regulation.

"Jameer had one responsibility on the play, and that was to not give Derek Fisher a look at a three," Van Gundy said. "It's one of those things I'm sure Jameer wishes he had back and had played differently."

Nelson, one of the Magic's leaders, joined his team during the Finals after missing four months because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder. But after an impressive six-minute spurt in Game 1, Nelson's play has been spotty at best. He is averaging just 3.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 turnovers in about 19 minutes per game.

"I'm not trying to be a hero. I'm not trying to be a savior," said Nelson, who had two points, three rebounds and three assists in Game 4. "I know Coach just goes with his feelings and that's what he wanted to do -- he makes the decisions -- so I was out there playing as hard as I could."

Van Gundy said his decision to play Nelson was not because starter Rafer Alston had played poorly, but because the Magic was playing well with Nelson running the team.

The rotation has baffled Alston, who said he didn't understand why he didn't play after the third quarter of Game 4 and had to calm down his family and friends. "They were ready to fly in and wring his neck, but that's the way the game goes," Alston said.

Nelson isn't anywhere near his all-star form, but General Manager Otis Smith defended the decision to bring him back earlier than expected. "According to all of y'all, we're going to lose anyway," Smith said. "Stan nor I have never been one of those guys that say, 'Let's play it all safe.' . . . When you go for the win, you go for the win and you are going to take your best players and put them on the floor as much as you can." . . .

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson was fined $25,000 for criticizing the officials during Game 4. In an interview with ABC between the first and second quarters of the Lakers' 99-91 win, Jackson said there were some "bogus" calls after Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum each drew two fouls in the first period.