Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images
As seen on ESPN’s Daily Dime.
Entering Game 3, the Charlotte Bobcats were looking to do something they had never done before — win a playoff game. The Bobcats whiffed on their first two chances to do it against the Orlando Magic on the road in Games 1 and 2. However, Charlotte had a golden opportunity to get the proverbial monkey off its back in front of a sellout crowd at Time Warner Cable Arena in Sunday’s game.
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Jameer Nelson ruined the party.
For Nelson, who had torched Raymond Felton & Co. in Game 1 on Sunday by scoring 32 points, it was déjà vu all over again, but with a twist. Yes, Nelson scored 32 points for the second time in three games, tying his playoff career high, but this time he set a franchise playoff record by scoring the most points in a quarter (19 in the first). Considering that the Magic’s postseason history includes prolific scorers like Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway and Tracy McGrady, just to name a few, it’s an impressive accomplishment for Nelson.
How did he do it?
Nelson scored a majority of his 19 points in spot-up situations, contrary to the first quarter in Game 1, when he scored either in the pick-and-roll with Dwight Howard or in transition. Nelson did an excellent job of staying ready and being decisive on the perimeter when he received the basketball off a pass from Howard, Rashard Lewis or whomever else.
Perhaps what was most impressive about Nelson was his court awareness on the final play of the first quarter. After a missed shot from Stephen Jackson, Nelson raced down the floor and looked to put up a desperation heave before the buzzer. In the process of crossing half court, Nelson drew a foul after Felton was reaching in and hoisted a 35-foot 3-pointer immediately after the referee blew his whistle with 1.3 seconds left.
The shot went in on the continuation — after brief deliberation from the officials — and Nelson was able to connect on the ensuing free throw to make a four-point play.
It was that kind of outing for Nelson, who is quickly reminding everyone why he was named an All-Star in 2009 and, in the process, putting the Magic in the driver’s seat to sweep the Bobcats.