Nelson remains a Magic sub out of sync

Jameer Nelson essentially is using the largest event in the NBA as his mini-camp.

The controversial Nelson experiment in the Finals hasn’t gone the way the Orlando Magic had hoped. The team hasn’t caught lightning in a bottle, much less a firefly.

He’ll remain Rafer Alston’s backup at point guard for Game 4 tonight against the Lakers, although Anthony Johnson might want to begin light stretching in the bullpen, just in case.

Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy seemed to turn from optimist to realist Wednesday when asked how much longer he can stick with Nelson if he continues to struggle in his comeback.

“Right now, I mean . . . we’re sort of down that road,” Van Gundy said.

One more game? Two? “It all depends,” Van Gundy said. “We’ll just have to read it as it goes.”

There are four games, max, to go, and the Magic trails, 2-1, in the series.

“What you hope, as it goes along, is Jameer gets in a little better comfort zone. I’m hoping we see that going into Game 4 and Game 5 and on,” he said.

Trouble is, given the timetable, Nelson didn’t improve in Orlando’s 108-104 Game 3 victory Tuesday night. He had more turnovers (three) than points (two) and assists (one) in just 11 minutes.

Bottom line for Van Gundy is that the Magic cut a five-point lead to one and held on to a seven-point lead during Nelson’s two stints.

“I didn’t think he played very well, but we got through it and Rafer had a real good night,” Van Gundy said.

The Magic expected to do more than just tread water with its All-Star in uniform. His surprise return after a four-month injury layoff and its effect on the club has been fodder for armchair coaches and bar-stool debates.

“It’s a whole different thing for Jameer,” Van Gundy said. “Not only coming back after four months. . . . Now he’s coming off the bench, which he hasn’t done since his rookie year.”

He is averaging 4.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.6 turnovers in 17 minutes in three Finals games. It’s a stat line that Johnson surpassed during the season and certainly a far cry from Nelson’s 16.7 points and 5.4 assists in 31.2 minutes during the 42 games he played before tearing his shoulder.

But it’s not only his numbers. “I’m not myself,” Nelson said. He hasn’t been aggressive, deferring to Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. He hasn’t looked for his shots, a devilish irony even Nelson acknowledges. He always has been labeled as a shoot-first point guard.

“I’m not even taking shots. Some people say opportunities are there, but those guys are making plays. If I don’t get the ball, I’m not complaining. . . . I’m not Superman. I’m me. I’ll do what I can,” he said.

“Think about this: In my situation, a lot of guys wouldn’t even think about coming back. . . .

“To me, one thing needs to happen and things will open up for you.”

Nelson, though, said he would understand if Van Gundy sat him and returned to Johnson, who hasn’t played all series.

“I’m good with whatever. He gave me an opportunity to play, so I can’t argue with the man about not playing me or playing me,” Nelson said. “If he plays me, I’m going to go out there and play hard.

“If he doesn’t play me, I’m not going to moan or complain about anything. I’ll continue to cheer.”

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bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com