Orlando Magic News for November 21st: Jameer Nelson May Come Back Sooner; Aftermath of the Chat Between Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy

Orlando Magic notes: Jameer Nelson may return sooner than expected
Brian Schmitz shares the news that Jameer Nelson may be able to return to the Orlando Magic much sooner than expected. Here's the report:

The Magic said that PG Jameer Nelson could be out four to six weeks, but teammates suggest he could miss as little as three weeks.

If that's a target date, Nelson could return Dec. 2 for a home game against the New York Knicks. The more likely scenario might be Nelson coming back during the club's four-game West road trip Dec. 5-11.

Nelson underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus on his left knee on Wednesday. He has proved to be a fast healer, returning for the NBA Finals last June after being ruled out for the season after injuring his shoulder in February.

Van Gundy's light touch lifts Magic
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports comments on how Stan Van Gundy has vowed to cut down on the negativity after speaking with his superstar.

[...] part of Van Gundy’s mellowing seems directly related to Howard.

"A guy like Dwight Howard who is loose and carefree and Stan, ultimate perfectionist on the other side, are not going to see things the same," said former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy, Stan’s brother. "What Howard might see as negative, Coach might see as telling the truth. I see it as a natural conflict. That’s what you have sometimes with different personalities. That hasn’t prevented them from being very successful."

Keeping it real and honest!!!
Dwight Howard posts on his official blog today.

Me and coach have always had a great relationship. No matter if we were fighting with one another we could always come back and talk to one another. That’s what it’s supposed to be like. We’ve grown over the years and it’s only continued to get better. Like I told Stan the first time he got here: I’ll always be his soldier and whatever he needs me to do or wants me to do I’ll do it.

Rashard Lewis' blog post about last night's victory against the Boston Celtics includes his assessment of Van Gundy's new, more relaxed, style.

On Friday, Stan was positive the whole night. He did do a good job of cutting back on the screaming and yelling. He was doing more coaching in the huddles instead of bashing. Usually he bashes us for the first two minutes of the timeouts and then he’ll coach the game. Last night he was strictly coaching.

UPDATE 2 (from Eddy): A whole lot of good in that one
Doug Smith of the Toronto Star has the particulars.

[The Toronto Raptors] will, in their own inimitable fashion, pay tribute to Brendan Malone Sunday afternoon, I’m told. [...]

I’ll never forget the day they beat the Bulls and Jordan, end of the game, 36,000 people going nuts, Brendan’s walking off the court, points up to the fans in the 500 level an area code away to say thanks.

No, in the history of this franchise, as sorry as it’s been at times, as short as it’s been, Brendan doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

UPDATE 3 (from Eddy): Perhaps The Wall Has More Cracks Than We Believed: Thoughts on Magic-Celtics
Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm provides his thoughts on the game last night between the Magic and the Celtics. Tons of bullet-points.