What They're Saying Before Game 4 of the NBA Finals

• Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson just fine with riding the pine
  Brian Schmitz delves on the topic of Jameer Nelson's play in the NBA Finals.

  He hasn't looked for his shots, a devilish irony even Nelson acknowledges with a laugh. 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 a savior. I'm not a hero. 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 ... mentally, physically. You know? I don't even deal with the things being said. I still think it was a good idea. I don't see how it couldn't be. [...] "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. 

• The Van Gundy brothers are hoops lifers, and they got it honest
  Andrea Adelson writes a nice piece about the Van Gundy family ...
  
  

  Gina Marie Incandela is a good-luck charm the Orlando Magic believe in
  ... and talks about Orlando's good luck charm, 7-year-old Gina Marie Incandela.

• OK, so who has the better homecourt advantage, the Orlando Magic or Los Angeles Lakers?
  Kyle Hightower compares the homecourt advantages for the Magic and the Lakers ...
  
  

  Howard to be on cover of NBA Live '10
  ... and reveals the news about Superman donning the cover of NBA Live '10.

  Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant will be soon be competing on the shelves of video game stores as well as in the NBA Finals.
  
  EA Sports is expected to announce Thursday that Howard will be on the cover of its NBA Live 2010 game.
  
  Last week Bryant was named as the cover player for 2K Sports’ NBA 2K10 game. 

• No charity case
  Dwight Howard chimes in about his free-throw shooting.

  "I understand the importance of trying to make free throws, especially coming down the stretch of a game," he said. "It's more mental than anything. When I'm thinking positive, when I get up there and just shoot, I tend to make more. And when I'm thinking too much, I tend to miss."
  
  He said he has been putting in the time.
  
  "Every day I try to get up at least 300 free throws," he said. "Me and a couple of my homeboys, we go to the gym at night, and I just shoot free throws."

• Maybe this Finals matchup isn't so bad for Stern after all

  Television ratings for the NBA Finals are holding up from last year even though Lakers-Magic isn't as glamorous a matchup as the 2008 series between Los Angeles and the Boston Celtics.
  
  ABC said Wednesday that Orlando's 108-104 win Tuesday night in Game 3 earned a 10.1 overnight rating. That's down 6 percent from the 10.8 for last season's Game 3, which featured a Celtics team with far more tradition and a bigger market than the Magic.

• Stan Van Gundy to Be Offered Extension

  Shortly after the season ends, the Orlando Magic are preparing to offer coach Stan Van Gundy a contract extension as a reward for reaching the NBA Finals.
  
  Van Gundy is just finishing the second year of his original four-year contract that began in the summer before the 2007-08 season. The fourth year of the contract, paying him an estimated $4 million annually, currently is a team option that will be guaranteed as part of the extension.
  
  General manager Otis Smith, who has two years remaining on his contract, also will be offered an extension as a reward for crafting the roster that looks like it will allow the Magic to be championship contenders for at least the next few years.
  
  "They both have done a great job," said a Magic front office executive who confirmed the upcoming, contract-extension talks. "We want to make sure they will be here to continue what they've started."

• Patrick Ewing to return another season with the Magic
  UPDATE: Schmitz reveals news regarding the Orlando coaching staff.

  Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing, the former Knicks legend who has aspirations to be a head coach, told the Sentinel on Thursday he has signed a contract extension with the club.
  
  "I'm coming back," Ewing said. "I signed it (the contract) a while ago."
  
  Stan Van Gundy's other assistant coaches --- Bob Beyer, Steve Clifford and Brendan Malone --- had all re-signed deals with the team that are believed to be one year, plus an option.

Make sure to check out this post every few hours for updates.