<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Orlando Magic might not be winning big in the NBA, but they are behind a new league rules change. The NBA told The Sentinel on Monday that it is changing the way teams submit the list of active/inactive players -- thanks to an issue brought up Friday night in New York by the Magic. The league did not take any punitive action against the Knicks after F Jackie Butler played against Orlando, even though Butler's name was on the inactive list that the Knicks handed the Magic before the game. After Magic Coach Brian Hill protested in the first quarter to game officials, the Knicks issued a "corrected" version of the inactive/active list in the second quarter. Butler's name then appeared on the active list. The NBA agreed it was a "clerical" error by the Knicks, league spokesman Tim Frank said Monday. But now, game referees will supervise the active/inactive lists before the game, said Frank. "Officials will be asked to verify the accuracy prior to the game," Frank said. If the situation arises again, Frank said, officials will "disqualify the player immediately. They didn't have that same power Friday night." Nelson may be out longer The Magic are less optimistic about PG Jameer Nelson playing Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers at TD Waterhouse Centre. Nelson has missed the past five games with a sprained right foot. After Monday's practice, Coach Brian Hill said, "He practiced. I think it's still bothering him. I want to make sure he's healed." F Grant Hill, on his second rehab stint after sports hernia surgery Oct. 31, also practiced lightly. He ran, shot and played in a controlled game of five-on-five. He is probably five days to a week away from returning. Grant Hill said, "I felt pretty good. We're taking steps instead of rushing back." He said there was a "little bit of pain, but it didn't linger." Just as bad the 2nd time Before practice, the Magic (18-24) watched a video rerun of their wretched loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night. Brian Hill called the defeat "disgusting" and didn't back off his feelings after a restless night of sleep. "Our offensive execution and attention to detail was sloppy," he said. "We bailed them out with [poor] shot selection." The Magic had won five of their past six games before the loss, but Hill said the team got into a "comfort zone and had slippage." Said G Steve Francis, "We got to be hungrier. . . . I was close to crying."</div> Source
At least Francis is showing some passion playing for the Orlando Magic. I guess that's the only good thing you can take out of this. Hopefully Nelson can come back, we need his spark off of the bench with Turkoglu starting now.
Jameer is amazing.. trade francis and hill for some young guns like AI2, that dont put up numbers but you know theyll put em up cuz they got skillz.
I love this new emotion from Francis. First he doesn't want to go into a game during the fourth quarter and now he feels like crying when we lose! Brian Hill must have given him one helluva pep talk. I can't wait for Jameer and Grant to come back. We won 5 games in a row with them hurt so I think our team will be even better when they come back. I like that Diener is getting minutes and that Hedo is playing great but until we get these two guys back, I wouldn't expect any consistent play from the Magic.
Francis seems to be hungry to reach the playoffs and prove all the haters wrong, nice to see this now PLEASE stop talking about trading this man. Hopefully our team can get back to full strength soon. The playoff push is coming and G Hill and Nelson will help.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheHighness:</div><div class="quote_post">Francis seems to be hungry to reach the playoffs and prove all the haters wrong, nice to see this now PLEASE stop talking about trading this man. Hopefully our team can get back to full strength soon. The playoff push is coming and G Hill and Nelson will help.</div> Yeah, Francis should stay in town unless another outburst occurs (which is highly doubtful). He seems rejuvinated and I think he deserves a second chance at running this team.
