OK, so far as I can tell, no Orlando Magic player has yet to utter "We're just happy to be here," when asked about the NBA Finals.But you know darn well they're happy to be here. They knocked off the defending champion Boston Celtics, then took it to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been preparing since October for the NBA Finals; the Orlando Magic have been preparing since Sunday. That's just one reason the Lakers are going to win this thing.
Here are five more:
1. The Lakers have the best player on the planet, and notice we didn't say "closer."
The Lakers have Kobe Bryant and the Magic don't. That is reason No. 1 why the Lakers will win the NBA title. Bryant's got all kinds of motivation heading into this series, too.
First, there's still that little issue with LeBron James about who is the best player in the NBA. Considering James isn't in the Finals -- and Bryant is -- it seems to me that Bryant can reclaim that moniker, regardless what Jerry West says.
Second, don't forget that Bryant is coming off a loss in the NBA Finals to the Celtics last season. Just can't see Bryant playing in two consecutive Finals and losing both of them.
Lastly, don't think for a moment Bryant isn't motivated to win his first title without Shaquille O'Neal.
2. The Magic doesn't have anyone capable of matching up with Pau Gasol.
Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu aren't strong interior defenders. That will force Magic coach Stan Van Gundy to consider bringing help there. But anytime you bring help for a Lakers player other than Bryant, well ... it gives Bryant a chance to play 4-on-3. Not good for opponents.
An astute commenter wrote that Orlando's Tony Battie might have more of a role in this series than in previous ones because, on the surface, he would seem to be able to match up against Gasol.
The problem with Battie, however, is he's been little more than a spot player in the postseason. Is it realistic to think that Battie, who hasn't played more than 10 minutes in any game in the past two series, is going to neutralize Gasol for extended stretches?
Remember, we're talking Battie, not Battier.
3. The Lakers have the bodies to bang with Dwight Howard.
First up to check Howard will be Andrew Bynum. Right off the bat, that is a less favorable matchup for Howard than he had in the Eastern Conference finals with Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
But after Bynum, Lakers coach Phil Jackson has a slew of big defenders he can throw at Howard. None of them, mind you, is perfect but the sheer numbers are likely to have an impact.
Don't be surprised if we see D.J. Mbenga in this series. He's played fewer than 10 minutes total in the postseason, but he's big and can foul with the best of them. Howard shot free throws pretty well against the Cavaliers, but you could make a case he should have been sent to the line more.
The bottom line is there's no way the Lakers will give Howard as many uncontested dunks as the Cavs did.
Latest NBA Images
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson talks to reporters in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic Thursday in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Trevor Ariza talks to reporters after basketball practice in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic Thursday in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant passes the ball to his teammate Derek Fisher, left, during basketball practice in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic in the NBA basketball finals on Thursday in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom passes the ball during basketball practice in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic Thursday in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom talks to reporters after basketball practice in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic Thursday in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson listens to a question from reporters in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic in the NBA basketball finals starting Thursday. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson talks to reporters in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic Thursday in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant talks to reporters after basketball practice in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic Thursday in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant talks to his teammate during basketball practice in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic Thursday in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant passes the ball during basketball practice in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, June 1, 2009. The Lakers will face the Orlando Magic in the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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4. Experience.
Scoff at this notion all you want, but it's hard to deny its importance. The best player in this series -- Bryant -- has as much or more Finals and postseason experience than any other player in the series.
How can that NOT count for something?
As solid as Howard, Turkoglu and Lewis have been this postseason – and even Mickael Pietrus – the Finals are a different animal and take some getting used to. Unfortunately, sometimes by the time first-timers adjust, they're down in the series and it's too late.
5. The Lakers' defense.
That's right, the Lakers' defense. It's been terrific and yet they haven't gotten much credit for it.
Entering the Western Conference finals, the Denver Nuggets had scored 106 points or more in nine of their 10 playoff games. In five of those games, the Nuggets scored 113 points or more.
But in the Western Conference finals, the Lakers held the Nuggets under 100 points in three of six games. That's a pretty stark contrast and one that has to be acknowledged. For all the talk of the Lakers' lack of heart and grit and toughness, they actually played a terrific defensive series against Denver. Not that anyone seemed to notice.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-01-2009 @ 6:47PM
Albert S said...
I dont believe the Lakers will win because of the reasons shown. They will win because of Kobe, Gasol, Ariza and Odom in that order I think the only problem we will have will be Howard but since no one can keep Kobe in front howard will help out and if Kobe takes it to him wisely gets him in foul trouble all the magic can hope for is the 3 pointer and I dont think they can hit the 3 consistant for four games. Lakers in 5 . And if Bynum actually shows up 4 game sweep.
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6-01-2009 @ 8:22PM
John said...
the lakers dont have an answer for superman if anyone tries to stop him they will be in foul trouble.the magic have have too many weapons for any team if nelson returns the lakers will go fishing very quickly.
6-01-2009 @ 6:51PM
cantstopdrinkin said...
God it really ticks me off some of these so called "sports" writers are saying that Kobe is better then Lebron because he is in the Finals. Basketball is a TEAM game and Kobe has far more talent on his team. If you give Lebron Gasol, Odom, and Bynum and any other players he would be in the Finals every year and would hardly lose a game getting there.Even if you took Kobe off that Laker team they would still make the playoffs. Not trying to get on your case Matt but do you remember what Kobe did before he got Gasol and Bynum? Those 3 years he had no help (like Lebron now) Kobe had one season he missed the playoffs and 2 that were 1st rounder defeats. Since Lebrons first couple seasons he has made the playoffs and advanced no matter what backup role players he had around him.
Please , give him an all star center with the fundimental skills of Gasol and Lebron would dominate.
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6-03-2009 @ 11:59PM
FERNANDO said...
yes Kobe is still the best player hes been an
mvp a champion you name it he did it.
Lebron very good has not won anything yet
and i wont be surprise if he doest win any
championship thruout his career at all.
HIs a modern Charles Barkley NO RING TO
SHOW BABY.........
6-01-2009 @ 7:05PM
James said...
This is the same clown that said Cleveland was going to bear Orlando. Nice call. I you guess enough times he's going be right one of these days.
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6-01-2009 @ 7:15PM
dodgerbloo15 said...
cantstopdrinkin,
What's Lebron's one weakness? He can't shoot the midrange game. What's Kobe's greatest asset? He can. Kobe shot 80 percent of his shots from midrange or farther out. Lebron shot in the 35 percent range from midrange. Bynum can't shoot jumpshots. Pau Gasol can, but he thrives best with his back to the basket. Odom, a streaky shooter at his very best, does his best work going to the rim. Besides, Odom and Lebron and Ariza all sort of play the same positions which would negate their relevance.
Nobody on the Lakers can shoot the 3 outside of Fish (who is sucking at it right now) and Kobe. Sasha had a down year. Farmar had a down year. Vlad Rad is gone. Ariza shot 31 percent on the season. Add Lebron to the Lakers, and you have a bunch of guys bunching up in the middle. Every team would just collapse the middle and force Lebron to shoot jumpshots. he wouldn't have anyone to pass to, because all of his best players would be trying to get to the hole just like him. This isn't fantasy basketball. A team is a team for a reason. Lebron would not necessarily make the Lakers better.
The Cavs were tailor made for Lebron's game. A bunch of shooters and two defensive-minded banging power forwards.
Maybe you should stop drinking while you're watching the games. If you even watch Lakers games to begin with.
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6-01-2009 @ 7:31PM
cantstopdrinkin said...
Lol dod if Cleveland had a lot of shooters they would be in the finals right now. Lebron got everyone open and they failed to make shots. Yes the Lakers would need to pick up a 2 guard that would be a good 3 point shooter to complete the team if Lebron was with them instead of Kobe. But you just wrote all that about something i wasnt even talking about lol. My point was if Lebron had two bigs like Gasol and Bynum instead of Big Z and Varejo he would dominate. They would play completely different basketball. It wouldnt be the system your seeing the Cavs run. Lebron can work in a lot of systems because he is so versatile. Even simple pick and roll basketball with Gasol and Lebron would be almost impossible to stop from the constant motion and the treat Gasol creates (along with some quickness compared to Big Z) with his range and footwork. Ariza has become a threat from behind the 3 and would feed off that pick and roll with open buckets. Bynum would gobble offensive boards from the defense HAVING to help on the P and R . Lebron has NO consisent offensive threat on this team down low (Big Z 4 years ago was decent but way to slow to take advantage of a player like Lebron) and NO one that even come close to demanding a double team. Lebron doesnt even know what seeing another teammate double teamed looks like. If you understood basketball instead of being someone who can only make sense when he is making fun of someone's screen name then you would understand that the entire game would cahnge if you put that kind of talent on the floor with Lebron.
Oh and one other thing , if you watched any Cavs basketball you would know that Lebron brings the ball up the court 60-70% of the time so if they wanted to go to sets to get all that "cluster" your talking about on the court at once Phil would have NO problem playing Lebron at the 1 because of his court vision and how he is a distributor fist in mind instead of a scorer like Kobe (he has admitted it) and because Phil runs the triangle (a system that Lebron would THRIVE in) that relies on ball movement (and it has flourished since they got Gasol because he is a talented passer, just has awesome hands period for a seven footer, another thing Lebron doesnt have that would make this pairing awesome). So please dont try to lecture me on basketball guy....
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6-01-2009 @ 8:09PM
oocookiedooo said...
i think that lebron's bench is a joke. but, LA has gummy bears as their big men. you overestimate gasol. he's a good player, but not a great one. bynum is as bad as oden on fouling. he is poor decision maker on defense. ariza is a NOT a big threat from downtown.
however i do agree that lebron would be better off with bynum and gasol over z and sideshow bob. but this is the same lakers team that let the rockets take them to 7 without their two best players. what happens is suspect. if somehow LA has figured out how to play with effort, then Orlando has a lot of work to do. otherwise, magic in 7.
6-01-2009 @ 7:48PM
cantstopdrinkin said...
You have to realize the difference in talent in the bigs the Lebron has working against him . There is harly any talent in his two. Vajeo as much as tries just doesnt have the cordination and offensive talent to be great. He gets a ton of his buckets off Lebron and it makes him look much better then he is. He is aggressive and uses his size to the best of his ability but he is a back up at best. Then Big Z is just not in the right time period. In the late 80's and early 90's he would be good but today's game is way to fast. When he is hitting his outside jumper he can be decent but when he's not his slow slow slow mobility hurts a team more then the rest of his game can help it. On defense if he guarding an athletic big man he cant get off the ground fast enough to contest anything. So those 2 arent even average . Then compare them to Bynum and Gasol and its almost eact opposite. Even though Bynum is still not at full strenght so he isnt quite as good as im about to make him sound , when healthy he is a monster. He is not only over 7 feet , which you cant teach, he is atheltic. Think how even just a healthy Bynum on the Cavs instead of Big Z would have changed that series against Orlando. Then you throw in another 7 footer that is at an all star level in almost every skill a big guy can have.... its almost unfair (and is why i will always say that has got to go down as the best trade ever forjust one franchise in the trade and i almost believe it was an inside deal that was a favor between friends). Like i said , you could take Kobe off that Lakers team and it would still make the playoffs ... in the West. You take Lebron off that Cavs team ..... i promise you they would struggle to win 20 games.... in the East.
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6-01-2009 @ 7:49PM
cantstopdrinkin said...
Sorry my keyboard is messed up . Som eof the buttons stick and dont work...
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6-01-2009 @ 8:06PM
naltino said...
The Lakers will win. They are NOT Cleveland. LAL is a team. They've got Kobe, and a great supporting cast. Not to mention some really good players coming off the bench. Cleveland is all Lebron. Not even MJ could take on a team by himself....which is why he had Scottie. Lebron is no MJ, plus he doesn't have another reliable star on his team. He took on Orlando by himself. Much credit to Bron....but, Orlando (and all you fans) can't expect to get through the Lakers.
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6-01-2009 @ 8:11PM
kevin said...
The Magic won both season games against the Lakers. Enough said
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6-01-2009 @ 8:24PM
Michael gifford said...
well, there are several things that are different between the Cavs and the Lakers when facing the magic.
#1 and it's not Kobe it's Pau. both Kobe and Lebron command a double team, that's a wash. However, while the Magic are a challenge to stop offensively, the Lakers are no piece of cake offensively either. Pau often can rate a double team...he is no freakin Ilgauskas and is much tougher to guard. leave him alone and he'll beat you. Leave Z alone and so what, he may get some points. this translates into more work for Magic's defense than they had against Cavs.
#2. Lamar...Lamar is a good sometimes great defender...with him on Hedo or Rashard, it will be more difficult than ANYONE on the Cavs presented...translation? more work, plus he can take people off the dribble which is more than Varajao can do...again...more work for the magic they didn't have to do against Cavs.
#3. bodies to throw at Dwight..yes that's true but also it ups the potential to have Dwight foul out...and if he goes, it's a house of cards from there. Bynum is no Z, Varajao or even Ben...he's not great yet but he's strong and does provide some offense, if Dwight underestimates him it'll be a mistake...he won't have a big game but once again, it won't be AS easy as it was against the Cavs...
#4 DFish is no Mo williams, plus there's shannon and farmar, Mo's back up was who? eventually rafer would tire him out but those three? I don't think so...Rafer becomes a wash and DFish, while not hitting well right now, is known as a streaky shooter and he could easily be hitting 3's...not many, but enough to keep Alston honest. The bigger problem for Lakers is Nelson's return since he was at the helm when the Magic beat them...Nelson is a harder matchup than rafer when he's healthy...this could be trouble for lakers but Nelson's minutes might just be limited. and JJ. isn't reliable as a starter.
#5. Yes Pietrus will be on Kobe, but Kobe will be on someone else...and you can bet that someone else won't be scoring as easily as they did against Lebronze...period...
#6. Biggest thing Lakers have going for them is PJ...he's a great strategist and makes adjustments well...he is no Mike Brown and has been here so much he's unlikely to panic EVER!....
7. Biggest edge Magic has comes down to 2 things...it's not their skills, the teams are close skills wise, it's momentum, coming off an emotional upset, and perseverance, which they have in buckets...they have that underdog rage going on that teams who feel they've been disrespected generate and ride off...IF and this is a big if, the Lakers take the first two and one in Orlando...it's done...the Magic won't take two in a row at home from Lakers...last year, maybe but this year, nope...If Lakers DON"T do that, it's over in 6 to the magic.
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6-01-2009 @ 8:26PM
Martin said...
Although I hope you are right, the series will hinge on whether Fisher, Sasha and Farmar can find their shooting touch. And whether the Lakers can play disciplined offense rather than trying to get into a three point shooting contest with the Magic. The Lakers need to start every possession either with a pass into the low post or a high pick and roll, with the intention of trying to get Howard in foul trouble. When he's sitting on the bench, Orlando becomes a pretty ordinary team.
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6-01-2009 @ 8:51PM
John said...
howard is the only beast in this game,he can elevate this game to a higher level.you laker fans hope he doesnt brake another backboard in bryants face.
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6-01-2009 @ 11:22PM
funndj said...
cantstopdrinkin... you need to stop drinking.... Lebron is a geat player but, I guess like so many people you bought into the hype that was pushed on everyone.... Lebron has a long was to go before he can even be mentioned with the likes of Kobe.... Kobe is the best player on this planet right now......James is also a poor sport and very classless....... As for the Magic - Lakers matchup, I think its going to be extremely competitive... It's the Lakers to lose... I will enjoy this series either way though, becuase I know the Magic have a great team.... And I knew they would beat both the Celtics and Cleveland...........
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6-01-2009 @ 11:50PM
ddspyman9 said...
kevin....
Jameer Nelson averaged 27 points in those two games in the regular season. They will miss him greatly..ik all this talk about him coming back is possible but he won't be as effective either way.
Also, its the regular season, the atmosphere, hype, and importance of the Finals isn't really the same as in February.
To suggest because they won both means they will win the series is plain dumb.
So, kevin, now enough has been said.
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6-02-2009 @ 12:25AM
cantstopdrinkin said...
Funndj wow you made fun of my screen name , swear thats never been done before , and the joke ... so original ... ha. Its a screen name i made years back in college , get over it and talk about basketball. If Kobe is so good then why couldnt he get out of the 1st round after Shaq left and until Gasol came? If i remember correctly Lebron has made it to the Finals with a sub team and no help, Kobe couldnt. Its because Lebron is a better TEAM player and basketball is a TEAM sport. Its already been proven, just go watch the 3 years of the Lakers between Shaq and Gasol when Kobe with stuck with no help like Lebron has been his entire career. Maybe if you watched basketball and knew anything about it you could discuss some helpful facts instead of making fun of screen names. Some of you guys amaze me...
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6-02-2009 @ 12:29AM
cantstopdrinkin said...
Kobe couldnt do jack without Gasol and even threw his entire franchise under the bus and threatened to leave town... and would have if not for the miracle trade of Gasol. Even after Lebron carried his team with no help almost all the way to the Finals by himself again and lost he still hasnt done what Kobe did that offseason when he demanded a trade . No Lebron just keeps trying to get better and come back harder the following year. But Kobe whines and whines until he gets one of the top 3 or 4 big men in the league. Lol so PLEASE stop with the Kobe loving and Lebron hating. Lebron has done much more with much less....
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6-02-2009 @ 1:05AM
Giles said...
1) Bryant is the best player in the series. James is irrelevant. He isn`t in the series. Bryant will DOMINATE the 2, against Pietrus/Lee. Yawn. What about the other four match ups? 2) & 3) The Magic can not only match up with Gasol, they can over power him. Howard will probably match up with him, leaving maybe Lewis on Odom/Bynum. 4) Yes, experience can help. Only Bryant has significant experience for the Lakers and is still playing well. The other Lakers playing well, surprise, Ariza, and no surprise, Gasol, DON`T have experience. What other position with the Lakers win, in addition to the 2 spot? 5) Hahaha! Good one! You are funnier than Eminem (not that exhibitionisht pervert Bruno, the mouthy guy, not the bare bottom guy)! Lakers` Defense. What an oxymoron! Remember Bryant smirking about the Lakers being BI-polar, because after Yao sat out injured, they were stretched by a squad starting 6`6 Chick Hayes at center? Hehehe. Hilarious. You should be writing for Aol with a sense of humor like that! Should be a good series. We already know the irrelevant. Lakers have the most hype, and the best player. So did the Cavs. What happened? Blane the hype exhausting the supposed super star, or the coach for choosing to play him, and having to put 4 other guys on the court, too, or, nah, don`t credit the team that beat them. Except maybe by someone sending an e-mail after the superstar has left the building. I hope both teams stay healthy, and avoid suspensions, fights, etc. May the best TEAM win. Whichever team that proves to be.
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