Will Kobe Bryant silence his haters once and for all? Or will Dwight Howard reaffirm the old adage that teams need a dominant center to win a title? Both Las Vegas and Barack Obama have picked the Lakers, but our experts are split. Continue reading to see what they have to say, and make your picks in the comment section.
L.A. Lakers vs. Orlando MagicWhy L.A. Will Win | Why Orlando Will Win
What the Lakers Will Gain | What the Magic Will Gain
Lakers RoundCast | Magic RoundCast
NBA Finals Schedule
Picking the Lakers ...
Tim Povtak: Lakers in 5
"As hard as the Magic try to convince you otherwise, they are thrilled just to reach the NBA Finals. They've already had a great season. They are playing with house money now, and Killer Kobe will steal it all quickly."
Matt Steinmetz: Lakers in 6
"The thinking here is that Gasol will be a factor and that Howard won't be quite the one he was in Eastern Conference finals. Expecting Lamar Odom to come through and prove to be best of the three 6-9-ish, 6-10-ish versatile forwards (Turkoglu, Lewis) in the series.
Then, there's always Kobe."
Jay Mariotti: Lakers in 6
"Because Kobe Bryant understands legacy and what it means to win one without Shaq. Because Phil Jackson understands legacy and wants to smoke past Red Auerbach with title No. 10. Because L.A. has home-court advantage and experience. And because Barack Obama said so."
Kevin Blackistone: Lakers in 6
"I like the Lakers in six. Having been this far just a season ago, and being embarrassed once they got there, will be the second-biggest difference for them. Having Kobe, who averaged a Jordanesque 34 in the Denver series, will be the first."
Terence Moore: Lakers in 6
"It's the Lakers in six. That's because the Magic would like to win, but the Lakers have to win. You have Kobe's obsession with taking it all without Shaq, and then you have Phil Jackson's obsession with surpassing Red Auerbach for most world championships as an NBA coach. Plus, the Lakers are just better."
Shane Bacon: Lakers in 6
"They have been the most talented team all season, we've just waited for it all to mesh. That seemed to happen in the final two games of the Denver series, and now they face Orlando with a lot of big men to throw at Dwight Howard. (This, however, is all pending on the fact that Mickael Pietrus doen't play like the third best player to ever touch a basketball in this series.)"
Brett Pollakoff: Lakers in 6
"L.A. finally found their killer instinct in the Conference finals, when they went on the road and convincingly closed out the Nuggets in Game 6. I expect that to carry over to the Finals, and if the Lakers happen to get up 3-1, the series will probably end in five."
Picking the Magic ...
Elie Seckbach: Magic in 5"The big winners of the Finals are... the American people as well as basketball fans worldwide. For the past six months, all we heard day-in and day-out was how Kobe-Lebron are going to match up -- and it's great to see that the NBA has not turned into the WWE. As to who is going to end up with a ring? I think the Lakers have been consistent in being inconsistent, so we don't know which Lakers team will show up -- the one that got spanked by the Houston Rockets JV team, or the one that beat the Nuggets in Denver. Looks like it's Orlando in 5."
Tom Ziller: Magic in 6
"The Lakers defense has been phenomenal all season, but is tailored to stop penetration and create turnovers. The Magic don't need to penetrate and don't turn the ball over -- that should lead to plenty of open weak side threes. On the other end, Dwight Howard should be able to turn the Laker weapons into jump shooters. That's no Kryptonite for L.A. (they can shoot too!) but it's a big boon for Orlando. A true toss-up, here."
Matt Watson: Magic in 6
"Because the Lakers still haven't solved their lack of consistency, while the Magic seem to be perfecting their game. And let's face it, even if the Lakers deserve to be favored, rooting for the underdog is always more fun than worrying about saving face."
Matt Moore: Magic in 7
"Talent + Skill + Effort + One Guy > Talent + Height + Fortune.
Because somebody's got to drive the bandwagon."
Will Brinson: Magic in 7
"I don't care for the Lakers and shotgun on a roadtrip with Matt Moore sounds fun. But, in all seriousness, I think that we're somehow still underrating Orlando after the Cleveland series -- to most people it was just 'an exposure of Cleveland.' I'm inclined to believe that it was a 'Dwight Howard coming out party' for the sake of these predictions."
Latest NBA Images
Los Angeles Lakers guard Sun Yue of China shoots during practice for the NBA Finals basketball series in Los Angeles June 3, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert talks bout the 2008-2009 season at the team's practice facility in Independence, Ohio Wednesday, June 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom (R) talks with Kobe Bryant as head coach Phil Jackson (L) listens in during practice for the NBA Finals basketball series in Los Angeles, June 3, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert talks about the 2008-2009 season at the team's practice facility in Independence, Ohio Wednesday, June 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
AP
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert talks about the 2008-2009 season at the team's practice facility in Independence, Ohio Wednesday, June 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
AP
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson talks to his players during practice for the NBA Finals basketball series in Los Angeles, June 3, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant runs the court during practice for the NBA Finals basketball series in Los Angeles, June 3, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol, of Spain, listens to teammate Kobe Bryant (R) as they take a rest during practice for the NBA Finals basketball series in Los Angeles, June 3, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
Los Angeles Lakers players gather for a team high-five in front of head coach Phil Jackson during practice for the NBA Finals basketball series in Los Angeles, June 3, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and head coach Phil Jackson watch from the side of the court during practice for the NBA Finals basketball series in Los Angeles, June 3, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-03-2009 @ 7:55PM
nguyenbelle said...
LAMAR ODOM NEEDS TO REMEMBER TO MOVE, CUT AND SLASH TO THE BASKET INSTEAD OF STANING AROUND THE PERIMETER.
Paul and Adrew need to deny Howard touching the ball. Ready to catch the ball, pass the ball. Gasol needs to be efficient with his jumpers
Kobe drive in the basket to put pressure on the defense and to get howard in foul trouble or pass the ball to open guys.
Reply
6-03-2009 @ 8:15PM
nabpdcop said...
You are good, and I agree. It's good to see a basketball fan on this blog. You may like a certain team, but if the team you like gets into a bad match-up, sometimes you have to just give it up. Just be a good sports fan and stop writing BS on the blog. No RAPE talk, just basketball. Goos job. Answer me back please.
6-03-2009 @ 8:28PM
nabpdcop said...
Another thing, you can't live by shoting threes all your life. We'll see what happens, should make for a great series.
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6-03-2009 @ 8:30PM
eternalremix07 said...
Matt Moore is giving the skill advantage to the team with the star center with one post move, and not to the team with unarguably the most skilled player on the planet, not to mention the most skilled center in the NBA.
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6-03-2009 @ 8:41PM
Michael gifford said...
everyone likes to give their justifications for why they think their team will win when It's ALL crap. NO ONE truly knows who will win, which team will show up bigtime and which will choke, which players will step up and which will fade into the sunset faster than Lebron at a post loss experience...the bottom line is BOTH TEAMS EARNED THE RIGHT TO PLAY FOR THE RING AND WE GET TO WATCH WHATEVER HAPPENS...and if, you are absolutley so certain your team will win against any/all factors, then by all means, bet the house (if you still have one after the past 8 years of mismanaged economy, the 401 K (what's left after Bush's policies pushed it into nothingness) the college fund (if it hasn't gone to food because you're now unemployed) and whatever other cash you may have on hand and put your money where your mouth is...I'm sure Vegas would LOVE to take it....as for me...I have no frickin clue WHO will win, I only know BOTH teams are no cakewalk for anyone.
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6-04-2009 @ 1:15AM
cabinetec said...
This series should prove to be a great one. These two teams are the best in the NBA without a doubt. I think the biggest advantage that the Lakers have is that ONE extra game on their home court. Last year it was at Boston and it proved thier downfall. Playoff experience, Prolific head coach and Home court. If I were a betting man I dont think id bet against the Lakers. They will win it at home in 6
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6-04-2009 @ 1:25AM
bevesbasic said...
If Kobie shares the ball, and the other guys can hit their shots, lakers can survive Orlando's bombs--lakers D will prevail
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6-04-2009 @ 10:37AM
Ctran said...
If the Lakers show up like they did in games 5 and 6 of Denver series; they will win otherwise it will be a miserable 2 weeks for Lakers fans like in the Rockets series. So far PJ plan to guard Howard with one player and stay home with the Magic's 3 point shooters seems sound; no one player can beat the Lakers, even if it was Superman, also just ask King James who scored 49 in game 1 and the Cavs still lost. Besides you live and die by the 3 point.
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6-04-2009 @ 10:49AM
worthy said...
Not a fan of either team, but all I hear is the same game plan the CAVS had, get Howard in foul trouble???? wait, that is the plan??? Look at the series with cavs the one game the refs didn't cheap shot him, phantom fouls it was a blowout. I see the lakers in more foul trouble then the magic frontline which consists of 3 7' centers not one.
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6-04-2009 @ 1:06PM
daryooshkamarei said...
Lakers in 4. It is too bad that us Lakers' fans have to celebrate the Lakers' victory in Orlando. SWEEP, SWEEP, SWEEP AND SWEEP BABY....
Kobe will be the Finals' MVP.
The X-Factor in this series is Lamar Odom. He should start instead of Bynum. I feel Shannon Brown should start instead of Fisher or at least Phil Jackson should give Brown more playing time. We also need to play our smaller point guards more in the rotation for defensive purposes. Magis is happy just to be in the Finals. Howard and his team would not be able to give Lakers a hard time. Lakers have been there before and have more experience and pose to win their 15th title and give Phil Jackson his record 10th NBA title as a coach. you people out there, pls let me know what you think about my comments. Enjoy the games and stay safe.
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6-04-2009 @ 2:21PM
donata713 said...
Just remember, the Cavaliers were basically in every game but the clincher and that was with the Cavaliers basically being one dimensional with no other Cavalier hitting their shots (muchless even looking comfortable taking their shots) other than "Prince" James. I don't see that being a problem with the Lakers. Lakers in six.
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6-04-2009 @ 2:44PM
blakk73 said...
Magic are too much for the Lakers, and they have too much depth!!!! Lakers CHOKE AGAIN!!!!!!!! Magic in 5.................
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6-04-2009 @ 3:50PM
woodnnicholsla said...
choke rapist choke
Reply
6-05-2009 @ 12:28PM
rickyzazueta2 said...
Elie Seckback picking the Magic to win in 5!? Come on man you LOVE the Lakers and Kobe how can you not pick them? LA needs to boycott your interview request because of your lack of belief. LAKERS in 5
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6-15-2009 @ 4:05PM
donata713 said...
We all know the results of this series now. Well, there's always next year Orlando. And to all those that picked the Magic to win this series, next time please try using your brain and not your fart, I mean, heart. ;)
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