Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic
Season Series: Magic 2-0
Breakdown:
Kobe and the Lakers are back in the Finals yet again. After losing to the Celtics last year, they’ll hope for a different outcome this time around. On the other hand, it has been 14 years since the Magic made their last Finals appearance. However, after beating both Boston and Cleveland, they have to like their chances at a championship. With players like the 6-10 duo of Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, along with the game’s best big man (who will have to stay out of foul trouble for once), they are a nightmare to matchup with.
LA isn’t too shabby either. With the versatility of Odom and Ariza, the height of Gasol and Bynum, and the game’s best player in Mr. K-O-B-E, this Laker team is without a doubt the best the Magic will have seen this postseason.
X-Factor: Lamar Odom
LA loves to bring Odom off the bench but I don’t see how they can do that this series. They’ll need his length and athleticism at all times against the tough Orlando matchups I mentioned previously. The 17.8 and 11 he averaged verse Utah in LA’s first round win would be huge.
X-Factor: Mickael Pietrus
Pietrus quietly played an outstanding series for the Magic in their victory over the Cavs. He hit 17 threes during the 6-game win and had the assignment of guarding LeBron for most of his time on the court. He’ll have another brutal task this time in Kobe Bryant.
Prediction:
The NBA is probably drying their eyes since they didn’t get the Kobe-LeBron matchup in the Finals (if the puppets weren’t enough then I don’t know what is), but this will be a damn good series. As crazy as it is to bet on Kobe losing back-to-back NBA Finals, I’m going to do just that. The regular season sweep of the Lakers by the Magic was no fluke. This is Dwight’s year. I love you Kobe, but tell me how Shaq’s ass tastes!
Magic in 7
Cleveland was too full of themselves. Blowing 20 point leads at the half… pssh rookie mistakes made by a bunch of spoiled kids that got used to having thier way, then freaked when orlando didn’t lay down and die. LA’s a lot more confident this year. Of course they were gonna lose to boston. Boston was the Cinderalla team equipped with a new dress… Read More, carriage and glass slippers to dance around in at the ball. Well guess what. Disney sucks at sequels and that’s why Garnett was out of commission, lol. I think b/c of all the hype of the possible Kobe-Lebron faceoff, ppl think orlando is gonna show up LA. LA isn’t thinking they’re gonna blow out orlando. That was the Cav’s main problem. Maybe if they hadn’t gone 8-0, they would’ve been more aggresive instead of growing complacent, and we would have the showdown the media promised us. Neither of these teams should underestimate the other, or overestimate themselves. LA won’t do the former, but I think Orlando may do the latter.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
That is all that needs to be said.