Move aside, Lebron James. Your Cleveland team had just been toppled.
Now, it's Superman vs. Black mamba.
After failing last year against Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant and his LA Lakers are back at center stage as they host Game 1 of NBA finals this Friday. With a solid supporting cast and the return of Andrew Bynum, many have dubbed Lakers as the favorites in this series. Pau Gasol remains the primary sidekick of Kobe while Ariza and Fisher are expected to be the X-factor.
Orlando meanwhile, forms the league best starting 5. Rafer Alston, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis can complement Dwight Howard inside the lane. This 2009 Magic might have been the best team Orlando has ever fielded in years. With a dominating center inside and surrounded by shooters, Magic boasts a team every coach would be envy of. Their brand of basketball is simple. Give it to Howard. Either dominate inside or kick out to outside shooters and let the three-point shots kill you. Pick your poison as they say, but don't expect this NBA finals will be a walk in the park for both teams.
Phil Jackson is a hell of a coach. We all know that he has some aces up on his sleeve on how his Lakers will defend Howard. My initial guess? Let Bynum play Howard one on one. Limit their three-point shooting because this is their bread and butter. Game 7 of Eastern Finals proved that Howard is a good passer for a center. With Howard scoring 40 points and Magic making 12 three-point attempts, Cavs simply don't have an answer. Lamar Odom will play a key role in this series, which is equivalent to Mikael Pietrus of the Magic. Both players are sixth man and suppose they played well in the series, their respective team have an edge.
Defense would be the key. Kobe can score while Dwight, do we still need to ask? Kobe have Gasol as his sidekick. Dwight have Hedo, Rashard and Rafer with the addition of Courtney Lee and Pietrus. Stan Van Gundy will surely assign Pietrus to Kobe, the way he planned how to slow James in their Eastern Conference Final. Bench players also is vital for both teams, with the likes of Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton and Sasha would be big for LA. Lakers has the pieces to win it all, but can they really win it all and give the big-headed Kobe Bryant his first title since post-Shaq era.
Orlando is so balanced that this team is labeled as unpredictable. Any given night, there are different players who beat you. Imagine, Kobe scoring 10 points yet Lakers win? I don't think so. Put Howard in the situation. Howard scoring 10 points yet they win? Probably because his wingmen are capable of stepping up. Pietrus, a once player who was delegated to the bench by the Warriors, now plays a defenive stopper and a terrific clutch shooter. Imagine this Magic team playing without Jameer Nelson...
Predictions anyone? Orlando in 6 and let the pathetic Kobe Bryant cry on his own, once again.
Now, it's Superman vs. Black mamba.
After failing last year against Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant and his LA Lakers are back at center stage as they host Game 1 of NBA finals this Friday. With a solid supporting cast and the return of Andrew Bynum, many have dubbed Lakers as the favorites in this series. Pau Gasol remains the primary sidekick of Kobe while Ariza and Fisher are expected to be the X-factor.
Orlando meanwhile, forms the league best starting 5. Rafer Alston, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis can complement Dwight Howard inside the lane. This 2009 Magic might have been the best team Orlando has ever fielded in years. With a dominating center inside and surrounded by shooters, Magic boasts a team every coach would be envy of. Their brand of basketball is simple. Give it to Howard. Either dominate inside or kick out to outside shooters and let the three-point shots kill you. Pick your poison as they say, but don't expect this NBA finals will be a walk in the park for both teams.
Phil Jackson is a hell of a coach. We all know that he has some aces up on his sleeve on how his Lakers will defend Howard. My initial guess? Let Bynum play Howard one on one. Limit their three-point shooting because this is their bread and butter. Game 7 of Eastern Finals proved that Howard is a good passer for a center. With Howard scoring 40 points and Magic making 12 three-point attempts, Cavs simply don't have an answer. Lamar Odom will play a key role in this series, which is equivalent to Mikael Pietrus of the Magic. Both players are sixth man and suppose they played well in the series, their respective team have an edge.
Defense would be the key. Kobe can score while Dwight, do we still need to ask? Kobe have Gasol as his sidekick. Dwight have Hedo, Rashard and Rafer with the addition of Courtney Lee and Pietrus. Stan Van Gundy will surely assign Pietrus to Kobe, the way he planned how to slow James in their Eastern Conference Final. Bench players also is vital for both teams, with the likes of Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton and Sasha would be big for LA. Lakers has the pieces to win it all, but can they really win it all and give the big-headed Kobe Bryant his first title since post-Shaq era.
Orlando is so balanced that this team is labeled as unpredictable. Any given night, there are different players who beat you. Imagine, Kobe scoring 10 points yet Lakers win? I don't think so. Put Howard in the situation. Howard scoring 10 points yet they win? Probably because his wingmen are capable of stepping up. Pietrus, a once player who was delegated to the bench by the Warriors, now plays a defenive stopper and a terrific clutch shooter. Imagine this Magic team playing without Jameer Nelson...
Predictions anyone? Orlando in 6 and let the pathetic Kobe Bryant cry on his own, once again.
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