NBA Finals Matchup

The NBA finals are set and while it isn't the dream matchup that everyone wanted (Cavs vs Lakers) I think it will be a great series. The Orlando Magic will face the Los Angeles Lakers and the series will feature two of the best players in the game in Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard. While the world wanted to see Lebron vs Kobe, I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised with Lakers/Magic. The last time the Magic made a championship series they were led by "Shaq-Fu" aka "Shaq-Diesel" aka "Kazaam" aka Shaquille O'Neal and they had an up and coming guard name Anfernee Hardaway. Shaq moved on to LA, then to Miami (winning Championships at both) and now is in Phoenix. "Penny" Hardaway was a star in the making but the injury bug got him and he was forced into an all too premature retirement. The Lakers advanced to the championship last year losing to the Celtics and hadn't won a championship since Shaq.




















If you know me you know that i'm a pretty big Kobe Bryant fan. I would like to see him win a championship without Shaq being the guy who basically gets all the glory from the victory. I think what Kobe has done in his career will rival what Michael Jordan accomplished and maybe surpass Michael if he can win a title without Shaq. Michael Jordan had the best supporting cast in basketball in his championship years in Chicago, including Scottie Pippen who was voted as one of the NBA's top 50 players of all-time. Kobe won championships with Shaq, but if he can do it with a scrub like Lamar Odom (a good game every 4th game) and a soft (and ugly) European in Pau Gasol he deserves more credit than anyone will ever give him. The team around him is AWFUL! This would be an amazing accomplishment in my mind and when you add up his other championships, big shots, 81-pt game and spectatcular highlights he may be getting some talk as the greatest to ever play the game.


This series will be Dwight Howards coming out party (if game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals wasn't already). I totally expect him to dominate Gasol or Bynum and put up 20 and 15 along with 5 blocks in every game. In my opinion the NBA has lacked a real superstar Center since Shaq. After these playoffs and this series in particular, the league will no longer lack a stud inside player (the game seems to be very perimeter or drive oriented). Not that there aren't great inside players, but there are none with the skill, athletic ability and likeable personality that Howard has. Aside from Howard, the Magic also have Rashard Lewis (native Texan) who is an excellent player and was a matchup nightmare for the Cavs. For every Batman there is a Robin and Lewis fits that Robin role.
My heart tells me you have to go with LA in this series, but my gut says the Magic. I think Howard dominates the paint limiting the LA big men from scoring/rebounding and defensively makes the lane his home. Bryant will get his points, but I think Lewis will score enough to kind of offset what Kobe is doing. The key to the series will be the perimeter shooting and the Magic have a huge advantage in my mind. This series will turn into Kobe vs the Magic and unfortunately for him, he won't be enough. The Orlando Magic will be crowned NBA champs and Dwight Howard will be a SUPERSTAR when it is all said and done.