Game 5 preview

Are we going to be Cristal poppin in the victorious Laker locker room post Game 5 or is the series headed back to Hollywood for Game 6? Your #1 source for NBA Finals and Lakers coverage!

Lakers push Magic to the brink

The Los Angeles Lakers got a big boost from an unlikely source as Derek Fisher hit the two biggest shots of the season to give the Lakers a 3-1 series lead with a 99-91 victory in Game 4 Thursday night. The cagey, veteran Fisher trails only Robert Horry & Michael Jordan in 3 pointers made in Finals history. In his postgame press conference, Phil Jackson agreed with my tweet I sent out in the 4th quarter that the rebound Kobe wrestled away from Dwight Howard and subsequent foul on DH would prove to be the turning point in the game. Mamba finished with 32 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds, while Trevor Ariza had another strong post-season performance with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Ariza is a free agent to be this summer whom I feel the Suns should pursue to fill the Marion void but that’s for a later article. The Lakers now have an opportunity to clinch their 15th championship in franchise history if they can close out the Magic on Sunday @ Amway Arena. I have a feeling they may wait to pop the Cristal until Game 6 though, back @ Staples, with the city, the fans, and Jack! AP photo courtesy of David J. Phillip

Quick Snap

I’m going with the Lakers tonight in Game 4. Kobe’s response when asked if his body had finally hit the wall, was classic. “What does it matter?,” stated Mamba, “you know I’m going to run through it anyway.” Now the only question remaining for Kobe is will your teammates show up and follow?

FYI: Gina Marie Incandela will be singing the national anthem again tonight, as Orlando is 6-0 in the playoffs when she does.

Blown Opportunity

The Los Angeles Lakers were lucky to survive regulation Sunday night when Courtney Lee missed the game winning layup off of a beautifully diagrammed inbounds play from Stan Van Gundy. The Lakers went on to put away the resilient Magic 101-96 and take a 2-0 lead as the series shifts to Orlando for Game 3 on Tuesday. Despite a rather subpar 29 points and 8 assists from Kobe Bryant, L.A. got a big boost from both Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. With L.O. getting more publicity lately for his apparent candy obsession, than for anything he actually did on the court, he came through with 19 big points. Former head coach and current ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy stated that “If Lamar Odom plays well, the Lakers have no chance of being beaten.” Mike Tirico even went as far as declaring it “The Lamar Odom Show,” which may have been a stretch. The bearded Spaniard Gasol definitely played his part with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

The first 3 quarters however proved extremely futile as a 65-63 score at the start of the 4^th clearly indicates. If not for an 18 point 2^nd quarter from Rashard Lewis, Orlando would have only had 15 points at halftime. The broadcast crew continually reaped praise upon the defense but the fact of the matter is the shooting was just awful. There were numerous wide-open shots missed by Gasol, Howard, Redick, etc. Orlando shot 33% from behind the arc, ultimately keeping them around though still not on par with their Conference Finals run. The Lakers by no means played well, but ultimately deserved the W by making the plays down the stretch. Lamar Odom, a 59% free throw shooter these playoffs, calmly stepped to the free throw line and sank two clutch foul shots with 22.1 seconds left to put the game out of reach.

Orlando fans are left to ponder what may have been. They did have opportunities to tie this series before overtime, but now they’re headed home. A home where the players hope the tempo of this series will be elevated drastically, preferably in their advantage. Despite the 0-2 deficit the entire Orlando area will surely be in a ruckus over their team’s 2^nd Finals appearance in their 20-year history

For a Suns fan, we have only 1976 and 1993 to fall back on, the latter of which I was alive to witness. I’ve started to get a appreciate living in Lakers territory, amongst the masses of tradition rich die-hards. After every playoff game this postseason, the second you see the clock hit 0.00, cheers and applause can be heard right out my windows from all the neighbors. These people want another championship. Actually, they expect and demand it, and rightfully so. 14 titles does that to people.

Game 2 Preview

The all important Game 2 for the Orlando Magic as they try to avoid going down 0-2 to the Lakers, before the series shifts to Amway Arena for games 3, 4 & 5 (if necessary). Dwight Howard also will try to avoid being held dunk-less two games straight for the first time in over a year and a half. Fouling him and forcing him to beat you at the free throw line reminds me of another previous young Magic center with a knack for foul shot ineptitude. It seems that free throw shooting still remains kryptonite to these self-proclaimed “Men of Steel.”

Lakers roll in Game 1

Kobe Bryant was unstoppable with 40 points as the Los Angeles Lakers crushed the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 Thursday night. Orlando was plagued by inconsistent 3 point shooting as well as foul trouble allowing the Lakers to extend their lead to 10 at the half. The pressure picked up in the 3rd quarter and the Lakers and never looked back. The 40 points was a NBA Finals career high for Kobe, while just missing a triple double with 8 rebounds and 8 assists. It was the 10th 40-point game of Bryant’s 13-year career, as he looks to win his 4th ring in 6 opportunities. Game 2 is Sunday afternoon, 5 pm PT at Staples Center.

Hoop Scoop

The mood around southern California seems to be that of confidence, yet all Lakers fans will tell you, the season will have been a failure with no championship. Kobe Bryant, the ultimate competitor, has stated as much. After last year’s let down in the Finals against Boston, these Lakers seem eager to erase past failures. Phil Jackson is still looking to win his 10th ring as a coach, which would move him ahead of Red Auerbach. He hasn’t seemed to enjoy this season as much, often looking un-interested with the game, and his status after this season is still unclear. His past two trips to the Finals have both been experiences I’m sure he’d just as soon forget. In ’04, with the supposed “greatest starting lineup ever” the Lakers steam rolled thru the West only to get KO’d in the Finals by Detroit Basketball. That drama filled season ultimately lead to Kobe deciding in July to remain with the Lakers, Shaq being dealt to Miami, the Rudy Tomjanovich carousel, a few subpar seasons, and then of course the grand theft of Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. I am still so bitter about that trade. Not even because this Lakers team was GIVEN a 27 year old former All-Star and Rookie of the Year, in his prime for, Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and Aaron McKie, who was retired at the time!

Reminds me a lot of the Phoenix Suns 3 worst trades in franchise history.

• 1983 - Dennis Johnson sent to Boston for Rick Robey. Who is Rick Robey you ask? Read about his "Life after the DJ Trade."
• 1995 - Dan Majerle sent to Cleveland for John “Hot Rod” Williams, when they could have had Scottie Pippen the year before. Remember at the '95 All-Star game in Phoenix, they interviewed Pip in the locker room and he mentioned how good he looked in purple.
• 2001 - Jason Kidd sent to New Jersey for Stephon Marbury. J Kidd famously found out about being traded from a Taco Bell employee at the drive thru in Paradise Valley. He then responded by leading the Nets to the Finals two consecutive seasons.

I remember reading The Commercial Appeal article the day after the Gasol trade, and it referenced Pau literally sprinting out of FedEx Forum the moment he learned he’d been dealt to L.A. Then I realized what this meant for the Suns, and I quickly sprinted to the trash can to vomit.

After Mitch Kupchak’s looting of Gasol straight off Beale Street, panic set in across the West. Foes now had to combat not only Andrew Bynum but Pau Gasol as well. Speculation and trade talk immediately picked up, but leave it to the Suns brain trust to ruin it for their loyal fan base. With the team in first place in the Western Conference at 34-14, Robert Sarver and Steve Kerr decided to abandon Mike D’Antoni’s fast break philosophy, and go in the complete opposite direction. Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks were dealt to Miami, and Shaquille O’Neal, and his $20 million per year contract, headed for the Valley. I distinctly recall a cell phone call I made from Memphis to my buddy Hoz in Phoenix the day the trade was announced. We both tried to rationalize for the better, while realizing that this was indeed the end. 7 seconds or less was more gonzo than Luis himself! After all, Marion had pleaded to be dealt for a while, but with his hindsight 20/20, I’m sure that he would have rescinded that request. Never one to be outdone, Mark Cuban shockingly dealt 25 year old point guard Devin Harris to New Jersey setting the stage for an aging Jason Kidd to make his return to Dallas. Neither organization has been the same since, and both are contemplating which direction to head in the future.

Although the Lakers have made consecutive Finals appearances, there is very much a sense of urgency to take care of business. The cover story in the L.A. Times this morning has a very interesting piece regarding the mileage on Kobe, with references to how many games he has already amassed at his age. Fans and critics alike have been debating all season of how much longer Kobe can compete at this peak level. He turns 31 this summer, which turns out to be when he will enjoy his first break from basketball in years. Don’t forget that Kobe first entered the NBA when he was 17, straight out of Lower Merion High School. Aside from Mamba, you have free agents to be Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. Combine that with the improving depth in the West and you have a tough road for years to come.

On the opposite side of the coin you have a team that very much deserves to be here, yet many pundits still don’t know what to make of them. Many, myself included picked the LeBron’s to dispatch of Orlando in 5 games, maybe 6 tops. Having already knocked out the defending champs, and unseating The King, can Orlando bring a championship back to central Florida? An unexpected plot twist may pay dividends. Jameer Nelson reportedly has been practicing with the team all week, though his status remains unclear for Game 1. His mere presence on the bench and in the locker room should undoubtedly provide a lift for Orlando. Factor in Orlando’s unbelievable 3-point shooting these playoffs and we could be in for something special. This sports year has already seen some unbelievable moments. However much like Super Bowl XLIII, where the Cardinals came with in seconds of a miracle upset, the vaunted opponent with all the prestige and aura came and ripped the Cards hearts out. I see much of the same taking place this series. Only instead of Big Ben, Kobe will gladly be the one to pull some heartstrings.

Just a Snap

Game 1 of the Finals is tomorrow night! I'm anxious to see how this series plays out. My initial prognostication had the Lakers winning in 5, and I'm going to stick with that. Orlando is a giant slayer, so anything could happen. Look for my Finals column coming tomorrow. Note: Shaq's tweet this morning,"that's right i am saying it today and today only,i want kobe bryant to get number 4, spread da word." Someone was obviously humbled by missing the playoffs for the first time in their long, illustrious career.

Disneyland vs. Disney World

Dwight Howard scored 40 points to lead the Orlando Magic to a 103-90 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The win propelled Orlando to their 2^nd NBA Finals appearance in franchise history where they will square off with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James scored 25 points for the Cavs but received little support from anyone else, as the team with the league’s best regular season record was sent long “Gone Fishing” for the summer. Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals is set to begin Thursday in Los Angeles.

Still Holding Court.....Cavs take Game 5

King James lead the way with the fourth triple double of his 59 game postseason career: 37 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists to lead the LeBron’s past Orlando 112-102 at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland came out blazing from the start, as this battle was very one-sided early. Feeding off the energy and emotion of the hometown crowd, the Cavs raced to a 32-10 with 4 minutes left in the first quarter behind 4 three pointers from Mo “don’t call me Casper” Williams. Orlando was able to overcome the initial onslaught from Guarantee Ghost and end the half on quite a run. The Magic all but completely erased the Cavs big 22 point first quarter lead with Rashard Lewis’ three pointer pulling the Magic with in one at 56-55 as we hit intermission. While walking to the locker room, you could almost hear Mike Brown thinking; “do we realize this is an elimination game, and it lasts 4 quarters?”

(Note: While the Magic were making their run in the 2^nd quarter, I witnessed something that I’d yet to notice. This actually had nothing to do with LeBron. Dwight Howard actually posted up Zydrunas Ilgauskas, spun across the lane with power and finesse, ala Amar'e Stoudemire, and finished at the rim while drawing the foul on Big Z. If someone that young and raw can ever fully develop that aspect of his post game, he truly could be unstoppable down low. Not just LeBron James unstoppable, but Wilt Chamberlain “I will average 50 ppg in any decade” unstoppable. Obviously the self-proclaimed next “Superman” still needs a jump shot, or any shot for that matter, but that’s what the off-season is for. In a short time he will become much more than the best defensive center who can only dunk.)

The second half was much more tightly contested, back and forth, until the Cavs finally wrestled control around the five-minute mark of the fourth. Thus started the typical parade to the foul line, as is usually the case come playoff crunch time. In the end the LeBron’s were able to defend the King’s Court, and promptly send the series back to the Magic Kingdom for game 6 Saturday night at Amway Arena. Cleveland was able to cover the spread (-8) in Vegas tonight, with the over/under (191) hitting as well. One positive: the growing personal foul epidemic did find a temporary antibiotic this evening, with Orlando committing 27 to the Cavs 25. Although 75 free throws were attempted between the two teams, there were far less of the head scratching, jaw dropping, unbelievable displays of officiating ineptitude that have seemed to plague a few recent playoff matchups. Celebrities in attendance at the Q included rapper Jay-Z, quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Brady Quinn, as well as Yankees stars Alex Rodriquez, Mariano Rivera, and C.C. Sabathia who were in town for a 4 game series with the Tribe starting tomorrow evening.

Pt. 2 final crumbs....

Smart move toward the end of regulation by Stan Van Gundy; Pietrus fouling LeBron, and in essence avoiding the home fans from having to “Witness” a re-enactment of Game 2. He did however make both free throws to force overtime. Props and respect to the Magic in the end. They keep punching the Cavs in the mouth. Ultimately, there is no other way. To be the best, you have to beat the best. Sounds cliché’ but it stands the test of time. Orlando deserves to win this series and if King James is able to bring the LeBron’s back, then that in itself will be of historic proportions. Something tells me that won’t be the case though. It would have been one thing to had LeBron making guarantees, but Mo Williams? He’s got about as much playoff credibility as Tracy McGrady. The Cavs may get game 5 back at the Q, but I don’t see them getting game 6 in O-Town. Not this year, and not this time, because for once, it looks like David Stern won’t have the final say in who plays for the Larry O’Brien trophy this season.

Killer Instinct & the LeBron's Pt. 1

The more I’m playing around with the idea of this new bog; the more and more I’m drawn into the world of the Internet and the vast and endless possibilities. I’ve discovered the many different widgets and gadgets to use with my new column, and it’s almost overwhelming. I will continue to explore the vast reaches of the farthest realms still unbeknownst to my personal computer literacy level. I have already received one sound bit of advice from my first loyal reader, and I will apply it accordingly. In the meantime, Orlando is really doing a number on Cleveland. It will be hard for even the King himself to climb out of a 3-1 hole. I’m not saying that it can’t be done, but the numbers do not lie. Only 8 teams have ever come back from a 3-1 series deficit in NBA history, with one of course being the Suns ’06 comeback against the Lakers sans Amare. I’m a little skeptical of Cleveland and how much experience they actually have. Yes, they did make it to the Finals in ’07, but Boobie Gibson, Big Z, Pavlovic, Varejao, and LeBron are the hold-over’s. And the San Antonio Sterns did mop them up 4-0; “shout out to Doug Franz at Sports 620 KTAR for that moniker by the way.” And my gut feeling, the way this year has went throughout the sports world, with the Cardinals making the Super Bowl and all. I wouldn’t be utterly dumbfounded if Orlando does make it to the Finals. In fact, with the pure disdain I have for David Stern, I would love to see a Denver/Orlando matchup in the 2009 NBA Finals. Marketing nightmare for the league, but a nice poke in the belly for DS nonetheless. But back to the Cavs, other than LeBron, they just lack the killer instinct, and if they don’t survive game 4, it could be the end for King James and his Royal Cavaliers! As I type this LeBron just sank the second of two free throws to give Cleveland the lead 98-97 with :21 seconds left.