Magic losing directions on roadmap back to finals

On the surface the trade for Vince Carter seems like the right medicine at the right time, as one of the problems the Magic couldn’t solve in the finals was that Kobe really didn’t have to work on defense and come 2nd half he didn’t have to sit down so he had plenty of gas come crunch time. Although this move will help address that need, concurrently it creates an entirely new one by making it nearly impossible to sign Turkoglu as you now have Carter’s 51 million over three years, Rashard Lewis’ 18 mill, and some guy named Howard. No offense but Orlando ain’t that great a city for everyone to take pay cuts to stay. The Magic had a young nucleus and with some experience, could have possibly taken the last big step, and don’t get me wrong their win some games and get back to the post season, but as Cleveland showed last year, it’s a different game with you get to the final four as all your weaknesses become a matter for public record. Unfortunately they may have played their last engagement on the big stage for a while.

2009 NBA First Round Draft Picks

PICK TEAM NAME HT WT POS SCHOOL
1 LA Clippers Blake Griffin 6-10 248 PF Oklahoma
Obviously the best player in the draft who can come in and contribute right away but is he a franchise player? It’s a great 1-2 punch with Griff/Davis but they play in the shadows of the World Champions and the Clips have had more first round picks than any team in the NBA with the same tenure so it could be a question of how they’re going to screw this up.

2 Memphis Hasheem Thabeet 7-3 267 C Connecticut
I don't want to say I told you so, but ... Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley really wanted to improve their defense and Thabeet does that. He is the best defender in the draft and can solidify the d, but his offense is a work in progress and that work could take a long time.

3 Oklahoma City James Harden 6-5 222 SG Arizona State
We knew for months it was probably Harden or Rubio, and about 15 minutes before the draft we changed our mock draft to put Harden here. He's a great fit in the backcourt with Russell Westbrook and one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. I think in hindsight they'll look like prophets because this guy could be a 'lifer' who contributes every year, and a potential all-star.

4 Sacramento Tyreke Evans 6-5 220 SG Memphis
I thought the Kings ultimately would do the right thing and take Rubio, but instead they take Evans. He's not a point guard. But he's a physical combo guard who knows how to get to the rim. He can't shoot much and isn't super athletic, but he's big and strong and he'll make an impact right away. This was a short-term pick. It will look good early, but I wonder how it will look in five years.

5 Minnesota (from Washington) Ricky Rubio 6-5 180 PG Spain
The Wolves get their man at No. 5. Great pick for Minnesota. They are rebuilding and now they have the new face of the franchise in Rubio. He's going to get to play right away and he'll make some mistakes. But I think he'll be really good in two to three years -- good enough that the Kings may regret passing on him. UPDATE: OK, something is going on. Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn are both point guards. I don't think they'll play on the floor together. There is a trade, I think. I wouldn't be surprised if someone got to the Wolves to get Rubio or Flynn.

6 Minnesota Jonny Flynn 6-1 196 PG Syracuse
Flynn is a great leader, tough and a good defender. I know the Wolves liked both Flynn and Rubio, but I doubt they keep both of these guys. My gut says that Rubio will be the one who's moved and Flynn will stay. But we'll see.

7 Golden State Stephen Curry 6-3 181 PG Davidson
One note on this pick: The Suns and Warriors were talking about moving Amare Stoudemire for Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and this pick. Could Curry be Steve Nash's replacement? But if Curry is staying with the Warriors, then so much for that alleged promise to Monta Ellis that they wouldn't draft a point guard. Then again, in Don Nelson's system, Curry can be a combo guard and a good fit with Ellis in the backcourt -- at least in theory. Ellis would be the slasher, and Curry would be the shooter. But they are both pretty small.

8 New York Jordan Hill 6-10 232 PF Arizona
The Knicks are relieved. They were praying that Flynn went in the top seven so that they could get either Curry or Hill. They wish that Curry had been there, but they liked Hill a lot, too. Mike D'Antoni compared him to a young Amare Stoudemire. I think that's a little much, but he'll be good in D'Antoni's up-tempo system and he's insurance if David Lee leaves via free agency. If Lee re-signs, Hill can play some center the same way Stoudemire did in Phoenix. Good pick.

9 Toronto DeMar DeRozan 6-6 211 SG USC
DeRozan has as much upside as anyone in the draft. He's long and athletic and he can be a spectacular scorer. He needs to get stronger and build his confidence, but the Raptors made this pick for the future. With Chris Bosh possibly leaving this summer or next, DeRozan can be part of a new core with Andrea Bargnani.

10 Milwaukee Brandon Jennings 6-2 165 PG Italy
The Bucks really started to fall in love with Jennings over the past few days. He has as much upside as any point guard in the draft. He's cat-quick and impossible to stay in front of, and if he fixes his shooting woes, he'll be a big-time scorer. In three or four years, this could be a home run for the Bucks. A risk, but in this draft, a good one.

11 New Jersey Terrence Williams 6-6 213 SG Louisville
With the Nets trading Vince Carter, they are starting over. Williams is one of the best athletes in the draft, has a ton of skills and can really defend. He's an eccentric dude and he doesn't always come to play, but when he does, wow. It will be fun to watch Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Williams, Yi Jianlian and Brook Lopez grow up together. They'll lose a lot of games, but there's a lot of potential there.

12 Charlotte Gerald Henderson 6-5 215 SG Duke
Larry Brown loved Gerald Henderson from the first workout. He's a good athlete and excellent defender who could be the next Raja Bell. He's not a great shooter or a take-over offensive player, but I expect him to have a Raja-esque career.

13 Indiana Tyler Hansbrough 6-10 234 PF North Carolina
Don't you think Hansbrough's going to be popular in Indiana? As we've seen during his college years, he's a tough, physical, blue-collar guy who Larry Bird compared to Dave Cowens. The Pacers needed some toughness in the paint and Hansbrough brings it. He won't be great, but the Pacers are trying to build a team and Hansbrough is a good fit.

14 Phoenix Earl Clark 6-10 226 SF Louisville
The Suns have clearly decided to rebuild, and with Clark, they get one of the five top talents of the draft. Clark can do everything -- he's long and athletic and he can play multiple positions, including point forward. His effort was inconsistent at Louisville, but he's got as much upside as anyone in the draft. If they trade away Amare Stoudemire to Golden State, they'll have a nice young core with Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Clark, Robin Lopez and (if they got the 7th pick) Stephen Curry. If that happens, the Suns won't be all that great from the get-go, but they'll be fun. The question is, will Steve Nash stay around to lead them?

15 Detroit Austin Daye 6-11 192 SF Gonzaga
Austin Daye is a kid with a ton of upside. He's super skilled and he can shoot the lights out, like a 6-11 Stephen Curry. But he's really skinny and he doesn't have a killer instinct. Ultimately he could be a 4 if he gets stronger, but for now he'll back up Tayshaun Prince at the 3. Great upside pick for the Pistons.

16 Chicago James Johnson 6-8 257 PF Wake Forest
The Bulls have wanted Johnson for a while. He's a good athlete who can play the 3 and the 4 on both ends of the floor. His game needs to develop, but when he gets going, he's something. He reminds me a little of Chicago's Tyrus Thomas in one way -- he'll play great one minute and have his coach pulling his hair out the next. With Thomas on the trade block, Johnson may ultimately be his replacement.

17 Philadelphia Jrue Holiday 6-4 199 PG UCLA
Holiday can take a huge sigh of relief. He slipped a bit, not because of his talent, but because of some concerns about a shoulder injury that were just enough to scare some teams away, a la what happened to Danny Granger with mild concerns about his knee a few years ago. This is a great pick for Philly, which gets a lottery talent at 17 and has its point guard of the future.

18 Minnesota (from Miami) Ty Lawson 6-1 199 PG North Carolina
No, the Timberwolves aren't running a three-PG offense. They're moving Lawson to Denver for a future first-round pick. He'll be a really good backup for Chauncey Billups. He flies up and down the floor and is as steady as they come.

19 Atlanta Jeff Teague 6-2 175 PG Wake Forest
The Hawks have acquired Jamal Crawford but weren't done remaking their backcourt. Teague had the quickest first step in college basketball and is difficult to stop from getting in the paint. He's a great upside pick for Atlanta. Don't expect Mike Bibby back in Atlanta.

20 Utah Eric Maynor 6-3 164 PG VA Commonwealth
I thought they might go with Sam Young here, but I have to admit that I love this pick for the Jazz. They needed a backup for Deron Williams, and Maynor is perfect for Utah as one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. He has a high basketball IQ and great leadership qualities. The Jazz fill a need and get a guy who I think is the most underrated player in the draft.

21 New Orleans Darren Collison 6-2 166 PG UCLA
Collison is a bit of a surprise here. The Hornets had one tiny point guard in Chris Paul and now they have two. They had bigger needs than backup point guard, but I do believe he's going to be terrific in that role ... if Chris Paul ever leaves the floor, that is.

22 Portland (from Dallas) Victor Claver 6-11 217 SF Spain
We had the Blazers pegged to take Claver with the 31st pick. I knew they really liked DeJuan Blair but they must have been scared off by his bad knees. Claver will stay overseas for maybe three years, but he's got great potential. He's athletic, skilled and one of the best up-and-coming talents in Spain. But I wonder if Portland will regret passing on Blair.

23 Sacramento (from Houston) Omri Casspi 6-9 211 SF Israel
I travel to Israel and have seen him a number of times. He's a very tough, scrappy, slashing player. He's not a shooter yet and he'll need to put on some pounds, but clearly the Kings are trying to add some toughness. Congratulations to all the basketball fans in Israel. They love the NBA and have been waiting for a first-round pick for years. The Kings are a great fit and Andres Nocioni should be the perfect mentor for him.

24 Dallas (from Portland, traded to Oklahoma City for rights to R. Beaubois) B.J. Mullens 7-1 258 C Ohio State
The Mavs are trading this pick to the Thunder for No. 25 and a future second-round pick. The Thunder have been looking to get Mullens for weeks and tried to get up as high as No. 14 to get him. Clearly, Sam Presti sees something he likes. Mullens reminds me a lot of a young Darko Milicic, for both good and bad -- he's skilled and athletic, but he doesn't really know how to play.

25 Oklahoma City (from San Antonio, traded to Dallas for rights to B.J. Mullens) Rodrigue Beaubois 6-2 182 PG France
The Thunder are making this pick for the Mavs. Dallas wanted a point guard and fell in love with Beaubois' upside. He's very long, quick and explosive athletically. He doesn't have a great feel for the game, but he should develop that overseas in the next few years.

26 Chicago (from Denver through Oklahoma City) Taj Gibson 6-10 214 PF USC
Gibson is a good pick for the Bulls in that he's long and athletic and has some upside. But with so many young, skinny frontcourt players, I'm not sure how he fits exactly.

27 Memphis (from Orlando) DeMarre Carroll 6-8 207 PF Missouri
I love this pick for the Grizzlies. He's a great energy player who flies up and down the floor, can handle the ball and creates havoc on the defensive end. He's a more skilled version of Renaldo Balkman.

28 Minnesota (from Boston) Wayne Ellington 6-5 202 SG North Carolina
OK, the Wolves finally decided to draft something other than a point guard. Ellington is a terrific shooter, which the Wolves will need with Rubio and/or Flynn on the team. He diversified his game this year and might be a bit underrated. This is a nice pick this far down in the draft.

29 LA Lakers Toney Douglas 6-2 183 SG Florida State
The Knicks fell in love with Douglas after a workout and bought this pick to get him. Douglas is a bit of a poor man's Ben Gordon, a combo guard who can really light it up. He lets the 3s fly, and unlike Gordon, he's a terrific defender. This is a really good pick for New York this late.

30 Cleveland Christian Eyenga 6-5 210 G/F Congo
The second player to be selected from the Congo (BJ Enbenga LA Lakers) good athlete, small for a 4 but with Shaq, "side show Bob", and Z should fit fine for the Cavs. Is that a front line that can take them to the next level?

King James teams up with the Diesel to take down Superman

It’s setting up like a DC comic strip as the Original Superman comes back from Krypton to take on the “New” Superman on the streets of the NBA. The Suns and Magic have agreed in principal on a deal that would send the former man of steel to the Cleveland Cavaliers and back to the Eastern Conference, for…get this, Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, 2nd round pick tomorrow and 500 large, that’s it! If Mitch Kuptchak is still a fugitive for the Lakers' steal of Pau Gasol, then the Cavs management better have their passports ready because they gave up nothing and may have just found the kryptonite necessary to silence the ‘new’ Superman and get back to the NBA Finals. Will this move be enough to get Cleveland over the hump? With a healthy KG, Superman, and the Diesel, the Power has definitely shifted to the East. David Stern can go off suicide watch as neither Puppets nor 2 hour ESPN specials could bring Kobe and LeBron together, but Shaq just might and I am going on the record now and stating if it is an LA/Cle final in 2010 it will be the biggest in the history of the NBA, surpassing Bird/Magic, and rate higher than the World Series. Let us know what you think here and in the NBA team pages and blogs.

2009 NBA Mock Draft

1. L.A. Clippers. Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma. This one has been a no-brainer since the night of the lottery.

2. Memphis. Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut. Now, Thabeet is here with a caveat -- it’s a slim chance that the Grizzlies keep this pick. If they do, Thabeet’s their man. But a more likely scenario has someone (Sacramento or New York, perhaps) trading up to take Ricky Rubio, and the Grizzlies gambling that they can get Thabeet, Jordan Hill or Tyreke Evans later.

3. Oklahoma City. Stephen Curry, G, Davidson. The consensus seems to be that the Thunder will take SG James Harden. But the Thunder almost never do what the consensus indicates. Curry would give OKC a sweet-shooting combo guard to pair with PG Russell Westbrook. They could try for Thabeet or Rubio here, too. There’s been talk about Hill, but Hill has not worked out here.

4. Sacramento. Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain. All signs indicate that the Kings want Rubio, and that Rubio wants the Kings. They might have to grab Memphis’ pick to get him, though.

5. Washington. James Harden, SG, Arizona State. There’s very little chance that Harden will actually play for the Wizards -- they do like DeShawn Stevenson and Nick Young. But Harden would make good trade bait. Evans and Hill are candidates here, too.

6. Minnesota. Brandon Jennings, PG, United States. Assuming the Wolves don't trade this pick for a more established player, Jennings fits their need for a point man.

7. Golden State. Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona. The Warriors have not promised Hill anything, which is why he is working out with the Bucks on Friday. But they do like him, and picking him would keep the simmering situation with PG Monta Ellis quiet.

8. New York. Tyreke Evans, G, Memphis. Evans is big and versatile, the exact kind of guard Mike D’Antoni wants.

9. Toronto. DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC. Rumors that DeRozan’s stock has slipped are a bit overdone. The Raptors like his potential.

10. Milwaukee. Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse. If Flynn is still around, he’ll be a Buck.

11. New Jersey. Jrue Holiday, G, UCLA. The Nets have Devin Harris and Keyon Dooling, but could be looking to add a big combo guard to play with Harris in the future.

12. Charlotte. Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke. Larry Brown wants perimeter defense, even if it means taking a Duke guy. G/F Terrence Williams will get strong consideration here, though.

13. Indiana. DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh. The Pacers need to toughen up inside, and there’s some sentiment that Blair is the way to go.

14. Phoenix. Earl Clark, F, Louisville. Word is this will be either Clark or Austin Daye.

15. Detroit. Austin Daye, SF, Gonzaga. Depending on which player goes to Phoenix -- Clark or Daye -- the Pistons are a good bet to take the other.

16. Chicago. B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State. A Twitter post, attributed to Mullens, saying that the Bulls promised they'd take him with this pick caused a stir. And, indeed, he has been working out for teams with picks higher than the Bulls.

17. Philadelphia. Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest. With the trade for SF Jason Kapono, the Sixers are locked in on point guards, even if they re-sign PG Andre Miller. Teague has been proving he can run the point in workouts. The Sixers canceled a workout with G/F Chase Budinger, indicating they’re no longer searching for shooters.

18. Minnesota. James Johnson, F, Wake Forest. The Wolves are looking to bolster the small forward spot, and a combo guy like Johnson is a steal at 18.

19. Atlanta. Chase Budinger, G/F, Arizona. Versatility and shooting off the bench is a must, and Budinger would be ideal.

20. Utah. Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina. Hansbrough has most certainly assured that he is a first-rounder, and probably will be top 20.

21. New Orleans. Darren Collison, PG. The Hornets would like to bolster their shooting corps, but adding a backup to Chris Paul is also a priority, and the team likes Collison’s experience and toughness.

22. Dallas. Eric Maynor, PG, VCU. The Mavericks like Terrence Williams, but they do want a point guard if one is available. If Maynor and Ty Lawson are here, they’d pick one.

23. Sacramento. Terrence Williams, G/F Louisville. The Kings need depth and wouldn’t pass up on Williams’ versatility and defense.

24. Portland. Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina. The Blazers might seek to address the point guard spot with a trade, but chances are, they can get a productive player with this pick.

25. Oklahoma City. Derrick Brown, SF, Xavier. Brown could go as high as No. 15 to the Pistons, or as low as the bottom of the first round. His athleticism has long been on display, but he boosted his shooting last year, too.

26. Chicago. Marcus Thornton, SG, LSU. Thornton’s shooting ability has made a big impression in workouts -- he’s an ideal bench scorer.

27. Memphis. Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina. The Grizzlies are looking to add depth across the board.

28. Minnesota. Nick Calathes, G, Florida. Calathes won’t play in the NBA next year (he'll play in Greece), and if you’re the Timberwolves, with three picks, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

29. L.A. Lakers. Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh. Young is mature -- he’s already 24 -- which works against him in this draft. But for a good team looking for cheap, floor-ready players, Young makes sense.

30. Cleveland. Danny Green, SF, North Carolina. Feels like whichever team gets Green will wind up with a steal.

After the fruits of victory some sour grapes emerge

Now that the NBA has crowned it’s new champion all of the “what if’s” and “woulda coulda shoulda’s” are sprouting up from around the county, and the general census is that the Lakers are not a dominating champion and perhaps are not the best team in the NBA as opposed to the “Combo Dynasty”. In the days after LA’s three-peat earlier in the decade, local papers were obsessed with what they could do during the off season to de-rail the Laker Express, this week writers have been stating a myriad of reasons why they should have had a parade in their city this week. Of course, first in line was the Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy’s who commented “Please. Do they actually think they would have won this year if Kevin Garnett had been healthy?” and “Very nice. But we all know that if the route went through Causeway Street things might have been different. See you next year”. Of course there have been too many quotes in the Orlando Sentinel to post them here, but needless to say they believe it was the Magic who should have had the 3-1 lead and not LA. Lastly, comes Houston who still hole heartedly believes they are the “peoples champion” because they played the Lakers the toughest of everyone and still ALMOST beat them without their two best players. This is the only argument with an iota of merit as the Rockets played the Lakers tougher than anyone else in the playoffs. So where do you start about the sour grapes? Well, with the most bitter, in Boston as they seemed to have lost the most with the change in guard. So let me turn on the light bulb for you, firstly Phil is a better coach than Red period. Deal with it. For all the reasons that are poignantly clear. It is more difficult to do it now with salary cap, free agency, and more teams. Yes, he always has had talent but so did Red with at least 3 HOF members on each of his winning teams. Secondly, to talk about how you “supposedly” would have handled LA if you had Garnett opens up Pandora’s box to arguments that the Celtics wouldn’t have the ring from last year if Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza would have been healthy, which many believe. As to the Orlando Sentinel, absolutely true, a couple of balls bounce your way and things are different but name me a series that isn’t the case.
I’ll nip that one in the bud by simply stating that you need to recognize that experience does indeed matter as it was the mental mistakes that cost you a 3-1 lead and possible parade. Makes some throws, foul when you need to, and create an offense that doesn’t depend on you shooting 45% from three, and your chances will improve dramatically. Lastly to the Houston Chronicle, your team record was actually better without T-Mac and when Yao was out of the game vs. LA the Rockets actually outscored the Lakers. Obviously close but perhaps knowing what cards you had before the series started would have yielded an even better outcome. The bottom line in these or any other arguments is that all of these reasons/excuses will not be remembered in seven months and the truth is that this was not a number 4 seed that came out of nowhere, the best team did win, 65 wins during the regular season, and the best player on the planet, and the numbers 15, 10, and 4, which no excuses and answer for.

Lakers’ season has a familiar ring to it

The final series total of 4 games to one will look like most of the pundits predicted and a few years from now no one will remember how competitive this series really was. If a couple of balls (or tips) go the Magic’s way they could have been even or perhaps up at one point. Of course, you still can’t tell a Detroit Piston fan that if the Lakers All-Star back court of Magic Johnson and Byron Scott would not have gotten injured they would have one banner less, even though LA was 11-0 going into that series. Keep in mind they don’t show who you beat on the ring, or the score, just a bunch of diamonds and your slice of immortality. With that said the Lakers did dominate this season from start to finish and deserve all of the kudos and accolades that come their way. Firstly, they won 65 games by any normal standards and sick record winning nearly 8 of every 10 games played. They were only behind one time and in one series, the Rockets, who proved to be their toughest competition of the entire post season. They had a winning record against every team in the playoffs except the Magic, the eventual runner-up. Oh yes, and they have the best player in the world right now in Kobe Bryant (who finally has his ring without Shaq and can ask him how that taste), and the best coach of all time in Phil Jackson. Quite the turnaround for Mitch who was scheduled for ex-communication just three years ago, now is revered as on of the best in the business. There is a dark GREEN cloud that still looms as they are still down 2 in the “millennium standings” but with a young nucleus and money to spend, they may be around for a while. So, while everyone has now officially ‘gone fishin’’ the chess match of negotiations begins, as teams position for 2010 which will be the most talked about free-agent signing period of all time. Where does this place the Lakers/Phil/Kobe in the all time rankings? Let us know here and in the NBA chat rooms and team rooms.

Derek may have just sent the Magic fishin’

In a similar fashion to the 2008 finals, game 4 will be looked at as the pivotal game of the series however this year much more fondly for the LA Lakers. Last year at this time they were contemplating how they could blow a 24-point lead in the third quarter with a chance to tie the series at 2 and finally put some pressure back on the Celtics (please see last year’s blog history). This year had just as much drama for them but a different outcome. It was the Lakers who faced the deficit, not nearly as daunting at 12 points but in a series where (game 1 omitted) the largest lead was paltry 7 points, a sizeable margin. Moreover they were in massive foul trouble and not getting to the foul line themselves. Oh yes, and their starting point guard had not seen the bottom of the net since they were made of baskets. Then something turned. Right out of the locker room to start the half LA started making up the deficit, outscored the Magic by 16 and by the end of the period they were up by 4. We followed was one of the best 4th quarters and OTs in NBA finals history as the Magic turned the tables on LA and had a 5 point lead with 11 seconds to go only to have Superman miss two foul shots then an 0-5 Derek Fisher drained a 3 with 4.6 to play, another in OT and with the second, may have sent the Magic on vacation, fishin’ as The Jet calls it. When the NBA season is over there will be plenty of time to contemplate decisions and there are several SVG will be spending his time on. First and foremost how do you not foul in the final seconds to ENSURE anyone, not just Kobe gets even the smell of a 3?? Why run with Nelson the entire 4th and OT when Rafer Alston had been giving LA fits since the start of game 2?? Lastly, you still had 4.6 to play in regulation why not use every time out you had to get the ball where you needed it? One question that will not fall on the feet of Stan was the free-throw shooting of the Magic. It wasn’t just Howard who let them down (and he was quick to point it out during the press conference). Just the same, the correct answers to the questions seem clear as day the next morning but even giving Stan the man the benefit of the doubt it does appear he has earned is “MOP” nickname again, despite comments about experience not having anything to do with the outcome. Well, if it wasn’t the players lack of experience then the lion’s share of the blame has to go to the person making the decisions. Only this time he’ll have to live with it all summer. Did SVG panic? Would you have stayed with Alston in the 4th? What about free throw shooting? Let us know here and in the NBA chat rooms and team rooms.

The Magic pull a trick of their own

If the Magic feel as though they were a missed layup away from leaving LA even at one game a piece, then the Lakers have to feel like they should be up 3-0 and shipping the champagne to Orlando. After staving off record shooting by the Magic and five missed Kobe Bryant free throws (normally an 85% shooter), LA found itself only down by 2, with the ball with :47 seconds to play, with two of the final 3 possessions. They then persisted to turn the ball over when Kobe tried to split a double-team, gave an intentional foul, and missed 3 three-point shots to end the game. Last year’s MVP blames himself, perhaps fatigue is starting to rear its ugly head, or perhaps its something the Magic are doing defensively, either way they’re 48 minutes from changing the minds of every prognosticator in the country. The Magic saved their best trick (shooting 62% an NBA finals record) for the biggest game in their franchise history. Ironically, mostly from inside the 3-point line is where the damage was done. Now on the eve of game 4, will it take another record setting performance to eek out a 4-point win, or was it the Magic who took the Lakers’ best punch? Hold off on the UPS shipments just yet. Let us know what you think here, and in the NBA Finals chat rooms and team rooms.

Magic now must deal with the odds as well as the bounces

The Orlando Magic now face the first of three consecutive “must win” games after dropping a heartbreaking game two loss in LA. On the up side the Magic seemed to solve most of their issues from game 1, ie; poor shooting(they had twice as many 3’s as LA), Howard not being a part of the offense, and keeping a check on Kobe. The game was as close as it could be with the largest lead never getting above two possessions. Unfortunately for the Magic when the value of possessions are at a premium so are the cost of a turnover, and the “invisible hand” of the Lakers forced 20 and that was the difference between coming home 1-1 with a chance to close out at home and being down 0-2 needing to win 4 out of 5 against a team that has more talent top to bottom. It’s quite clear take away the turnovers and you’ve got more than enough wiggle room to cover, let’s say, an arrant alley-oop pass as time expires but all we’re hearing is about a possibly missed Goal Tending call. The trump card is the “it’s only one possession argument” and you still had 5 minutes of overtime but let’s save that for last. The first outrage is that Superman literally stuck his ENTIRE ARM through the basket in the first half and didn’t get it called on him, so this is no different than how you call the activity in the paint where a fore arm to hold position is not a foul in the first then it’s not a foul with less than a minute remaining. Personally they both should/could have been called but then you’re still in overtime and the result would still be the same. Deal with it and get over it or Home Depot will be sold out of a certain garden supply by the weekend.

Magic have the Lakers right where they want em’

After game one of the NBA finals both teams can take something into game 2. Obviously the Lakers coming off a 25 point beat down know they have all the ‘zen numerology’ in their favor (Phil Jackson is 43-0 in series when winning game 1, LA is 16-0), but the Magic have been behind in their first series only to come back and win, including a game 7 in the Boston Garden (breaking the C’s 40 game streak in game 7’s), so they know they have the capabilities to turn the tide. What may not be a good sign is their 30% shooting for the game. One could argue that there’s a good chance the Magic won’t shoot that bad again, however an equally compelling argument is that LA poses some serious matchup problems that caused that poor shooting. No secret LA is taller and longer at almost every position where the Magic could spot and set over the smaller Cleveland guards. The Lakers are also not allowing the Magic to spot up and shoot, but making them shoot off the dribble witch Lewis, Turk, and Frenchy are not used doing. They did get spot looks but they were very few, and the ones they got they didn’t knock down. Like every NBA game/series, this will be about matchup and runs, and who can enforce their style and you know the Magic will have their day where they shoot 40+%, and that usually comes when they can work to Howard and then go out to the shooters but that’s a tough plan to execute for an entire game let alone a series. The line for game two is LA -7 (more than game 1) so obviously the odds makers aren’t optimistic that the dry board in the Magic locker room will have correct formula for the antidote to a black mamba bite.

Player matchups for finals discussed at press conference, the Smacchat breakdown

Howard vs. Bynum – Even when Bynum was healthy Howard dominated this matchup. In their first meeting in Orlando Superman got Bynum in foul trouble early as the kid didn’t know how to deal with size, strength, or atheism. Obviously this is the key to the series for the Magic, if Howard goes for 25+ per night (Vegas line is 28) then the Magic have more than a good chance to take the series. The caveat is that the Lakers will use all of Bynum’s fouls, bring Obenga (a banger) off the bench and use his 6 as well, particularly in the 4th qtr of close games, rest assured Superman will not get any dunks, he’ll have to get his points from the line and the jury is out how he will perform on the big stage. Huge edge to the Magic.

Tukoglu vs. Ariza – This is a tough call because the Lakers really don’t need Ariza to score, more just put the clamps on Turk particularly in the 4th quarter. Hedo will have to work on the defensive end as well, as Ariza, always a slasher, has become an outside threat shooting as well, with a higher percentage (52%) than any Magic outside shooter from three. Turk has a tendency to disappear during games sometimes, showing up in the 4th quarter just in time to hit some big shots. He’ll have to do more if the Magic are going to win this series. Because of what Ariza brings to the defensive end we’ll call this a push.

Lewis vs. Gasol – The consensus has been that the Ariza/Turk matchup was the most pivotal of the series, but we couldn’t disagree more. The winner of this matchup wins the series. A gutsy call on the Zen Master’s part as Lewis, even at 6-10, is much quicker than Pau and should be able to run off picks to get open looks. It’s a huge question if Pau can battle through in time to alter Lewis’ shots. If he can it totally changes the pick-n-roll offense of the Magic that simply killed the Cavs. Conversely, what is Lewis going to do on the block against Pau who can score with either hand and as an arsenal of pivot moves? This is another key point, as Pau should score at will and perhaps get Lewis in foul trouble if Orlando has to make an adjustment, it will through off their offensive rhythm, if the Lakers do, they can always go to 6-10 Lamar Odom. Advantage Lakers




Alston vs. Fisher – Neither are shooting 3’s well right now and hardly are offensive threats. What Fisher does bring is the experience of three rings and how to effectively run a championship offense. Defensively he is always a threat to take a charge on the break and does hit the occasional shot. Alston doesn’t have the ‘big stage’ experience and is somewhat of a liability on d when playing a big guard but that won’t be a problem in this series. What decides this matchup is who turns the ball over less and who can hit the big shot when call upon, all of which is up the air. Call this a push as well.

Pietrus vs. Kobe – The 124k question (winner’s bonus) is how much, if at all, can the MP contain the Mamba? If Kobe channels all the energy, anger of last year, and desire to prove he can win without Shaq, into offensive anger this series is over. He’ll drop 30 a night on him, and if he gets into foul trouble the Magic have no answer. On the other hand MP played some of the best D on King James all post season but LBJ doesn’t have the hammer Kobe does (we don’t want to start that argument again). Not a question of if, but how much. Huge edge to Lakers.

Magic vs. Lakers – well as far as the starters go we have an even matchup so that leaves us with coaching and the bench which although the MOP has proven his mettle to this point, it’s a different story on the grand stage where the Zen Master has nine rings so that is not a fair comparison. The bench easily goes to LA if the sugar daddy comes to play every night. If Odom brings a double-double to the table each night this is a 4-1 series. If he doesn’t show up it will go deep into the series at which point you look to home court advantage as the deciding factor. We don’t think it will get that far, there will be some tense moments, as there always is with the Lake Show, but the Lakers avenge their dismal showing last year by returning to glory with a 4-2 series win.

Who do you think will win this series and why? Let us know here, or chat live with fans from each team in the NBA chat rooms.