Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) Let's see, some pluses about this matchup: - No Lebron, which probably means no 50 FT attempts by one person per game. - Magic, besides Dwight, are primarily a jump shooting team, so probably less of a chance for the refs to screw us over. - They rely a lot on their three pointers, so they can go hot or cold. They're kind of a jump shooting team. - We have home court advantage. - Who's going to guard Kobe? Hedo? Rashard? They have nobody to really stop him. - NO Jameer Nelson, who absolutely kills us. Just gotta man up to Alston, who is average. - We're 0-2 against the Magic during the regular season. Rockets were 0-4 against us during the regular season. Look at how things played out. Besides, check the scores to the two losses, both games were extremely close and could've gone either way. - Stan Van Gundy has panic attacks when the game is on the line. Even a Magic player has called him out for this. Hopefully Phil wakes up and coaches circles around him, but who knows. We need Phil with his A game, can he still bring it? - EXPERIENCE. This time around, we're the ones who have it.
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) I watched some of the game, Magic just flat out destroyed them. They wanted it more from the get-go. Anyways, anyone find it weird how they use a Mo Williams - Delonte West - Daniel Gibson lineup? That's small as hell, even for a Mike D'Antoni team.
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) We got this in 5. Wow. Home court for the mother fucking win!
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) Mike Brown certainly didn't look like Coach of the Year. Why would you abandon using Lebron in the "Nail" until Orlando figure out how to stop it? Congrats to the Magic for making it to the Finals.
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) Wait the Finals don't start until Thursday? I was hoping they'd start on Tuesday. Let's get it on right now!
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) More rest Shape what are your thoughts about the defensive matchups?
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) The Lakers have to disrupt Orlando from getting into any rhythm. They have to throw different looks on defense and attack Howard in the post from angles he's not used to seeing and mixing it up with single coverage. Howard is very turnover prone still and is terrible at passing out of aggressive double teams. If Bynum can defend him one on one that will be huge for us. It will take away the inside-out attack of Orlando and allow our perimeter guys to contest every 3 point shot. I think the key is stopping Hedo and I wouldn't be surprised to see Kobe & Ariza matching up to slow him down. Hedo won't have the speed or size advantage like he had against Cleveland. I also think it would be a good idea to force Rafer Alston to beat us. He's very streaky and the more shots he takes the less shots for the 3 guys who can really hurt us (Howard, Hedo, & Lewis.)
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) I think the Magic are definitely our worst matchup. Dwight will own Pau or Bynum if left 1-on-1. What I think we need to do is force him to go to the middle (instead of letting him spin down on the baseline) and double from the other side of the post. Howard is definitely a better scorer than he is passer, and if we instead use one of the perimeter players to double, Howard will kick it out - and the Magic can shoot. I am not 100% confident in the Lakers for this series, but I do believe we can win if our bigs, including Odom, play well.
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) The key to beating the Magic is to not double Howard, and use your six fouls in the post. (Obviously, you don't want Gasol to be the one fouling, but all the other bigs are free game). When you foul, you foul him hard, as Howard will lose his composure quite often. You have to always remember with the Magic that 2 points is less than 3. And if you foul him, it really becomes 0 or 1 point is less than 3. Howard's pretty good at making the right pass. Hard double him, and he will make the right pass. Soft double him, it is hardly different from single coverage for him. Bynum's a pretty big guy. He needs to work on Howard and force him away from the basket with his lower body. Howard isn't all that great when he has to fade some from the basket.
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) Man. I'm sorry your predictions didn't work out. Lakers or Magic, BG?
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) We really are going to hear chants "Beat LA!". But you know how Kobe responds to them. Tough series anyway, i say seven games.
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) A quick reminder of what happened last year... [video=youtube;HZIR9UMXtNY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZIR9UMXtNY&feature=related[/video] We should erase this from our memories!!!
Re: NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Magic (Series 0-0) I would love a sweep. San Antonio vs. Cleveland like :]
