NBA Finals Preview

The NBA Finals are finally here, albeit with an end to the Most Valuable Puppets advertisements . The Lakers held off the Nuggets and the Magic's versatile lineup befuddled the Cavaliers, despite amazing outputs from Lebron James. This might not be the media's ideal NBA Finals, with Kobe v. Lebron no longer relevant, but Kobe v. Superman is still going to have high viewer ratings. The Lakers were seemingly destined to be heading to the NBA Finals, with no team providing a serious threat to their season except a Yao-less Rockets team (which was an anomaly in and of itself), but the Magic have been the true dark horse of the playoffs. After winning a series against the Sixers which was more one-sided than a six game series usually seems, the Magic held off formidable foes in the Celtics and the Cavaliers. Now, the Lakers and Magic are expected to clash in yet another epic NBA Finals. However, my prediction is that the series is not going to be that even.

Analysis: Orlando is a great NBA team, but has survived thus far by creating matchup difficulties for opposing teams. Dwight Howard is an animal on the post, but teams are having trouble doubling down on Howard with Orlando's impeccable shooting from beyond the arc. Also, versatile forwards Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis have created defensive nightmares for their opponents this offseason. Both are tall and athletic, capable of either shooting the three over their opponent or driving to the rim. The Cavaliers struggled with these matchups, putting an athletically inferior Anderson Varejao on Rashard Lewis and a smaller guard on Hedo Turkoglu. Unfortunately for the Magic, the Lakers do not have matchup problems with Orlando's forwards. Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza are both long enough and athletic enough to cover Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, and a rotating center duo of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are capable of at least slowing down Dwight Howard. Which then leaves a major concern for the Magic: who is going to stop Kobe Bryant? Michael Pietrus and others tried to stop Lebron James, but no one seemed to be able to stop James in any game in the series. Orlando will be in serious trouble if Bryant starts putting up the numbers James just did.

Questions Surrounding The Series:
Can anybody on Orlando stop Kobe Bryant?
Can Los Angeles contain Dwight Howard and get out on Orlando's shooters?
Will Dwight Howard pick up two more technical fouls and be suspended for a game in the series?
Can Jameer Nelson return and have an impact on the series?

Prediction:
Despite Orlando's success in this postseason, they will run into a unique beast in Los Angeles. Orlando's forwards struggle and Kobe shines on the way to ring #4

Lakers in Six Games