June 5, 200917 yr Sorry, but aren't you the same guy that said outside of a LeBron injury, the Magic had no chance of beating Cleveland? Yeah...I was wrong. I've said as much. I'm just curious if you'll be willing to admit the same thing when the Lakers crush the Magic. If you do, I promise I won't bring it up every chance I get. :sssh:
June 5, 200917 yr Just for the record, I also said LA and Cleveland wouldn't have a series go longer than six games. Had it not been for the Lakers apathy against Houston, I'd have nailed that one.
June 5, 200917 yr If you do, I promise I won't bring it up every chance I get. :sssh: I would hope you would. If not, what would be the fun in that?
June 5, 200917 yr The Lakers probably won't win by 25, but they're better than Orlando and it's a good matchup for LA. Orlando's only shot in this series is to play their best and hope the Lakers return to sleep-mode. They just don't play the style necessary to beat LA. They can't beat them playing an open, spread out, finesse game. The Lakers talent level is better and they're just better in that type of game. If LA stays focused on the defensive end, they should win with relative ease. What kind of game did the magic play to win both games they played with the lakers in the regular season?
June 5, 200917 yr What kind of game did the magic play to win both games they played with the lakers in the regular season? Nelson was huge against them. He is a quick PG that is also strong as an ox. They just really can't play as well with him right now though.
June 6, 200917 yr What kind of game did the magic play to win both games they played with the lakers in the regular season? I don't know. But, whatever game they played was with a 100% Jameer Nelson. That's a big difference, IMO. Nelson at his best gives Orlando the ability to exploit one of LA's biggest weaknesses. Without him, there's nothing they can exploit. The advantage of having Dwight Howard is significantly less vs. LA than other teams because of their length and the quality of the players they can throw at him. LA is better or even at every position except center. Fisher and Alston, I'd call a push. Kobe Bryant is a huge plus over any Magic 2's. Ariza, Gasol and Odom are better than Hedo and Lewis. Howard is better than Gasol/Bynum, but it's nowhere near the advantage Orlando needs to offset the rest the matchups. That's just individual matchups. If you look at styles, Orlando isn't physical, which allows LA to play the comfortable, free-flowing style they thrive on. They're the best passing team in the league, with the best passing front-line, and nobody is better at playing offensive-oriented, finesse basketball than LA. And, additionally, when they get comfortable and get going offensively, the Lakers defense gets better. They play with more energy and focus and it allows them to be the defensive aggressor. Just like the matchups heavily favored Orlando against Cleveland, and it was too much for the Cavs to overcome, the same is true in this series. They don't have the players and/or the style to beat this Lakers team. Nelson's injury is a bigger factor now than it's ever been, IMO, because of who they're playing. He looked solid in Game One, but it's hard to integrate a guy like that back into the rotation in the NBA Finals after he's missed so much time and expect everything to go smooth and click right into place.
June 6, 200917 yr I don't know. But, whatever game they played was with a 100% Jameer Nelson. That's a big difference, IMO. Nelson at his best gives Orlando the ability to exploit one of LA's biggest weaknesses. Without him, there's nothing they can exploit. The advantage of having Dwight Howard is significantly less vs. LA than other teams because of their length and the quality of the players they can throw at him. LA is better or even at every position except center. Fisher and Alston, I'd call a push. Kobe Bryant is a huge plus over any Magic 2's. Ariza, Gasol and Odom are better than Hedo and Lewis. Howard is better than Gasol/Bynum, but it's nowhere near the advantage Orlando needs to offset the rest the matchups. That's just individual matchups. If you look at styles, Orlando isn't physical, which allows LA to play the comfortable, free-flowing style they thrive on. They're the best passing team in the league, with the best passing front-line, and nobody is better at playing offensive-oriented, finesse basketball than LA. And, additionally, when they get comfortable and get going offensively, the Lakers defense gets better. They play with more energy and focus and it allows them to be the defensive aggressor. Just like the matchups heavily favored Orlando against Cleveland, and it was too much for the Cavs to overcome, the same is true in this series. They don't have the players and/or the style to beat this Lakers team. Nelson's injury is a bigger factor now than it's ever been, IMO, because of who they're playing. He looked solid in Game One, but it's hard to integrate a guy like that back into the rotation in the NBA Finals after he's missed so much time and expect everything to go smooth and click right into place. I don't know Gasol I'd take over Lewis or Turkoglu, but I'd take Turkoglu or Lewis over either Odom or Ariza. Those two played bad the other night, but their not that bad. PG's are even but only because Nelson isn't ready to play. Kobe ofcourse is a huge advantage over Lee. If Pietrus can give more to the Magic than Odom can the Lakers off the bench I think they could have a shot. My advise to the Magic would be to play Alston instead of Nelson, and to go back to the offense that has got them to the finals. It may not be enough, but it is their best shot.
June 6, 200917 yr I don't know Gasol I'd take over Lewis or Turkoglu, but I'd take Turkoglu or Lewis over either Odom or Ariza. Those two played bad the other night, but their not that bad. PG's are even but only because Nelson isn't ready to play. Kobe ofcourse is a huge advantage over Lee. If Pietrus can give more to the Magic than Odom can the Lakers off the bench I think they could have a shot. My advise to the Magic would be to play Alston instead of Nelson, and to go back to the offense that has got them to the finals. It may not be enough, but it is their best shot. Gasol and Odom are both better than Lewis and Turkoglu. Ariza is better than Turkoglu. Ariza and Lewis don't matter because they won't be matched up.
June 7, 200917 yr Gasol and Odom are both better than Lewis and Turkoglu. Ariza is better than Turkoglu. Ariza and Lewis don't matter because they won't be matched up. Ariza over Turkoglu? Maybe in two years. Turkoglu was a huge reason that the Magic beat the Cavs. Ariza could not do what he does. Ariza is more athletic, but Hedu is at 6-10, able to create shots for himself and for teammates. I don't know if I would take Odom over Lewis either. Lewis probably shouldn't have been an all-star, but he is a very good player. Odom has talent but isn't consistent. IF the two duo's were traded for each other the Magic lose in the first round and the Lakers probably sweep all the way to the title. I think those claims are way off base. I would say that most of the NBA agrees. Let's not get too carried away over game 1. Magic shot poorly because the Lakers can defend them better, and the Lakers played as well as they have this entire post season. I'm sorry I just can't get over Ariza being better than Turkoglu. Ariza is a young athletic guy who has a nice stroke, but he's not a complete player. Turkoglu isn't a HOF type of player but he is a nice 2nd option for a team. He has height, a smooth stroke, and can make plays out of the pick and roll. It's not even close right now. Maybe if you were building a team you'd start with Ariza because he has alot of potential, but if you are comparing the two right now you'd have to go with Turkoglu. Ariza thrives right now because he plays with a great duo in Bryant and Gasol, Turkoglu makes his entire team go. Sure Howard is better and more valuable overall, but take Turk off the Magic they aren't going to be very good.
June 7, 200917 yr Ariza over Turkoglu? Maybe in two years. Turkoglu was a huge reason that the Magic beat the Cavs. Ariza could not do what he does. Ariza is more athletic, but Hedu is at 6-10, able to create shots for himself and for teammates. I don't know if I would take Odom over Lewis either. Lewis probably shouldn't have been an all-star, but he is a very good player. Odom has talent but isn't consistent. IF the two duo's were traded for each other the Magic lose in the first round and the Lakers probably sweep all the way to the title. I think those claims are way off base. I would say that most of the NBA agrees. Let's not get too carried away over game 1. Magic shot poorly because the Lakers can defend them better, and the Lakers played as well as they have this entire post season. I'm sorry I just can't get over Ariza being better than Turkoglu. Ariza is a young athletic guy who has a nice stroke, but he's not a complete player. Turkoglu isn't a HOF type of player but he is a nice 2nd option for a team. He has height, a smooth stroke, and can make plays out of the pick and roll. It's not even close right now. Maybe if you were building a team you'd start with Ariza because he has alot of potential, but if you are comparing the two right now you'd have to go with Turkoglu. Ariza thrives right now because he plays with a great duo in Bryant and Gasol, Turkoglu makes his entire team go. Sure Howard is better and more valuable overall, but take Turk off the Magic they aren't going to be very good. I would not trade you Ariza and Odom for Turk and Lewis for this Lakers team... no way.
June 7, 200917 yr IMO, Jackson may have more titles but Red is the better coach, both are just as great for being in the same sentence as the other. Same thing as saying MJ is better than Russell even though Russell almost doubles MJ's total titles. Kinda like a Russell is the better winner but Jordan is the Greatest individual player, again just mo. Kobe is the best player in the world hands down.......There are others close(Lebron or no Lebron) but as of right now (year 2009)Kobe is #1 over all.
June 7, 200917 yr I would not trade you Ariza and Odom for Turk and Lewis for this Lakers team... no way. I don't know if I would either but either Turk or Lewis would take some help defense away from Gasol and Bynum down low because they can flat stroke. Having one would help the offense end but hurt a tad on the defensive end because of the presence that Odom's and Ariza's length and athletic ability. I think in a Lakers vs Celtics Series I would take one of them to help match the Celtics 3 pt. threat.
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