Jun 09
4
Game 1 of the Finals preview
The NBA Finals start tonight (ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET), and the Cavilers are not in it. Superman and the Orlando Magic are in the 2009 NBA Finals. Disney Land v.s. Disney World.
After taking down the 76ers, the Celtics, and the Cavs, the Magic are ready for action. Coming in hot already, the Magic will have Jameer Nelson back for the game.
Center Dwight (Superman) Howard and the Orlando Magic will play the Los Angeles Lakers and guard Kobe Bryant for all the bragging rights.
There have been plenty of headlines. Jameer Nelson, who was said to have a “season ending” injury, is cleared for Game 1 tonight in L.A. (Los Angeles). Pietrus ditching his Kobe’s {shoes} for Jordan’s. And that Dwight Howard-Andrew Bynum matchup down low. So I think it will be a great series.
I wan’t the Magic to win Game 1, but they won’t. And that’s a problem. Under Phil Jackson, any team that he coach’s that win’s Game 1 has a undefeated record in that series (43-0).
And the unlikely matchup in the Finals of the Black Mamba (Kobe) and Superman (Dwight) actually stacks up well on paper. Kobe is averaging 26.8 points per game, while Dwight is averaging 20.6 points, but with 13.8 rebounds, in the 2009 NBA Playoffs.
Kobe said after Game 6 in Denver, that “we’re back to the place where we couldn’t finish our buisness last year, so hopefully we can {win the Finals} this year.” With either rookie guard Courtney Lee or slow Mickael Pietrus guarding Kobe, he should score a lot.
On the other hand, Center Andrew Bynum guarding Dwight will be a problem for L.A. But if Bynum and Forward Pau Gasol step up for the Lakers, they should win Game 1 by 10 or more. If they don’t, it will be a close game. But I think L.A. will prevail in the game, and then win the series in 7.
