NBA Finals what will be the matchup?

[qualified101]

d&c, i told my wife that last night. im not really a fan of the celtics per se, but if garnett were healthy, they would have ruled this year.

lebron was a beast again last night but you cant expect that for the next two games.

[dazed&confused]

Beat LA!!! Beat LA!!! Beat LA!!! Beat LA!!! Beat LA!!! Beat LA!!! (whoever ends up playing them)

[qualified101]

my thoughts exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dazed&confused]

The only way I'm going to watch any of the finals is if the Magic show up like they did against the Cavaliers and Celtics. They need to hit the outside shot. If the Lakers pull out in front, it's time to start paying attention to football camps.

[theassassin]

LA LAKERS: 2009 NBA CHAMPIONS

[qualified101]

depends on which magic team shows up. if the magic team that played cleveland shows up, then i think they have a shot. they live and die by the 3 so we'll see what happens. rumors of jameer nelson might make it back. i doubt they would play him even if he was cleared. probably a long way from basketball shape. the magic present the lakers with the same matchup problems as cleveland. magic took both regular season games.

[3morethan2]

magic in 6 dwight howard is too dominant and he has the perfect supporting cast there with him
while kobe's supporting cast is too inconsistent one game they'll play good and the next they wont

[qualified101]

^^^^^^^^i hope you're right!

[WitnessProtection]

Flip a coin!
Neither one of these teams is the picture of consistency.
It should be a fun series to watch, though!
If Jameer Nelson is good to go, I think the Magic will win.

[qualified101]

it sounds like he very well could play. espn radio reported today that he is likely to play good minutes. thats all they could say at this point.

wp, you're right about flipping a coin. anyone know the odds?

[WitnessProtection]

Lakers -6 for Game 1.

[WitnessProtection]

From what I've read this afternoon, all the major books have the Lakers favored to win the series.
Range from -270 to -290 Lakers.

[qualified101]

wouldnt be a bad bet getting the magic and 5 points because i think they will be close games.

[WitnessProtection]

Yeah, and since the Lakers will be favored at home every time, if the Magic can grab a couple of road wins, some big money could flow to somebody.

[CANNIBAL]

can kobe win a title without shaq??
so far he has lost two.
spurs in 04
and celtics last year.

[qualified101]

i hope not.

[WitnessProtection]

Kobe will be Kobe (I know, bad cliche).
It's up to Gasol, Bynum & Odum to slow down Dwight Howard. I don't think they can stop him, but they will need to take some fouls to keep him from getting easy baskets. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Zen Master employ the dreaded "Hack-A-Shaq" D at times on Howard. Dwight's only a 59% FT shooter.
Guards and scoring forwards get all the hype in the NBA, but you still need a decent big or big combo to win the title.

Not an exhaustive list ... but a few names that come to mind:
- Boston: KG, The Chief, Bill Russell, McHale
- San Antonio: Duncan & Robinson
- Detroit: Rick Mahorn, John Salley, Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Big Ben, Rasheed
- Miami: Shaq
- Lakers: Shaq, Kareem, Mychal Thompson, Rambis, Bob McAdoo
- Bulls: Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright, Luc Longley, Bill Wennington, Scott Williams, Rodman, Will Perdue, James Edwards, Stacey King
- Houston: Hakeem
- 76ers: Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, Chocolate Thunder
- Portland: Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas
- Bullets: Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld

[qualified101]

great list. dont forget otis thorpe for houston. hes the guy with the beetlejuice head.

[WitnessProtection]

Thorpe. Yes! Good call.
Here's more:
- Sonics: Jack Sikma, Paul Silas

[qualified101]

well, game 1 of the finals was great for laker fans and unwatchable for magic fans. if the game last night is any indication of the intensity were going to see from the magic, pack it up and go home! this is the finals. you dont get points just to be there.

anybody think jameer nelson is going to contribute anything substantial to the series or is he just window dressing right now?