NBA 2009 Finals: Lakers vs Magic

After the long wait, the NBA Finals 2009 is here. Los Angeles Lakers vs Orlando Magic. Shooting Guard Kobe Bryant against Center Dwight Howard.

If you'll remember, the two were teammates last year in the Olympics where they helped US Team win the gold medal. Starting tonight however, they will go against each other for the biggest price of their NBA career: the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

This season, the Orlando Magic has swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the regular season -- both games, Magic All-Star Point-guard Jameer Nelson displayed dominance; but he is injured and will only play portions of the Finals. The Lakers didn't have a match-up against him as Lakers guard Shannon Brown - traded from Charlotte Bobcats and showed flashes of brilliance throughout the season - wasn't playing earlier for the Lakers this year.

Of course I am rooting for the Lakers. But the Orlando Magic is no joke of a team. They came through a hard-fought playoffs series and they were pretty confident after beating the Cavaliers in the the Easter Conference Finals.

The Lakers however, are more experienced and hungrier after the stinker performance in the Finals last year against the Celtics. They want to prove something, especially Kobe Bryant, who's been hounded by foolish criticisms that he can't win without Shaq.

Lakers in 6.

Lakers Reach Western Conference Finals

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are back to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year.

After routing their 2nd round playoff opponent Houston Rockets in their 7th and last game of the series at Lakers homecourt, the Lakers will face a well-rested Denver Nuggets - a team who vanquished the Mavericks in just 5 games.

The Lakers are now half-way to the championship trophy. If they beat the Nuggets, they will face the winner of the Easter Conference Finals match between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic.

The Lakers I believe will have a tough round against Denver, which is the hottest team right now in the West after landing 2nd in the regular season behind the Lakers. Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony should be fun to watch. The team whose bench players show up will win the game, and probably the series.

So good luck Lakers! And go get the ring!

The Lakers Beat Celtics and Cavaliers!

What an amazing week for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers! They beat two powerhouse teams from the Eastern Conference: The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Against the Celtics, the Lakers showed they can be physical as hell. They didn't fold when Boston Celtics pushed them off. Instead, they fought back and pushed. That's passion, muscle and intensity -- characteristics that were lacking from them last year when the leprechauns beat them badly in the Finals.

Against the Cavaliers, the Lakers showed they can play defense as well. Led by Lebron, the Cavs had been undefeated prior to Lakers match. The Lakers - number one in offense in the league - came with a game plan: pack the lane and don't give LeBron a room to shoot. It worked wonders. And since Lebron is a poor shooter, all he can do was to pass to a teammate or watch his contested shot miss. Oh, in this game, Kobe showed why he's the MVP: he played even with flu, played solid ball denial on Lebron early on, and took a decent FG attempt. If that's not an MVP, I don't know what is.

In conclusion, this road trip is a huge statement game by the Lakers not only to themselves, but also to the entire league. Even without a major player in Andrew Bynum, the Lakers showed everyone why they can win the championship this year.

Lakers Absorb 2nd Loss

The Lakers and the Pacers. At first glance, it's laughable to think that this is going to be a game. It should be a blowout by the mighty Lakers.

But no. They lost, and it hurt. A body boxing out could've won them the game.

The Lakers were trailing by 1, 115-116 when Kobe took over. He hit a jumper, putting his team ahead 117-116 with less than a minute to go. But their defense on the last Pacers possession was embarrassing: they allowed Danny Granger to slash to the basket making the Lakers collapse on him. It allowed Troy Murphy to get the rebound when Granger missed the layup, and Murphy was lucky to tip the ball in as the buzzer sounded.

There was no passion for the Lakers in this game. They were over-confident, and had no sense of urgency. They were out-hustled and out-rebounded - which should not happen as they have two 7-footers and another tall one in Lamar Odom.

Result? A humiliating loss to a weaker team. The Lakers beat themselves.

Lakers Win Their First Back-To-Back Games!

One word to describe this Laker Team: badass!

Last October 28 was the their first game against a young and up and coming Portland Trail Blazers. There was so much hype before this game because it is the "debut" game of a young 1st round draft pick Greg Oden, who was matched-up against the Lakers' Andrew Bynum.

The match-up was a disappointment. Anyway, the Lakers were great defensively. They employed a different version of zone where players switch when necessary. Result: Total domination, as they beat the Blazers, 96-76. Kobe once again, piloted his team to a convincing win.

The night after, they faced the Clippers on the "road", which is also at the Staples. At first, the Clips were able to stay with the Lakers, but the Lakers proved to be to deep. Seven players scored in double-digit! Result: 38-point win for the Lakers.

In both occasions, Lakers opponents were held under 80 points. And Bynum was quoted that he wants to break the record for the longest streak of holding opponents under 8 (Record is 6, by the Detroit 2004)

Am I impressed with this Lakers? Of course I am. But I am also having reservations until they face tough teams like the Spurs, Celtics, and the Hornets.

NBA Pre-Season Begins

The NBA Pre-Season begins. The first televised game I am watching right now is the game between my favorite team Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz.

What makes this exciting is the return of Andrew Bynum from a knee injury that kept him of most the season last year. Reports say that he's 100% and feeling good ready to display his summer hard-work.

Of course, I am excited to see my favorite player Kobe Bryant. But this being a preseason game, I am not expecting him to play extended minutes.

Another interesting thing about this is the chemistry among the three big names of the Lakers: Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum. How easy will they jel? How fast will they adjust with each others game?

I can't tell right now, despite them playing good first quarter (although they've had numerous turnovers! That's what you get in the first game of the preseason).

Go Lakers!

[UPDATE]

The Lakers just lost, but it's okay. It's only a preseason game.