Spring Break
End of a dream
Ben Bradea
Issue date: 6/1/09 Section: Sports
The chance to see the greatest one-on-one match-up in team sports history, Lebron vs. Kobe, has gone out the window. Many were looking forward to this match-up in June, but you have to give props where they're due. Orlando played a hell of a series against the Cavaliers and just had more talent in the end, which ultimately saw them through.
Dwight Howard has turned into what I pray and hope Greg Oden will turn into one day. Can you imagine a Howard-type presence in the Blazer's line-up? It really would not be fair. It's OK Oden, we still believe and are crossing our fingers.
Dwight Howard has carried his Magic team to heights I don't think anyone would have expected. They disposed of the reigning NBA champs and the team with the best regular season record in back-to-back series. Unfortunately for the Magic, they will now have to face the favored Los Angeles Lakers and my pick for the series. While the luster has worn off of the upcoming finals, they still should be good ones filled with a lot of great basketball.
On the surface it looks like Orlando is the hotter and better team coming into the Finals, but that might not totally be the case. They had favorable match-ups against the Celtics and the Cavaliers that they identified and were able to exploit.
Rashard Lewis was defended during most of the series by Anderson Varejao. This was a definite mismatch in the series, and I think the Cavs received extreme damage.
Another area where they dominated was Howard on the veteran Cavalier big men. They just could not match the 22-year-old's athleticism, and Howard carved them up in every single game in the series.
That being said, they now must face the Lakers, who have some answers to the match-up advantages that the Magic pose.
The Howard-Bynum match-up is one that will certainly tilt the series one way or the other. The Lakers hope Bynum, who they didn't have in the finals last year, can stay out of foul trouble and at least contain Howard.
Another key match-up will be Gasol/Odom and Lewis. I personally don't think Gasol can stay with Lewis, but I think he will do a better job than Varejao did. The key is Lamar Odom, who definitely has the ability to lock-down Lewis. It will be interesting to see how many minutes Phil Jackson will play Odom, because I believe he will be the key for the Lakers.
The x-factor for the series will be Derek Fisher, who has laid an egg this postseason. He coincidentally had his best game of the year, with 27 points, against the Magic when they were constantly doubling on Kobe. In the end, the best player in the world is still Kobe Bryant, and I think he will be able to close out the Magic in close games. Prediction: Lakers in six.
Ben Bradea, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
Dwight Howard has turned into what I pray and hope Greg Oden will turn into one day. Can you imagine a Howard-type presence in the Blazer's line-up? It really would not be fair. It's OK Oden, we still believe and are crossing our fingers.
Dwight Howard has carried his Magic team to heights I don't think anyone would have expected. They disposed of the reigning NBA champs and the team with the best regular season record in back-to-back series. Unfortunately for the Magic, they will now have to face the favored Los Angeles Lakers and my pick for the series. While the luster has worn off of the upcoming finals, they still should be good ones filled with a lot of great basketball.
On the surface it looks like Orlando is the hotter and better team coming into the Finals, but that might not totally be the case. They had favorable match-ups against the Celtics and the Cavaliers that they identified and were able to exploit.
Rashard Lewis was defended during most of the series by Anderson Varejao. This was a definite mismatch in the series, and I think the Cavs received extreme damage.
Another area where they dominated was Howard on the veteran Cavalier big men. They just could not match the 22-year-old's athleticism, and Howard carved them up in every single game in the series.
That being said, they now must face the Lakers, who have some answers to the match-up advantages that the Magic pose.
The Howard-Bynum match-up is one that will certainly tilt the series one way or the other. The Lakers hope Bynum, who they didn't have in the finals last year, can stay out of foul trouble and at least contain Howard.
Another key match-up will be Gasol/Odom and Lewis. I personally don't think Gasol can stay with Lewis, but I think he will do a better job than Varejao did. The key is Lamar Odom, who definitely has the ability to lock-down Lewis. It will be interesting to see how many minutes Phil Jackson will play Odom, because I believe he will be the key for the Lakers.
The x-factor for the series will be Derek Fisher, who has laid an egg this postseason. He coincidentally had his best game of the year, with 27 points, against the Magic when they were constantly doubling on Kobe. In the end, the best player in the world is still Kobe Bryant, and I think he will be able to close out the Magic in close games. Prediction: Lakers in six.
Ben Bradea, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
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