NBA FINALS! Pick The Winner!

[DieHardFromMO]

nelson shooting the ball less means more shots for Turkoglu, Lewis, and Howard. It's not like their offense is nothing without Nelson. They have more than enough firepower to win.

I think the Lakers will actually defend the 3-ball's that the Magic throw up unlike the Cavs. I swear the Cavs never had a hand in anybodys face shooting a 3-ball. Howard will get his points and boards regardless unless the refs have another plan in mind.

 

[AsUdUdE]

A) He won't be.

B) Even if he could, he'd be a hindrance, not a help.

ok.. I realize this is the Laker fan coming out in you but.....

A.) They won't start him and play him 40 minutes, he would come off the bench, and provide a spark with the second unit, playing 10-15 minutes MAX... If he proves a hinderance he just won't play and therefore no harm no foul, and if he provides leadership and a spark he could very well be that X factor the Magic need to beat LA

B.) What are your sources that have you claiming he won't be ready as fact... just curious...

If you ask me I think you may not believe your second statement and you guys a scared of a Nelson return...

 

[TJ]

LMAO! Houston and Denver are both more physical than Orlando.

Why are you laughing? You know I'm right. Houston was missing some key players that would have made them more physical. Instead, they were relegated to playing small ball after they lost Yao. If your claim that Denver is a physical team is correct, then they would easily be the best team in the league with their offensive stats. Neither had the Defensive Player of the Year on their team. Howard can be a one man wrecking crew underneath the basket, vacuuming up rebounds, blocking shots, and making Gasol and Bynum look like bench warmers.

You're perceiving this series as a cake walk. Same mistake that Boston and Cleveland made. Remember that they swept LA this season. They also won the Cleveland regular season series 3-1 convincingly and we saw how bad they humiliated them in the playoffs.

 

[TJ]

A) He won't be.

B) Even if he could, he'd be a hindrance, not a help.

I agree with this. Nelson's return may screw up the positive chemistry this team has created to make a finals run.

Although, if he is healthy and ready to go, I'd rather have a 75% Nelson suited up than a 100% Tyronne Lue

 

[D-Dogg]

ok.. I realize this is the Laker fan coming out in you but.....

A.) They won't start him and play him 40 minutes, he would come off the bench, and provide a spark with the second unit, playing 10-15 minutes MAX... If he proves a hinderance he just won't play and therefore no harm no foul, and if he provides leadership and a spark he could very well be that X factor the Magic need to beat LA

B.) What are your sources that have you claiming he won't be ready as fact... just curious...

If you ask me I think you may not believe your second statement and you guys a scared of a Nelson return...

He won't be because they've said it a hundred times, that he probably won't even be ready for preseason. They are sending him for a new MRI, but it's the longest of long shots.

He will be a hindrance because he hasn't played forever, will be incredibly rusty, and hurts their solid chemistry and rotation trying to force a guy in there. I'm all for it.

I'd be scared of a 100% healthy and in-game-shape/rythm Nelson. A gimpy one? Not so much.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Lakers in 6.

Magic will get 1 of the 2 in LA, the Lakers will get 2 of 3 in Orlando, then finish them off back in LA. Bynum will match up against Howard to start, but will rotate frequently with Gasol. Bynum usually gets in foul trouble early, but he will be able to somewhat contain Howard. Nobody on the Magic can stop Kobe, and Arriza will D up Turkoglu, who won't be able to do much against Arriza. The Lakers will go at Howard early and often, force him into foul trouble, and the Magic will rely purely on 3 point shooting, which will be their ultimiate demise. I would love to see the Magic win, but i just don't see it happening, especially with the Lakers having homecourt.

 

[Bufalay]

The key match-up of the series is obviously going to be Morrison vs. Reddick.

 

[Southpaw]

Howard will dominate Gasol, Gasol isnt athletic enough or strong enough.

The Lakers dont have anyone that can match up or guard Lewis.

Magic match up better than a lot of people think they do.

Who matches up with Hedo? I think Lewis is the wild card. It seems like the Lakers are the favorite in the series, but I see huge matchup problems for the Lakers. I assume Odom will try to stay with Lewis, but does Bryant draw Hedo? Gasol and Bynum tag teaming Howard. Pietrus should get many minutes on Byant.

If Magic opens with Hedo, Lewis , Howard, Lee/Alston, ????, how does Jackson match them up?

Even without Jameer Nelson, I like Magic's backcourt better. Depth and quality. Bryant will do his thing and Gasol might get Howard into some early foul trouble. Where do the Laker's get their 3rd scoring option? It has to come from Odom and he looks tired.

Magic has 3 big scorers and a couple who bang in some bonus points. Lakers have homecourt and coaching advantage. Magic has depth and young legs. I seriously expect Kobe to go off for 30- 40 every game, but so did LeBron.

This series could go 6 or 7. I am taking Magic, but am not convinced.

 

[AsUdUdE]

He's BAAAAAAAAAAACK..

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4224810

To be clear I do not think Nelson will be back to form that he was.. but playing 10-15 minutes a game running the 2nd unit, will only help the Magic..

IF Stan Van Gundy is stupid enough to play him significant minutes with the 1st unit, it will be a disaster... but as a leader off the bench he will be effective...

 

[PDXChris]

Magic in 3. Yes, I said 3. Kobe will quit on his team after getting blown out in the first 3 games and no one will even bother with game 4.

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[Skumbag]

Go Magic! ...in 6

 

[IAWarnerFan]

Magic in 3. Yes, I said 3. Kobe will quit on his team after getting blown out in the first 3 games and no one will even bother with game 4.

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Kobe Bryant to the Bulls?

 

[D-Dogg]

He's BAAAAAAAAAAACK..

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4224810

To be clear I do not think Nelson will be back to form that he was.. but playing 10-15 minutes a game running the 2nd unit, will only help the Magic..

IF Stan Van Gundy is stupid enough to play him significant minutes with the 1st unit, it will be a disaster... but as a leader off the bench he will be effective...

He said yesterday it would take a miracle. This also doesn't say he's going to play.

To me, this is nothing more than mind games. My bet is Nelson doesn't play a minute in this series.

Even if he does, he's not a major concern. Half Nelson isn't frightening...Full Nelson is.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

He said yesterday it would take a miracle. This also doesn't say he's going to play.

To me, this is nothing more than mind games. My bet is Nelson doesn't play a minute in this series.

Even if he does, he's not a major concern. Half Nelson isn't frightening...Full Nelson is.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

My bet is Nelson doesn't play a minute in this series.

Crap.

With the way your predictions have been lately, Nelson's gonna play all game, every game.

 

[D-Dogg]

Crap.

With the way your predictions have been lately, Nelson's gonna play all game, every game.

Where is the flip-off smiley?



I only missed a couple. I called the Denver series in 6. Called the game 4 loss to Houston. Only missed in not knowing Yao would go ow and that the Lakers wouldn't show up for that whole series.

I also sent Klod's Laker hate home packing for the playoffs by winning our little wager. Overall, I'm on a roll baby!

 

[D-Dogg]

BIM, you better hope the prediction I'm wrong about is the one where the Magic beat LA.

 

[Renz]

Just like the Lakers almost got dispatched by a bombed and depleted Rockets team? Please.

Nuggets are like marshmallows compared to the Magic. Lakers have no one that can defend Howard and only one person in Ariza that can guard the perimeter consistently. You think the Cavs cowered against the Magic? You aint seen nothin' yet!

Still think Orlando is gonna push the Lakers around?

LA outscored Orlando 56-22 in the paint and outrebounded them 55-41.

 

[D-Dogg]

Eh, it's one game yet. Orlando will get used to the Finals glare and come back with a better effort in Game 2.

We are kick ass in the Sunday whites though. ;P

 

[IAWarnerFan]

Eh, it's one game yet. Orlando will get used to the Finals glare and come back with a better effort in Game 2.

We are kick ass in the Sunday whites though. ;P

So maybe the keep Game 2's deficit under 12?

 

[Renz]

Eh, it's one game yet. Orlando will get used to the Finals glare and come back with a better effort in Game 2.

We are kick ass in the Sunday whites though. ;P

I thought all the pressure was on the Lakers and Orlando was just gonna 'have fun'? That's what I kept hearing from the pundits.

 

[arvestal]

lakers in 5

 

[PDXChris]

lakers in 5

Way to chime in a game into the series. I will give my pick of who wins next week.

 

[Mulli]

Way to chime in a game into the series. I will give my pick of who wins next week.

Arvestal just joined today.

 

[PDXChris]

Arvestal just joined today.

And with the way he is posting today, he is just trying to get enough posts to post a link and spam us.