Lakers Take Home #15

When we started this playoff journey, everyone argue mercifully whether it would be the Los Angeles Lakers or the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs ended up folding more than origami in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Lakers seemed like a team who wanted to turn it on every once in awhile during the first two playoff series. Then when game five rolled around against the Denver Nuggets, it seemed like the Lakers were destined to win this NBA Finals.

We are devoting another article to Kobe Bryant so we will not mention much on Bryant in this one although his performance was awesome. The one thing that everyone said needed to happen was the presence of Lamar Odom. He played great starting with that pivotal game five I mentioned already. He was doing everything for the Lakers with strong offensive rebounds and creates mismatches for every team. The Magic looked absolutely lost trying to guard Odom.

The other guy that deserves a ton of credit, Trevor Ariza. To think that the Magic traded Ariza for Brian Cook and Maurice Evans. It seems like he is going to be a player that is ready to take off only being twenty-three years old who can play defense better than most players in the NBA. In addition, he can shoot the three and take it to rim which is something that not all can do.

Now the big question is who do the Lakers resign with both Ariza and Odom being free agents... Some people feel that Kobe will opt-out of his contract to take lesser money therefore Ariza and Odom can both sign for the money that they deserve. If they had to go with one player it should be Ariza because he only twenty-three years old ready to have a blow up season. Even though Odom is only twenty-nine years old, he will probably want six years leading to by the last year of his deal Odom is the ripe age of thirty-five. I think its a complete no-brainer but if they have the opportunity to keep both, they should.

On to America's heart breakers Orlando Magic, I think that we all agree that a sweet combination of Stan Van Gundy and Dwight Howard's inability to play offense that cost the Magic getting at least two games. SVG got off to a horrible start by destroying chemistry by deciding to play Jameer Nelson and sending Rafer Alston in a complete tailspin for the rest of the series possibly next year figuring how much of a headcase Alston is. Also playing JJ Redick twenty-seven minutes and only play Courtney Lee twelve minutes makes no sense at all when Redick has been lost the entire NBA Playoffs.

Now on to Superman, Howard proved to the world why he still isnt there on the offense end all throughout the series. Andrew Bynum/Pau Gasol babied Howard throughout these Finals. This was proven by Howard utter frustration by having five plus turnovers during most of the Finals. He needs a jump-hook or a turn-around jumper something that will make a difference on the offense end. My buddy Seth feels that Patrick Ewing as a coach for the Magic will help out Howard although I am starting wonder if Ewing is that good of a coach. It has proven many times that a great player doesnt make a good coach.

The final word congratulations to Phil Jackson who won his 10th title where yes he has had great players but still he created one of the best offense creations in the triangle. Congrats Phil.

-Charlie.