It’s Orlando’s year
I have finally gotten over my disappointment in the Cavaliers lost to Orlando. It took a few days, but it is time for me to eat a little crow. Yes, I picked the Cavaliers to win it all this year. I can’t believe I did not see through the fog. Why did I believe the Cavaliers would finally win a championship? Well, they did win 66 games and they only lost two games at home?. I really got pulled in when they swept Detroit and Atlanta. On second thought, I had every conceivable right to believe in my prediction.
That is until Orlando came along and smacked them upside the head. I was so enamored with the King James locomotive that I ignored what the Magic was doing to get rid of a stubborn Philadelphia team and then go into Boston Garden and defeat the Celtics in a Game 7.
The Magic put on a devastating show with ball movement and stellar shooting. Their ability to make big shots from long range and feed Dwight Howard, the most dominant interior performer during these playoffs, has me wondering if this journey can continue against the deep Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers, unlike Cleveland, struggled at times in the early rounds and I surmise that is why they are still around. I for one believe adversity in the early rounds bring focus and desperation, which when you are as talented as the Lakers becomes a good thing.
The Rockets and the Nuggets were definitely capable of beating the Lakers, but injuries to Yao Ming and mental meltdowns by Denver allowed the Lakers to seize the opportunity like a shark.
Now we are here. This is what we have waited for, well halfway at least… But let me tell you something you might already know: This will be a great series and I am sure most of the fans who watched the Magic win the East might tend to agree that the right team will face the Lakers in the 2009 NBA Finals.
The Lakers and the Magic are extremely versatile and can summon some good players off the bench, but five things must happen for either team to win this series.
KEYS FOR THE LAKERS
Keep Dwight Howard in foul trouble
The Lakers understand that Howard will challenge any foray to the basket. They have the master at that in Kobe Bryant. Watch Bryant, Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza go at the body of Howard early in games to force the officials to make a call.
Defend Howard in single coverage with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol
If the Lakers pull this off and Howard does not go for 30 and get every player in a Lakers jersey in foul trouble, L.A. will win this series in quick fashion. The Magic either need the Lakers to double to free up shooters or Howard has huge games to offset the lack of consistent three-point opportunities.
Have great offensive efficiency and wear down the Magic’s defense
The Lakers spread the ball around and so the Magic are hoping the Lakers force-feed Kobe so they can load up defensively. If the Lakers stay away from just relying on Kobe and use their great ball cuts and screens within the triangle offense, it will be difficult for Orlando to defend consistently.
Hope Kobe will seize the opportunity he missed last year
How many more times can Kobe get to the Finals and not get that elusive championship without Shaquille O’Neal? He will be focused and relentless and if the Magic fail to control him, especially in the fourth quarter, just forget about it.
Dominate the sidelines with Phil Jackson
Stan Van Gundy was huge with his coaching decisions during the Cavaliers series. Recognizing Ben Wallace was guarding Rashard Lewis was huge in Game 4 and basically won the series, but he better come with everything in this series against Jackson and that veteran coaching staff. Jackson is just as hungry as Kobe. This could be his 10th championship and it will if Van Gundy falls prey to his mental messages during this series.
KEYS FOR THE MAGIC
Force the Lakers to double-team Howard
This will be the big question all series long. Can Dwight Howard dominate consistently if the Lakers elect to stay at home on the Magic shooters? If the Lakers are forced to double they will be in serious trouble if the Magic shoot the ball like they did in the Cavalier series.
Keep Andrew Bynum on the bench
Rashard Lewis will be the key because Pau Gasol has no choice but to guard him. This will be the focal point early in most games running Gasol off screens and involving him in pick-and-pop plays. If he can’t guard Lewis, then he will be forced to defend Howard and keep Bynum on the bench, thus unleashing a possible double-team and freeing up the Magic three-point shooters.
Mickael Pietrus and Courtney Lee defend Kobe and still are offensively productive
This is what Van Gundy is praying for. He knows they will exert great effort on defense, but he also needs them to score consistently to have a chance to win this series. If both players can stay within 15 total points of Kobe combined, this series will become very interesting.
Jameer Nelson adds to a confident backcourt
This is a long shot, but we can’t ignore it. Nelson had tremendous success against the Lakers this season so although tired and not in game shape, he will be extremely confident and just him dressing and sitting on the bench could be a huge psychological boost for the Magic.
Maintain confidence they have had in the last few rounds
The Magic are soaring and have a swagger that is rightly deserved. Confidence can carry a team in games where they don’t play particularly well. The Magic are that team. They have beaten the defending champion and the team with the best record.
PREDICTION:
My prediction is Orlando in six. I have gone against them in every round. I will not do it again. I believe they are playing the best basketball of the two teams and if Dwight Howard continues to dominate and stay out of foul trouble, I don’t see the Lakers having enough to withstand his dominance in the paint.
boule Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 7:59 am
Nice work on this one eddie.
I pick LA though, because I see them matching up Turkoglu and Lewis as well as any team in the league with Ariza and Odom. This allows Kobe to “relax” a little on the shooters which could be the decisive factor in this series. If they play Pau at PF he’s obviously a step slower than Lewis but gives him a headache on the other end as well. Plus, it could be worse for LA, Pau is not the slowest on his feet and definitely has length on close-outs.
Should Bynum play well for some reason it might not even become a close series. The same can be said about Kobe’s ability to attack the basket. If he gets through, it will be really hard for Orlando to win any games. The problem for Orlando is that Kobe usually gets through defenses at will, I hardly see Orlando having similar success as Boston last year.
coachM Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 8:00 am
You analyse it best:
No way the Lakers have to constant double down on Howard and that is the key.
Cavs had noone to guard Howard and had no bench to work him.
Lakers do. They play him up straight with Gasol, Bynum, Powe and MBenga and stay home on the shooters.
Howard may go for 30 but who cares… Keep those Lewis and Turkoglu Tandem from getting open shots and the Lakers are fine.
Kobe on the other hand is unstoppable !!! all this experience will come back to count for them !
Easy win for hte Lakers: I see a sweep
José Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 8:07 am
Orlando in six??? do you want to to become an assistance coach or annoucer in florida??
Cavs to win it all? Did you fail to see that the rest of the teams is either old, or limited?
gnat Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 8:21 am
gutsy call Eddie with everyone taking the Lakers. I agree - it’s all about D-12. If he can punish the Lakers in single coverage, they will have big problems. To me, the Lakers have not been getting good enough play from Odom or Bynum or their bench, whereas the Magic bench have been solid and they have 3 reliable scorers vs the Lakers’ two. Should be interesting…
Casey Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 8:25 am
Eddie remember last year all the espn crew but one picked LA. The same this year all of them picked LA but one. They will be eating crow! A big man wins the title look in the last 10 years. Duncan 4 times, Shaq 4 times, Garnett 1 time, Wallace Brothers 1 time, and now the best defender in the NBA none other than Superman!!!!! But let the Lakers lovers continue to think that their team is unstopable. They thought they would beat Boston. The black Mamba will be a rattelsnake but not as deadly as a black Mamba.
Warwick Janetzki Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 9:05 am
I disagree with you Eddie.
I think the Lakers are too strong, too deep. For your plan to work it all hinges on Dwight Howard ensuring the double-team all series long. Now, I dont believe Phil Jackson is silly enough to play that way.
I just dont believe if the Lakers lockdown on Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu and restrict them to 30 points or under combined that the Magic have any shot. They simply do not have enough scoring in this series.
Single coverage on Dwight Howard, make him work his ass off down the other end on Gasol, Odom and Bynum and the Lakers will walk away NBA Champs in six games, which could have been five but they’ll win it at the Staples Center.
truthspeaks01 Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 9:36 am
i love all these laker fans thinking they are going to have a cake walk to the ring. i remember seeing this over confidence before last year. just know orlando is playing with house money so we have no fear. what will you guys do if you lose? AGAIN? this will be fun to watch.
javaman Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 9:52 am
Let Howard get his 50, but stay with Orlando’s shooters. Outside of Jameer and Hedo, the Magic are predominantly spot up shooters. They make their shots on doule downs and kick outs. Anytime they have to put the ball on the floor, their shooting accuracy suffers. Very much like Sasha Vujacic. Lamar have the ABILITY to keep up with Lewis and Ariza is agile enough to frustrate Turkoglu whenever he forays into the paint. Pietrus will have his hands full with Bryant. He was relatively successful on defending Le bron because of the latters lack of lowpost action. Cleveland in the end became a jumpshooting team. Is Lee better than J.R. Smith? Is Gortat better than THE BIRDMAN?
magic-yaaah Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 10:26 am
Orlando in Six
=]
chanman Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 10:34 am
Casey, big man wins championships…but when howard plays against 2 7 footers i dont think he can single handly open up the game for every one else. the lakers will play him single coverage and the length of the lakers will bother dwight. when the cavs played him they doubled him with Big Z and varejao…but if u take odom and pau he’ll have more trouble passing out of that double, but the lakers will only double if howard gets hot. on the other hand, u say big men win titles, what if parker and ginobili didnt give the spurs the 40-45 pts per in those series? what if kobe didnt average 27 in those playoffs with a dominant shaq? and dont even talk about garnett, the guy is great but u cant give hiim all the cred when ray allen and paul pierce are in the game with him. The only reason boston won last year was because the lakers were young and lacked size, only legit big man in the middle we had was gasol and thats it!! even if bynum dont score offensively he will still be a defensive presence which they lacked last yr and i think the lakers will take this in 6 at most
Suede Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 10:49 am
Man Eddie Johnson is a LA hater. I don’t see the Orlando Magic beating this LA Laker team this year. Now if the Lakers would have lost to the Nuggets in game 6 then maybe Orlando has a chance. Kobe saw plenty of M.Pietrus in the west and we match better with this team then people think. I don’t mind people picking Orlando but obviously Eddie over here has been a constant hater of teams on the West.
aldkjaksfajf Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 11:04 am
To Casey
“A big man wins the title look in the last 10 years. Duncan 4 times, Shaq 4 times, Garnett 1 time, Wallace Brothers 1 time”
you can make the same argument, a good SG wins one
Kobe won 3, Ginobili won 3, Dwayne Wade won 1, Ray Allen won 1, Rip won 1.
a big man will definitely help a lot, but not without a proven sidekick.
wendy Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 11:05 am
I like NBA and i like Kobe and wade . and i like their jerseys from wwwtakejerseys.com are of high quality and reasonable price
Walt Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 11:13 am
Whatever team gets to play their game will win the series. The Magic are like the Suns of a few years ago with a better defender in the middle. So long as the Lakers use matchups in their favor (ex: Gasol posting up Lewis), then they should win. If the Lakers force the Magic to play a more traditional lineup with a PF anad a C (not a SF at the PF slot) or get Howard in foul trouble (which is very possible considering Kobe and Gasol), then it could get ugly for the Magic.
Dan Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 11:13 am
Lakers need to start Gasol, Odom and Ariza and rotate Bynum in off the bench. Starting Odom will allow the Lakers to match the length and speed of Lewis and Turkelou.
The difference in this series will be the benches. If the Lakers bench finds their regular season form, they can win. Still, I see Orlando taking the series.
Trevin James Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 11:15 am
WOW!!! Eddie I will admit you are one of my favorite players of all-time but I don’t understand your prediction. You think LA will only win 2 games??? You picked the Cavs to go all the way all the while ignoring the fact that they hadn’t played anyone in the playoffs. I picked Orlando in 6 over Cleveland because I didn’t think anyone on Cleveland (beside Lebron) could get their own shot and because they hadn’t play a good team all playoffs until Orlando. For the first time all playoffs LA put up back-to-back games (5 & 6) of their full potential on display against a good Nuggets team. No way do they go back to playing the soft inconsistant way they had been playing before. Not enough to lose 4 games to Orlando. We match-up well against Orlando. No longer will Hedo be shooting uncontested(might as well been uncontested with Delonte West guarding him) three in this series. Ariza or Odom will make it hard to get those easy shots. I’m not overly convinced with Howard’s game either. I think he will struggle against LA more. Those weak interior defenders he played in the last 3 rounds didn’t scare anyone. LA has a little better defenders against his limited offensive game (Mr. Back You Down And Dunk and Occassional Jump-Hook)!! Orlando lives and dies by that 3 and this is the series were it comes to bite them in the butt because they won’t be as open as they have in the past. Jameer might help but I think he hurt continuity more than anything with Rafer. My prediction is LA in 5 and don’t be suprised if there is a sweep!!! Kobe will not let his guys lose!
Andrew Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 11:16 am
Oh, Eddie. You’ve outdone yourself. For the Magic to win in six they will have to win to games in Los Angeles. I don’t see that happening.
Things you should know:
1) Since the acquisition of Pau Gasol the Lakers have never lost three games in a row.
2) Only two teams have ever won the middle three at home in the 2-3-2 format.
3) No road team has ever won Games 6 and 7 in the 2-3-2 format.
So basically, if the Lakers go up 2-0 this series is over. If they split at home, then chances are they’ll still make it back to L.A for a Game 6 if Orlando can’t win the middle three at home.
Cedric Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 11:17 am
Lakers in six because like others have said the lakers will not double D12 adn leave open other shooters. Everyone mentions that Lewis will punish Gasol but forget that it is two ends of the court in basketball. Lewis will get manhandled by Gasol in the low post because defense is not his forte. Lakers are focused and have been here before where the Magic have not. Adversity builds strong teams and the Lakers faced it earlier in the playoffs to prepare them unlike Cleveland. Lakers are the more complete team and they have the best player on the planet in Kobe Bryant who is hungrier than ever.
yackity yack Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
D HO is the most dominant force in the series. He has the support he needs but he must stay out of foul trouble.
Kobe will be kobe but he can’t win it all on his own.
I see the lakers with the deeper bench but I don’t think they are a more consistent bench. The Magic can get 15-20 out of their 5th, 6th and 7th worst offensive players.
I agree with you, magic in 6. Lee and Pietris will be recognized for their “containment” on Kobe and Dwight gonna average a 20/20.
manwuh Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
I respect your opinion. I think the Lakers will in 6, myself, but I can understand why you would think the Magic would win. What I don’t understand is why people are calling the Magic the overwhelming underdogs in this series when half the people are choosing them to win. Magic fans are acting like theyre being disrespected or something.
frank B Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
Oh Eddie, Oh Eddie,
Come on man. You can’t be serious. This is almost a silly as your argument that foreign players don’t have enough love to win a championship.
Your basic premise is that Pau Gasol can’t guard either Rashard Lewis or Dwight Howard so if Dwight goes for 30 every night the Lakers are toast. Hmm.
Who is going to cover Kobe on the Magic? Kobe has torched evey guy the Magic has.
How is Dwight Howard going to stay out of foul trouble? He has to either cover Gasol, who actually outplayed Howard last year when Bynum was out, Bynum who can just be aggressive because the Lakers don’t care if he fouls out, or Odom who is too fast for him. Dwight will score his points, but he is not fundamentally sound enough to average anything close to thirty points. If you eliminate his dunk shots, his offense is pretty mediocre.
Rashard Lewis is a tough cover for any big but over the course of the series Ariza, Odom, and Walton will spend the most time covering him. Rashard isn’t the greatest defender in world and Odom in particular will cause him problems.
If Orlando doesn’t win a game in LA this series will end in LA’s favor in 5. If Orlando steals one the series will go six, favor of the Lakers.
Orlando is just like the Lakers last year. They think that they are ready, but when they experience the pressure of the event and weight of the Lakers focus which has been nothing but winning a championship, their young players are going to fold.
space Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
frank… true words there.
they are the lakers of last year. but the lakers are not the celtics of last year so i am going with the magic in 7. -simply put, big Z proved that height cant stop dHoward, and varejao is a better defender than odom, and gasol. guarding Nene and guarding dHoward are two different missions. the magic spread the floor equally as well as the lakers. the lakers ARE NOT the physical team to keep those shooters off track. i see shannon brown and ariza putting in quality x-factor efforts.
peitrus has always been the x-factor and guarding a significantly less beefy kobe [probably 50 pounds lighter than lebron] will go a long way when he has to guard him. if the lakers had a healthy bynum i would’ve said lakers in 7 just like everyone else would’ve. with two straight finals loses kobe is well on his way to becoming the jim kelly of basketball.
either way i sense a once in a decade series that i honestly plan to watch from start to finish for a change. provided the refs get their act together.
GQ Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 2:23 pm
What do you mean you didn’t see through the fog? Man, you are blind period. Who is editing your articles? Lakers will win it. Too much experience. Believe me, they will turn it on. This is the only series that the Lakers will take seriously.
Shawn Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
Phil Jackson said it best. I would start my team with Dwight Howard. There is no one and I mean no one on the Laker roster who has the strength to keep Dwight feom getting to the rim. Also, the Magic bread and butter play is the pick and roll, which the Lakers dont denfend well at all. The magic will win in 6, only because the lose two close games.y
Trevin James Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
I see that Space has been sipping off the same juice that Eddie has. First of all Nene has a jumper and Dwight has none (no post moves outside of backing a player down and dunking). Big Z is a 7′3″ jump shooter. No post game what so ever!!!
Dwight hasn’t had to guard anyone these playoffs. Pau is going to give him a workout old skool style!!! Comparing Pietrus defense again Lebron is crazy. Lebron average over 30 points on the guy but he other players weren’t good enough. LA has way more weapons and you can never under-estimate experience. When Bynum gets time he produces. I think he and Gasol will wear Howard down because they have an offensive game to use.
Orlando will struggle when there shooters stop making shot because they are actually being guarded.
CLeveland choices to let Lebron roam on defense instead of playing Hedo leaving Delonte West to guard him. I just didn’t understand that logic.
LA in 5!
Marlon Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
Eddie always goes against the Lakers….what else is new? I bet he’ll say Denver will be #1 in the West next year and Cleveland or Orlando will be #1 in the East.
Ken Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
What do you expect from a Phoenix Sun three point shooter. Orlando will live or die by three point shot and in the NBA finals it is usually die.
Boi Boi Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
It’s all bout da BLACK MAMBA BABY!…L.A. in 6
aldstar Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
kobe my man finally opened his mouth and said IT :
if you think shaq would have won those championships without you must be crazy!
and he’s damn right, shaq wouldnt have 3 laker rings without kobe
well i guess this aint eddie’s year, you have gone against orlando every round, than you finally pick them to win, and they lose, thats wahts gonna happen, kobe isnt going to let the lakers have a dissapointing finals againn man
Craig Bailey Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 4:36 pm
SMH….. SPACE HOW CAN U CALL KOBE THE JIM KELLY OF BASKETBALL WHEN LAST I CHECKED KOBE HAS 3 RINGS, JIM KELLY HAS ZERO. UR JUS ANOTHER KOBE HATER FLOATING AROUND HERE. AND DONT GIVE ME THAT B.S. OF KOBE HAD SHAQ, WELL U CAN SAY THE SAME FOR SHAQ OR ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS WON A CHAMPIONSHIP. U DONT TAKE SOMEONE’S RINGS AWAY CUZ THEY HAD ANOTHER GREAT PLAYER ON THEIR TEAM. THATS JUS STUPID. NOBODY WOULD HAVE RINGS IN THAT CASE. U SHOULD THINK BEFORE TYPING. LOL.
BUT BACK TO THE FINALS. THE LAKERS WILL WIN IN 5 OR 6. IF THEY DONT DOUBLE SUPERMAN I DONT THINK HE’S CAPABLE OF GOING FOR 30 EVERY NITE B CUZ HIS OFFENSIVE GAME ISNT THAT DEEP. JUS MAKE HIM DEFEND HIS MAN AND BOX HIM OUT (EASIER SAID THEN DONE) THEN U LIMIT HIS EFFECTIVENESS. RASHARD LEWIS MAY BE A PROBLEM B CUZ EVER SINCE HIS DAYZ IN SEATLE HE ALWAYS KILLED THE LAKERS. ONCE AGAIN IT SEEMS THAT LAMAR ODOM WILL BE THE BIGGEST FACTOR IN THE SERIES. THEN U HAVE PERTRIS (WHO HAS NEVER HAD SUCCESS AGAINST KOBE) AND A ROOKIE TRYNA CONTAIN KOBE IN THE NBA FINALS. COME ON PPL, THAT IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. JUS AS LONG AS THE LAKERS SHOW NO MERCY AND PLAY HARD ALL GAME THEN THEY WILL DEFINATELY WIN.
AND TO EDDIE JOHNSON…. U HAVE TO KNOW THAT THE LAKERS WILL WIN THE SERIES. YOUR ANALYSIS POINTS TO THAT BUT U JUS CANT SEEM TO PICK THE LAKERS. WHY?!?!? GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. I AGREE U HAVE DONE THAT WITH ORLANDO BUT U CONTINUE TO IGNORE HOW GOOD THIS LAKER TEAM IS. WELL NEVER SAY I TOLD U SO.
Craig Bailey Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ANYONE TO ANSWER.
WHY DOES SHAQ CONTINUE TO GET ALL OF THE CREDIT FOR THE LAKERS WINNING THOSE 3 RINGS. FROM HEARING ALL THAT U WOULD THINK THAT KOBE WAS JUS A ROLE PLAYER. HOW SOON WE 4GET THAT SHAQ COULDNT MAKE A FREE THROW TO SAVE HIS LIFE. SO WHO FINISHED THOSE GAMES??? WHO TOOK OVER 4TH QUARTERS??? WHO HIT CLUTCH FREE THROWS TO ICE THE GAME????
SOMEONE PLEASE ANSWER THIS
javaman Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
ANSWER: Fat people have voracious appetite. The main reason for their obesity is they devour eveything, but accountable to nothing. QUESTION : HAS EDDIE JOHNSON EVER WON A PLAYOFF SERIES AS A PLAYER AGAINST THE LAKERS?
ddddd Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
Craig-
It is the exact same reason why Pippen gets no credit for all the Bulls championships… Granted Jordan was the best to play the game arguably… but Jordan never won anything without Pippen. Shaq never won anything without his #2 flippin awesome guard that saved his butt… Penny got him to the finals back in the Orlando days, Kobe during the laker days was his partner in crime, and DWade saved Shaq’s butt during the Heat championship… The media likes to have that larger than life name to attach to their championships. The media likes to forget that basketball is a team game.
Detroit was the only team within the past 10 years to win a championship without that larger than life name. Nobody picked them to win the championship that year. Chauncey Billups became probably the first guy to win a finals mvp before he got an allstar appearance (Look it up.. I am pretty sure I am right about this one)
As far as predicting who wins, it is a virtual tossup. Orlando won the regular season series between the two teams. LA has more in the big guy dept. LA has Kobe… however, that never really phased Orlando when they had to go against Lebron’s 40plus ppg and rebounds and assists. They did a horrible job on Lebron and still won the series. Kobe could average 50 for the series and the Magic could still win. However, the Lakers have more weapons than Cleveland so yeah… definite tossup. I think it will come down to who off the Laker bench is going to score other than Odom. The magic have plenty of firepower off their bench, especially with Nelson potentially returning. So I will say it again, Who knows! This is going to be a fun series to watch.
MR. BASKETBALL Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 8:22 pm
Eddie, why can’t you just believe the Lakers will win it? They have the better team. Cleveland stood no chance against the lakers. Orlando is a good team a lot better than cleveland but they have no lock down defenders, no real go to guy( turkolu cannot dribble neither can rashard) , Dwight is not intelligent enough to not foul. It is really over and you know it. They have the potential to be great but that’s it….Lakers in 5.I know my team they will mail it in at least one game…
Vincent Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 10:06 pm
It amazing to me that in spite of the laker being the favorite that very good basketball mind like eddie johnson would pick orlando here’s why. First the laker are not going to double team howard except for in spots to break his rhythm, second kobe is going to force orlando to do to him what the laker won’t do to howard which double team him. Kobe and the lakers offense will primarily function with kobe on the left or right box, orlando will double team or kobe will break down the defender and get to howard resulting in foul trouble for howard and/or hedo or lewis or a combination of 2 out 3 of these orlando players. Now when orlando adjust to howard early foul trouble the laker will pound the paint with bynum, gasol and surprisingly odom, odom forces lewis to defend in the paint and possibly getting him in foul trouble. So as much I understand eddie johnson prediction given orlando great play threw these playoffs this series will be about picking your poison and the lakers only poison of concern is the pick and roll however with that said I predict the lakers in five (5) winning both games in la, the first one in orlando and game five (5) in orlando.
eddie Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
javaman Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
ANSWER: Fat people have voracious appetite. The main reason for their obesity is they devour eveything, but accountable to nothing. QUESTION : HAS EDDIE JOHNSON EVER WON A PLAYOFF SERIES AS A PLAYER AGAINST THE LAKERS?
Yes i have so go do your homework and check out 90-91 With My favorite player of all-time Magic Johnson on that team. 4-1 Suns sir! (-:
MPG Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
The Celtics definitely would have won with a healthy Garnett. Hell, they probably would win with a healthy Leon Powe. Orlando in 7.
ballfan Said,
June 3, 2009 @ 11:04 pm
we all know Eddie is a Lakers Hater so why are you all surprised?
javaman Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 12:22 am
I’m not much of a stat or a trivia guy, but what i remember of you in 90-91 was a guy spotting up on the baseline clapping your hands to get Gary’s attention to pass you the ball. Sonics lost to Portland in the western 1st round.The Lakers eventually went to the finals and lost to the Bulls. Unless you got traded midseason to Chicago and became part of that championship team, then I must have MIS-REMEMBERED.
Rashidi Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 2:17 am
Eddie missed one key in his analysis.
The Magic will have to stop Pau Gasol. It’s not like the Cavs series where Shard can take advantage of Big Ben and have nothing happen to him on the other end. Shard will also have to guard Gasol. Shard also won’t be able to take advantage of Lamar Odom who has a similar body type.
slayer Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 2:32 am
since we’re playing the question game, here’s one, if you hate this thread so much, why do you bother reading/replying to it? i mean, you guys are the same guys who cant shut up about needing to have Kobe better than LBJ, here’s a thought, no one cares. they are both great players. no wait, for emphasis, let me write the rest of my message in FULLS CAP, SO THAT NOW IM DEFINITELY GETTING THE ATTENTION I CRAVE. HATING ON SOMEONE WHO WAS IS THE NBA IS JUST DISRESPECTFUL, I DONT SEE YOU RUNNING DRILLS AND TAKING 1000 SHOTS DAILY, SO WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT? AND FOR THE RECORD, LBJ > KOBE.
Novio Magus Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 2:56 am
Last year everybody was giddy over the Lakers bench. They were sooo great, the Lakers were soo deep and sooo talented. Why doesnt anybody admit that its not dept that gets you rings but the quality of the guys you bring of the bench? Sure, the Lakers bench is talented but do they play their roles? Sometimes they have to preserve a lead, give starters a break, get stops or ice games. In all those departments the Laker bench falls short. The lose leads, Kobe gets inserted too soon (Denver series) get pwnd on defense (Vujacic anyone?) and cant seem to close out games.
Orlando’s bench is basicaly Pietrus, Gortat and Johnson but the know their roles. Sometimes Pietrus forces a shot but other than that they do what they need to do. The expectations placed upon them are lower and so easier to reach. Their modest contributions are calculated in Orlando’s game plan and if they fail to meet them, its more likely for the starters to compensate.
For the Lakers this is not so. Lamar needs to be good. They NEED 15-10-4 out of him at least. Sasha NEEDS to knock down those 3s otherwise he’s a liability. Farmar NEEDs to be agressive and hold his own on defense. Walton NEEDS to pass the ball well and knoch down open shots (when Walton played well in game 6, only then did the Lakers cruise).
I can agree with Eddy’s prediction of Magic in 6. Not because I believe Howard will be all dominant but because everybody will chip in enough to have the Lakers constantly scrambling.
adklajdsfj Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 3:16 am
Novio Magus, Lakers bench are talented and they do play their roles. Luke Walton, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar and Lamar Odom they all bring versatility to the game for the Lakers. Yes, they’ve been inconsistent here and there, but they were deep enough that the Lakers can play two different styles of basketball anytime they want and THAT.. is their role… Bring different style of basketball to the game.
Orlando relies too much on their shooters making outside shots, if Lakers can defend the parameters well then Orlando will struggle playing against the Lakers.
bibifok Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 4:34 am
I see it as a good new for LA because Eddie is one of the worst specialist in predictions ! Every time he picked a team to win he failed, so he’s in fact a great Laker fan and knows it !!
Nicolo Maro Quimbo Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 5:36 am
Sorry Eddie, but this will be the time that you have to support the opposing team against the Magics — and that is the Lakers. You have gone against them in every round, yes. But I’ve predicted right from the start it would be Lakers and Magic in the Finals, not the Cavs, or the defending champs. But this time, Lake Show, Kobe, Jackson, wins the championship! Lakers in 6 — even earlier.
Ianscot Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 6:12 am
Here’s the thing about predictions: Nobody really cares about them except the person making them.
So many columnists write whole columns, or even a series of columns, predicting who’ll win in a given sport before the season. Before the playoffs, too, it’s the thing to do in sports journalism: predict that champion. All those columns are boring. After one game of the regular season or the playoffs has gone by, the entire exercise is dull beyond belief — which doesn’t stop the columnists from revisiting their predictions, often, with new columns. Talk show hosts remind us which teams they predicted when things started, as if we care more about whether they were right than we do about the teams.
All those people may think they’re proving something about their expertise. Mostly what they’re proving is that they can’t think of a way to do their job that’s interesting or that will hold interest when someone revisits it within two weeks.
Michael Bennett Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 7:40 am
I pick Lakers in 5.
Bynum, Mbenga and Powell are all capable of bodying up THE BODY.
No one will be able to defend Gasol AND Bynum in the low post.
And, the Lakers will keep it close enough for Kobe Bryant to do his thing at the end of games.
I don’t see the Magic backcourt having any success like they did against the mini Cleveland 1 and 2.
Novio Magus Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 8:08 am
adklajdsfj,
Rarely did the Lakers lose these play offs as a result of failings by the starters. When they’re hot and rolling, the bench contributes. When they struggle and Kobe has to bail them out, the bench stunk up the place. Look at the Houston series, look at the Denver series. Against Utah the bench slipped up and let Utah back in games.
If their role is to bring a different style of basketball to the game they failed at that during these play offs unless different style of basketball is to give leads, blow defensive asignments and brick till you build the Hover Dam.
Side note:
Dont count on Mbenga and Powell when dealing with Howard. Thats 12 fouls, at least 5 and 1s and your team over the foul limit before the quarter is half way over.
Ianscot Said: ‘Bla bla bla All those columns are boring bla bla bla’
I guess it bored you so much you had to write a comment, didnt ya?
Edub Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 8:37 am
The Lakers and all of the “experts” felt just like this when they played the Pistons a couple years ago too………Magic in 5.
space Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 8:39 am
craig bailey: stop the madness already -i am talking about kobe’s post shaq days.
if/when he loses 2 straight then people will be on him like tmac and melo for never leaving the 1st round.
shaq didn’t win those series but they would not have come close if he wasn’t there. you should go back and look at shaq’s stat lines alone during their finals years. it’s kind of ridiculous. he isn’t a hall of famer for nothing.
…………
the lakers have experience but don’t ever act like it. i don’t care what kind of serum the rockets were on, a yao-less, macgready-less team with LUIS SCOLA as the starting center should NEVER have made it to 7 games.
the magic played good defense on lebron for the most part. they were in his jersey, they hacked him, played physical. he just was unbelievable. they did everything short of double team him. the point is not to contain kobe, but limit him. keep him off balance or focused on something else other than just getting into his own groove. pietrus has length, is tough enough to play the 2, 3 [and the 4 in nellie world] yet quick enough to be a problem. he does NOT get rattled and is the type of guy who can annoy kobe when he hits a couple 3’s completely unscripted. courtney lee is just another set of fresh legs defensively. gortat has been underrated all year and nelson possibly coming back is kinda scary… vinnie johnson anyone? i don’t think gasol will be a consistent factor. he’s a quality player, BUT the lakers always seem to overlook him and his low post presence. he gets phased out too often by his own team because they all consider themselves weapons. mo williams was completely taken out of his game. williams was dangerous all year long. give the magic back court more credit.
*one more needle- facing the cavaliers and beating them at home is much harder than facing the lakers on their floor. the cleveland crowd destroys the lakers crowd.
space Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 8:43 am
i will really be upset if phil jackson does a hack-a-dwight defense. i know its legal but it is a pain to watch any player get targeted like that. i doubt that will happen otherwise the lakers would have fouled duncan all those years.
Marlon Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 9:10 am
javaman Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 12:22 am
I’m not much of a stat or a trivia guy, but what i remember of you in 90-91 was a guy spotting up on the baseline clapping your hands to get Gary’s attention to pass you the ball. Sonics lost to Portland in the western 1st round.The Lakers eventually went to the finals and lost to the Bulls. Unless you got traded midseason to Chicago and became part of that championship team, then I must have MIS-REMEMBERED.
Bwahahahaha….Eddie will always be a Laker Hater. If the Lakers would ever go undefeated in the regular season and Phoenix or Seattle or whatever team he used to play for were in last place, he would say the Lakers are no better than that team. He’ll never give them the props..ever.
RobTaipei Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Making predictions is fun, and satisfying if it comes true; and we are all man enough to admit it when we are wrong (like Eddie). So …
Laker sweep (although I hate Kobe’s personna while admiring him as a player).
Having watched Rafer the past four years, we Rockets fans know he is what he is … one game 20+ points, the next 1 for 10, and shots taken at inopportune times; although not many turnovers, his only forays into the paint are for the tear drop (which has brought tears to Rockets’ fans eyes), and he is not a good post passer, he just passes it around the perimeter or hands off to the star (TMac then, now Hedo). He will be pretty good one game, but not good enough for the Magic to win. Look to Jameer coming in for a cameo out of SVG frustration with Rafer (and right out after turning the ball over 3 times) . Fisher is not much better, so the PG position is a wash.
Pietrus must have taken some 3-pt accuracy pills after leaving Golden State. Marvelous athleticism and seemingly good character, all of a sudden a sharpshooter, what caused the change? I’m thinking he will not keep it up in the Laker series because his past does not warrant such optimism; he too is what he is. The Magic will be hoping that he can repeat the Cleveland performance and will over-rely on his jumper coming back to their detriment. JJ Redick will get some time out of SVG frustration.
Hedo and Rashard will play pretty well, but with Ariza and Odum matching their height and more than matching their athleticism, they will not dominate like they did in the Cleveland series (over the 6′2″ West and the molten Sczerbiak). Their clutch shooting was remarkable; they can’t do it ten games in a row (but Kobe can).
Finally, Pau vs How. On offense, Pau takes him farther out away from rebounding position, and is agile enough to guard him most of the time; Gasol is infinitely better than the Ilgauskas/Varajao/Wallace combo. The Lakers will not double down, so the 3-pt shooters won’t be Cleveland-free. Bynum, Powell and MBenga will foul Howard into frustration, and I don’t believe he can continue to make free throws with that wrist flip motion (that can go as quickly as it comes), he will revert to less than 60%; big muscular guys are almost never good free throw shooters.
So, one close game (the one where Rafer is hot), and the rest won by the Lakers by more than 8 points, and one by 20. Having made the predictions, they are of value in making the games more interesting to watch, to see if any of them come true.
RobTaipei
Davey Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 12:41 pm
Eddie, Eddie, Eddie…
Are you a Laker hater? Because I think this is Orlando’s year…to learn a lesson.
JD Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 12:41 pm
Eddie,
Another factor (which you hinted at) is the overall team play. The Cavs were supposed to have great chemistry and support players who would make opponents pay on both sides of the ball. Ultimately, all that cohesiveness, defensive stops, and scoring support disappeared as the Magic systematically dismantled the Cavs’ attack with superior strategy, focus, and high-level play.
Only a couple seasons ago, the Lakers were in disarray and many of the very players in their rotation today were raked over the coals for their inability to support Kobe in the playoffs. I realize the Lakers now have Gasol and Ariza, who are difference makers. But this series will be won by the overall team effort. Kobe can’t beat the Magic alone just the same as LeBron couldn’t. The pressure will be on the Laker role players to step it up, or else they will endure the same fate as the Cavs.
I also believe Game 1 is actually a must-win for the Lakers.
I guess that’s the long-winded way to say that I agree with you Eddie!
frank B Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 1:35 pm
Rob Tapei,
Good post.
I think Phil is feeding Howard’s ego by calling him the player that he would start a team with. Reverse Psychology basically.
If the Magic tries to get Howard to dominate the game, they are doomed to failure. One only has to watch how the Lakers stand around when Andrew Bynum has the ball now to see what woulld happen to Orlando if they try to play half court throw-the-ball-into-the post-everyone-watch-Dwight type basketball.
Lakers fans are not afraid of Dwight catching a pass taking a dribble or two and shooting going to the right like he does 80% of the time. We fear the ball movement and transition game of the Magic. The Lakers miss a lot of rotations on defense so if the Magic whip the ball around, they are going to get open looks and score a lot of points and have a shot at winning a few games.
If they take Eddie’s advice of banging it inside to Howard, they are going to get swept.
Trevin James Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
Space Lebron destroyed Pietrus but the problem was when he hit is guys they missed shots. The rest of the team was horrible. Kobe doesn’t have to worry about that. If he is played straight up he will get his but also allow his guys to get their shots as well. The Cavs were a hype machine all year. They might have louder fans but who cares.
If Dwight had more of an offensive game than I have seen this year I would give him credit. I have seen maybe two moves from the guy all year. The back down and dunk, the jump hook and I guess the lob. Not much else. I think Bynum and Gasol will do a good job on him. Plus he will have to defend Bynum and Gasol. Your inside presence is going to get worn down and those 3’s will be contested. Can you say clank clank??
LA is 5 games!!!
space Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
don’t knock howard, remember shaq had about the same two moves. of course he had a different body type. howard is probably a tad quicker than shaq was. he had to face: varejao, big z, joe smith and ben wallace [an older version of himself] in the last series.
you have to understand what pietrus did. i don’t think anyone paid attention. he forced lebron into complete iso situations. lebron did score but he had to work for his points every possession. he also had to use the entire court to get to the bucket. that is the killer. his teammates could do little but watch him score and never could find a rhythm. if pietrus does the same to kobe and they don’t produce when he passes and try playing that 1 on 1 that got them beat last year then i move my prediction from 7 to 6 games. kobe can get frustrated pretty quickly by the right guy. -and pietrus, like many former warriors was finally able to get free of that role-playing -out-of-position ball that nellie loves. he was touted as france’s jordan in the draft but got stuck playing power forward in the ’small ball system’.
lebron and kobe’s mentality are different. lebron becomes a bull when the defense stacks up on him, kobe almost seems to take it personally and tries to stab back at you. pietrus job isn’t to lock him down but take him out and get 10 points along the way.
losing by passing down low? what?
howard is too athletic for a stiffer bynum and gasol. if howard is aggressive throughout the series then it can be over in 6 just on the strength of howard. the only way i see the magic getting swept or run off quickly is if lewis, hedo, rafer and pietrus lay total eggs.
space Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
and too true trevin-
the cavs were a hype machine. so close its unbelievable but i say magic in 7.
[and i admit to saying lakers in 7 last year too].
rob
i’ve been keeping an eye on rafer waiting for one of his meltdowns too. but i think he’s playing off the moment & hype right now and won’t have another nothing game until this thing is done.
Boi Boi Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
BLACK MAMBA & DA LAKERS ALL DAY!
eddie Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
javaman Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 12:22 am
I’m not much of a stat or a trivia guy, but what i remember of you in 90-91 was a guy spotting up on the baseline clapping your hands to get Gary’s attention to pass you the ball. Sonics lost to Portland in the western 1st round.The Lakers eventually went to the finals and lost to the Bulls. Unless you got traded midseason to Chicago and became part of that championship team, then I must have MIS-REMEMBERED.
no i mis remembered lol it was 89-90 dag they said when you turn 50 you start to forget.
eddie Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
bibifok Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 4:34 am
I see it as a good new for LA because Eddie is one of the worst specialist in predictions ! Every time he picked a team to win he failed, so he’s in fact a great Laker fan and knows it !!
i picked Boston last year! you guys keep calling me a Laker hater, but in fact half of Los Angeles is moving to phoenix. i think the Lakers can win it no doubt, but the bench will fail again so pray that Odom plays great.
coolstar Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
Wow, this is gonna make Eddie wrong twice in a row. I see this going no more than 6 and the Lakers could easily sweep. Howard couldn’t guard ANYONE against Cleveland bc every time he tried he got in foul trouble (yep, lots and lots of terrible calls). Does anyone think it will be BETTER against the Lakers and Kobe? Either Bynum or Gasol can neutralize Dwight (Perkins did it, and they’re both bigger and stronger than he is ).
AND the lakers have 4 guys to run at Hedo and Lewis: Ariza, Kobe, Walton, and Odum. They don’t need Gasol to guard Lewis as that would be playing into the Magic’s hands. Don’t be surprised if Odum starts against Lewis.
Phil Jackson is hardly a genius, after all, he did support Bill Bradley for president, but he is smart enough to do this.
eddie Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
i will be twittering during the series—-join and look up edward a Johnson known as Eddie Johnson the So called Laker Hater
FVBRUIN Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 11:19 pm
Eddie,
Your love for Lebron and bias for Kobe has led you pick a team just because your beloved Queen James couldnt deliver when it mattered. Difference between the wannabe and Kobe? Kobe scores 40 and his team blowouts the Magic. Lakers in 4.
Taler Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 4:17 am
You know eddie you dont have to guess series anymore.
George Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 7:04 am
GOOD MORNING EDDIE!GREETINGS FROM BEAUTIFUL GREECE AND FROM FANS OF OLYMPIACOS PEIRAUES! MY NAME IS GEORGE AND I AM IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH YOUR OPINION ABOUT NBA PLAY-OFF FINALS!
I WISH YOU HAVE A NICE DAY. IF YOU WANT ANSWER TO ME ON MY E-MAIL!
p.s my father is a big fan of you
Trevin James Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 8:21 am
Clank clank clank Gasol, Odom and Bynum outscore Hedo, Lewis and Howard? I don’t think that will get it done for Orlando. I will continue saying this until I see improvement……Dwight is limited on offense. No post moves. He is best when he faces the basket but only has a few moves. Gasol can play with him if he faces the basket. When he backs down the Laker bigs just need to continue moving their feet and make him shoot over their length. Bynum bailed him out a couple times by not moving his feet and Howard spinned on him and picked up a foul. Orlando had plenty of open shots. Some by design and some because the rotation was a little slow. The thing is Orlando couldn’t make them. Clank Clank Clank! Rashard Lewis was pump-faking, driving and then stopping and popping. That really isn’t his game. Coming off picks and getting his feet set is more him. LA kept Orlando off balance for the last 3.5 quarters. The more I look at Eddie’s reasonings for Orlando winning I see that he just might be a Laker hater. Eddie your my boy…….Say it ain’t so!
space Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 8:59 am
one game. albeit a poor showing its still one game. as i said though, the only way they can lose the series is if lewis hedo and rafer lay some series eggs. i still say magic in 7. no more eggs orlando.
Marlon Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Eddie is probably coming up with excuses why Orlando laid an egg..but of course, it couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the Lakers D. Maybe Orlando was tired. Maybe they ate something funny. Maybe the lights were too bright. Maybe Orlando beat themselves more than the Lakers team had anything to do with it. I love your sweet shooting stroke Eddie but come on now…we still have one seat left on the Laker bandwagon right next to the driver’s seat. You can honk the Laker Horn if you want to.
RobTaipei Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 10:21 am
Thanks to Frank B and Space for commenting on my post.
Rafer had a poor game, but he will likely be hot in Game 3, which will be close; Game 4 will be an easy Laker victory as the Magic will be still spooked (I just love to make these predictions for which we don’t have to be responsible in any way). For Eddie, it’s different, he is an expert with a following, and he is usually very astute, so he has to keep it up. Unfortunately, he is probably wrong about this series; the Magic’s one great weakness was exposed (live and die by the 3). They might win one if the 3’s are falling, otherwise the Laker sweep, which is a pity since the playoffs to date have been very entertaining.
To Eddie, remember Rick Barry’s comment on LeBron’s shooting mechanics and the lack of screens for him, so he won’t have to work so hard? He’s 100% right. The Magic-Cavs series showed that in the end, with LeBron tired, the flying elbow flies ever outward, and the one-on-one at the end of the only game Cleveland won was disgusting; a reversion to pre-Gasol Kobism (foray into 1 on 3 and lose the ball). It’s fool’s gold because it worked that once, but true basketball afficionados hate that!! It’s a team game!! SVG, draw up some plays for LeBron!! Set single, double, triple screens for him so he won’t get exhausted. Living off of his unprecedented natural talent gets him to the ECF in a very weak East; that’s it. Wake up!! Hire Dirk Nowitzky’s shooting coach, get that elbow in, watch Dirk, Pau, even JJ Redick. Kobe’s shot is infinitely better; he’s high in the air, but his elbow is under his hand and the shot is true and a thing of beauty (this from a Kobe hater).
I know it’s difficult for someone of LeBron’s athletic gifts to think that he needs to start over on his jump shot; after all, he can dominate without it. But the proof of the pudding is in the ECF and the Finals, the chickens come home to roost on your flying elbow. Well, forgive the mundane metaphors, we need LeBron to be successful so he can counter the insufferably phoney Kobe.
RobTaipei
Michael Bennett Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 11:29 am
RonTaipei - The reason why the Cavs lost in the ECF is not because of LeBron’s elbow. It’s because of LeBron’s teammates not hitting shots AND Orlando won the matchups contest. It’s that simple. Did you watch the series?
The Lakers played perfect basketball last night. The entire lineup played to their talent level. This series will be over in 5 games. Kobe was terrific. And, the rest of the team fed off of him. Kudos to the Lakers and Phil Jackson for outcoaching Stan Van Gundy.
Congrats, Lakers fans. You WILL get another ring.
Trevin James Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 11:58 am
Space Lakers in 5 like I have been saying all along. Hedo hasn’t been shooting well from 3 and if Lewis is force to pump-fake and then stop and pop off balance he will struggle that. That isn’t his game.
Bhavik Patel Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
I predicted lakers vs. orlando in the finals months ago. I predict now that kobe will make history and burst for the highest point total scored in a finals game.
frank B Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
Well Michael Bennett and I have found some agreement. Lebron’s “flying elbow” is not the reason the Cavs lost.
The worst thing you can do to an athlete is try to change something that has been ingrained subconsiously. If Lebron thinks about his elbow when he shoots, he’ll never make another jumpshot. Any golfer knows the way to make sure your opponent won’t be able to hit the ball is ask them some inane mechanical question about their swing before the round: “Do you always point your right elbow behind you when you swing?” “Does your head bob up and down like that all the time?” “Do you always have such a strong right hand grip?” etc. Once you start using your conscious mind to perform something that requires subconscious performance, your conscious mind is going to get in the way.
Rob, I can tell you know the game and you have good insights but if Lebron had shot his jumper better the Cavs would have still lost. In fact, to me Lebron shot the ball fantastically during the series.
Once again, it has been shown over and over and over again that one man teams don’t beat five man teams. The five man Orlando team beat the one man Cleveland team.
This is not to say that Cleveland doesn’t have good players. They don’t have great players, and in particular they don’t have another star to counterbalance Lebron.
The playoffs are where stars matter the most. Championship teams usually have at least two legitimate all-stars and usually three. The Celtics championship teams over the years always had three or four. Many times their players were not only all-stars, but hall of famers. The Showtime Lakers had Magic, Kareem and Worthy. The Bulls had Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman. Dr.J couldn’t win an NBA championship until he was teamed with Moses Malone.
I think you can perform this analysis on the present series. The Lakers have two all-stars in Bryant and Gasol. Who is going to step up to match the intensity of these two with Orlando? Dwight Howard is a a legitimate all-star and Turkalu and Lewis are knocking on the door, but to me, Orlando’s stars are going to have a tough time matching up to the Lakers, not the other way around.
Ed~Savage Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 4:50 pm
I’m glad you took Orlando to win it… and going by your track record ,in these playoffs, you just gave the LAKERS the Championship. Thanks Buddy.
angelo lopez Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
Eddie Johnson You are in Hollywood,not in Disneyworld.You know how Lakers play.There is no magic here at Hollywood,we take serious bussiness here and we want you to be WOW with the amazing play of the Los Angeles Lakers.They do drama,actions and comedy and mostly entertainment.Not like the Magic which they can not produce Magic.We will be just seeing you at the Florida keys and Disneyworld.Lakers will amaze you.Remember that.
eddie Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 7:13 pm
angelo lopez Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
Eddie Johnson You are in Hollywood,not in Disneyworld.You know how Lakers play.There is no magic here at Hollywood,we take serious bussiness here and we want you to be WOW with the amazing play of the Los Angeles Lakers.They do drama,actions and comedy and mostly entertainment.Not like the Magic which they can not produce Magic.We will be just seeing you at the Florida keys and Disneyworld.Lakers will amaze you.Remember that.
i did not say the Magic would win the first game and i did not say they would win in 5.
isaac Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
I can’t believe you picked magic…
Even though Howard is the beast, Lakers have the best front court line-up with bynum and gasol… which mean Lakers are the best team against Magic… and plus Lakers won’t have any problem with match-ups but Magics don’t have many bigs so who going to guard gasol and bynum…
JBEAN Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 7:31 pm
how do all you douches feel now after game 1, kobe getting frustrated, howard the great, oh yeah, is lebron still much better then kobe?
heh8meN1 Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 9:11 pm
That’s wasn’t Grumpy, the Mamba, or the Terminator. That’s El Diablo. Dude is possessed. The NBA needs an exocism. Forget Orlando, the rest of league will be at the Lakers mercy for the next 3-4 years. Thanks for the wake up call Leprechauns. 13 down and 3 to go. 15 is for you Chick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWDCN-un2vE
chanman Said,
June 5, 2009 @ 11:11 pm
Michael Bennett i thought the day would never come when u finally agree the lakers and kobe will win haha. people people people, why did the lakers win? perfect defense played on howard and the shooters and held them to 39% shooting. You think kobe’s gonna let a chance to win a championship slip away? he made sure his guys come ready to play every game, im generous giving the magic 6 games…heck even Michael Bennett who is one of the biggest laker/kobe haters predicted the series in 5 games going to the lakers!! whoever that posted saying lakers gonna lose, goin game 7…u must be either blind/laker hater/or stubborn orlando fans who think an offensively limited dwight howard and slightly above average shooters like alston, lewis, and hedo could beat the most talented in the league. im giving them 2 games, where they’re gonna be hot from the 3 arc or the lakers slip up. SO ya’ll shud just WITNESS kobe and the lakers win a championship just like your beloved king james.
javaman Said,
June 6, 2009 @ 12:30 am
After BOOZER, BATTIER, ARTEST, MARTIN, and THE BIRDMAN… Do you really think Hedo and Rashard strikes fear on any of the Lakers heart? Hedo will slowly realize that nothing has changed since he left Sacramento. It’s like watching a movie rerun (THE BLACK MAMBA-PT.2) that gave him nightmares. Howard is one hell of a nice guy, but he is not Hakeem or McHale. He needs to add more to his offensive reportoire to be unstoppable. Just like that guy who did not want to shake his hands, take away his dunks on put backs and bribble drive, and you’ve pretty much reduced 50% of his scoring effectiveness. It remains to be seen if he possesses the critical mind to analyze his game and recognize what he needs to work on and the indomitable burning desire to be the best. Then again, he looks like “he is just happy to be here”…
javaman Said,
June 6, 2009 @ 1:39 am
Anymore false witnesses? Absurd predictions? Will the real MVP stand up and claim what is rightfully yours! No more dummies…
Michael Bennett Said,
June 6, 2009 @ 8:19 am
I’m not a Lakers/Kobe hater. I like the Lakers and I really enjoy Kobe. I just think LeBron is a better basketball player than Kobe. Like I’ve said a thousand times on here before, I think Kobe is just a shade under LeBron as far as being the best.
Game 1 of the 2009 Finals showed that Kobe is amazing and his highly talented teammates really stepped up, finally.
Although their numbers didn’t jump out of the box score, Gasol and Odom played nearly perfect games. And, Bynum did exactly what I thought he would do.
You can’t discount what LeBron did in the Playoffs, though. I think the last 6 games exposed their lack of size down low AND at the guard, and they only hit shots in one game, leaving only one man left to play an entire team.
With all that said, Kobe and the Lakers look unbeatable.
omar Said,
June 6, 2009 @ 8:58 am
Eddie here you go again kobe hating yeah if your a basketball expert then im obama hahaha
RobTaipei Said,
June 6, 2009 @ 9:51 am
Well, actually I agree that the Cavs didn’t lose because of LeBron’s flying elbow; what I am trying to say is that I want LeBron to be the best player he can be, and to do that he has to work on his mechanics. Everything else about him is awesome, even his personality, only just now taking a hit. But I think he will come back better and stronger, just get a shooting coach and get SVG to draw up more and varied plays for you; and remember,
was mich nicht umbringt macht mich starker
(Nietshe).
LaAllDay Said,
June 6, 2009 @ 2:44 pm
Eddie is not a Kobe hater, it’s more so the whole laker team as a group, Eddie’s stated plenty of times how great of a player Kobe is, but he never gives the lakers respect or thinks they’ll win a championship, go figure he’s a suns homer. I wish these so called “experts” would actually have a ring to back them up before blogging….stop trying to sound so damn smart lol.
BUCK Said,
June 6, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
First, i am a Cavs’ fan, but i tell it like it is. This season’s record by the Cavs was fools gold. No inside defense or offense. No coach. Lebron was the coach, the coach of the year was more fools gold. LA in six. Next year may be the Magic best chance of winning it all, but not this year. Eddie, you are becoming a joke. The Cavs need a coach and GM. Who has ferry got for the Cavs that is even a starter other than Mo in all the time he has been there, and the jury is still out on him. MJ did not win a ring until he got a coach and not a yes man. The big “O” was the only player in NBA history that didn’t need a coach. Lebron needs a coach. Brown made the Magic coach look like John Wooden. Phil’s going to make him look like Woody Allen.
Holla Bolla Said,
June 6, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
Eddie,
Who knows what you really believe. The bottom line is that the Lakers/Kobe are a polarizing topic, and as long as your write about them you will get job-saving traffic on your blog. When you pick against them, it like a whole new level.
Nobody will give you credit for this idea cause you are simply part of a massive club just riding Laker/Kobe coat-tails to generate blog attention. Nice work, you should feel proud.
javaman Said,
June 6, 2009 @ 11:23 pm
Cleveland this, Cavs that, Le Bron walks on water, or maybe just walks. Swept Detroit and brutalized Atlanta, no problem here! Then met The Magic Boys and suddenly the perfect team have all kinds of deficiencies. Excuses! Excuses! Stop discrediting Orlando and give them their due props. Better yet, congratulate them and shake their hands. Dont send your lackey to explain to people why you lost and did not live up to the hype that ESPN EXPERTS drummed up for you. It’s safe to assume that on this level everybody is as competitive as the next guy. Nevertheless, it’s still a SPORT played by sports-MEN!
Jax Said,
June 7, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
Personally, I want the Magic to win it this year. However, something inside me, as a player, that Kobe will bag this one this year.
The only way the Magic win this series, Alston - Nelson - Reddick plays and shoots well. It’s not Dwight, not Hedo nor Rashard, its the three mention above.
Lakers in six.
Praying for Magic in seven.
Pepe Said,
June 8, 2009 @ 3:15 am
Eddie, the problem with your articles and predictions is that they’re actually right most of the time, but they always come too late. If you would claim “it’s Orlando’s year” before the playoffs, you’d be the man. But you let yourself to be carried away by the very recent results and thus your articles are pointless and useless. Sorry Eddie, but I guess most of the guys commenting your articles in here are better experts than you…
Btw. I was really hoping for a closer matchup, but we see just what almost everybody (except for Eddie) predicted - the Magic are no match for the Lakers. Still, although down 2-0, I don’t believe we’ll see a sweep here.
JimBob Said,
June 8, 2009 @ 8:08 am
Oh Eddie….have you ever been right?
Mike Said,
June 8, 2009 @ 10:50 am
Well Eddie I wish I would seen this article on June 3, 2009 when it was written, but I’ve been extremely busy at work, and I didn’t have a chance to read this. I would have told you then that it’s tough for all intents and purposes, for a jump shooting team to win, and one with size and enough bodies. I did email the ESPN guys before this started and told them the same thing, so this is not a Monday morning quarterback statement. What I thought is what’s happening. They have 6-8, 6-10, 6-6, 7-0 in their face most of the time. Eddie you were a shooter (you know you can’t live and die by the jump shot). The only true slasher they have is Lee (rookie). Dwight Howard is not Shaq or Olajuwon, or a combo of both, YET! Lewis had a good game, and why, because of missed assignments by Lamar, so what’s going to happen when LA make the adjustments on Game 3, No open looks for Lewis, WOW! We will see (I picked LA in 6 at beginning of series)
justinmeilers Said,
June 8, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
After last nights game -
OUCH
This is kind of funny.
My prediction - The Lakers win the first 2 games.
james Said,
June 8, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
Eddie always picks the losers
Marlon Said,
June 8, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
Anyone seen Eddie?
MRGQ Said,
June 8, 2009 @ 2:47 pm
Hi Eddie told me to relay this message to all of you:
“I am sorry I was wrong. I will never jump to conclusions again. The Lakers are a great team and Kobe is the greatest ever. I acutally knew this from the bottom of my heart, but I like to write these kind of nonsense so that my articles will get hits.”
We have all be doped!
knock knock Said,
June 8, 2009 @ 4:04 pm
I find it hilarious that experts on this site picked cleveland to win it all. I find it hilarious that they picked clev over orlando because ITS LEBRON HES UNSTOPPABLE. I find it hilarious that just cuz lebron lost, they believed kobe wouldn’t be able to come through.
* this site is becoming just like espn, where all that matters is lebron. And biased opinions are the norm.
bobbylight Said,
June 9, 2009 @ 2:13 pm
I agree with the sentiment that LBJ is getting all the glory for not having done squat yet. Everyone in the media is mimicking ESPN to that regard. I do think LeBron will be an excellent player, but it’s really premature to crown him now over Kobe.
I like how people say LBJ needs a coach, or better players around him, etc. The fact is his team accrued the best record in the league with the “coach of the year” and players who everyone lauded earlier in the season. So what happened? The excuses people give are hilarious. Instead of engaged in LBJ vs. Kobe debate, let the record speak for itself. To me, Dominique Wilkins looked insane vs. Jordan at times, but he never won. So who really cares. There’s alot of awesome players that never came to fruition when the dust settled like Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill. What it boils down to is winning in the big stage. LBJ is of course capable, just like many others in history. But he’s still young and his ultimate work has yet to be determined. As of NOW, he’s got a one Finals sweep (courtesy of Spurs) under his resume. So there can be all the media hype of “journalists” and equating the two players via puppetry in advertisements. I’d still take Kobe in that final 4th quarter. Yes, it’s evident I’m a Kobe/Lakers fan, …but does that really negate my point?
Emma Said,
June 9, 2009 @ 7:06 pm
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let the Magic win this so all of the haters will be proved wrong…I know the first two games don’t bode well, but still…
GO TURKOGLU! GO MAGIC!
justinmeilers Said,
June 10, 2009 @ 12:27 pm
Everybody is against the Lakers. ESPN - Eddie for HoopsHype. The announcers. This is a god damn team that kept the league alive. Show some respect. Orlando - Really? Disney? Really. Come on Lakers fans. Lets stand up to these idiots already. We are the most storied franchise in the sport with the best player in the league. Enough already. All the hate is overwhelming. We deserve to win this series if it’s called correctly. We are the better team.
Vincent Said,
June 14, 2009 @ 9:52 pm
I told you Eddie Johnson how it was going to play out and that’s the way it went laker in five (5). Kobe in the left and right box and Orlando couldn’t do anything about. The only mistake I made is the order that they would win. Eddie I give you this, the magic should have won game four (4) however I see were you place the laker hopes for a repeat for the 09/10 season.
adklajdsfj Said,
June 14, 2009 @ 10:25 pm
time for next year’s prediction Eddie.
baldo Said,
June 15, 2009 @ 6:20 am
what now eddie? what?
Porky Said,
June 15, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
Eddie- if you can still bear to read these postings…dont worry. You gave us something to talk about, write about. You were wrong. Big deal. I think you have something to offer so keep it up. And dont forget to pick Celtics next year.
Jeff Said,
June 15, 2009 @ 3:12 pm
Eddie,
Nice pick! As I stated previously, you are just a hater. We all know you can’t help it. If I was a Phoenix Suns player, I would hate the Lakers too. We kick the crap out of Phoenix yearly. Problem is, if you are going to try to be an “analyst” or whatever you are trying to be, you will need to be more objective. Otherwise, you will end up making stupid predictions like this one.