Riverside! Oh Emm Gee, did you hear what happened last week? The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Orlando Magic in Game Six, which would be surprising if you weren't following either team through the season and got caught up in the Kobe vs. Lebron dichotomy that doesn't really exist yet but makes for great commercials and "potential match-ups," even though every time Kobe and Lebron "matched up," Lebron was "shut down," faster than "Windows 95."
But anyone with reality in their gold and purple-teethed bite (my roommate Joseph Han and I, just sayin') has known for weeks that it was probably going to be the Magic and Lakers in L.A. for Game One of the 2008-09 Finals. It was both teams that played with unmatched intensity throughout the season, as well as utilizing their talent effectively, making for some dangerous guys to play against.
On any other day, I would explain in great detail why it is the Lakers are going to end this season with a ring, but today I'd like to shed my hater suit (for just a few seconds) and claim publicly that this is probably one of the best finals match-ups we've seen in years.
The Magic are a magnificent team, playing with guys that can obviously step it up and bury a team in a shower of threes and dunks on any given day. Aside from Dwight Howard and his punishing consistency, I couldn't help but pay attention to players like Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis who average 16.7 and 17.7 points per game, but can break 20 at any given moment.
There are even worries on the match-ups, the only one worth mentioning probably Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum, and that's only because Bynum hasn't worked himself into his seasoned groove yet.
If he starts putting up numbers similar to those he did before his injury mid-season, then Superman might make a few shots, but the young gun is going to be answering them down court.
If the young gun doesn't work, then the Spanish one will take his place.
It's absolute insanity, and now folks are getting nervous thinking maybe the Lakers are going to have trouble taking this title.
But really?
The only thing we have to worry about is the Lakers' lack of focus.
We already know that based on talent and skill they'll swallow this up. Everything else is just a matter of Orlando getting lucky.
The trophy is coming back to Cali, and I'm not talking about those Kings (or Queens) fans up north.
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