Great follow; that made my elementary school coach proud. Van Gundy’s bitching is really, really tiresome. I don’t think Mike Brown’s a great coach, but I do enjoy his demeanor. Very classy, even keel, looks like Grimace from the old McDonald’s commerical.
And, DtC, are you Gregg Doyel? (see end of article)
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/11799938
Cleveland should probably think about trying to stop the pick and roll. This is like the 2004 Olympic Team all over again.
I think the Magic are getting some help from the officials, but Cleveland just didn’t do anything right in that 2nd quarter. They’re not hitting shots, they’re not defending and they’re not rebounding. They’re giving the Magic way too many offensive boards, and they’re making a mediocre team look better than it really is by not challenging them on those outside shots. I think LeBron is just going to have to take over the game again. He beat Orlando by himself in game 5, he can do it again.
Realistically, how can Cleveland stop Orlando though? Other than pee wee style basketball where someone’s uncle coached us, I have never played organized basketball so I will defer to those with more knowledge, but it seems that if they actually guard those players then Howard dominates Z down low. They have to double or even triple team Howard or he dunks every time. So they do and then the Magic have wide open threes. Other than praying Orlando goes cold from outside, what do you do to stop it?
And Cleveland absolutely should leave all 4 offensive players on defense and let Lebron go 1 on 5. He will get fouled or dunk every single time. (heh, maybe little hyperbole)
Resolved: Wally Szerbiak is the worst big-contract player in the NBA.
$13M a fucking year for his production? I could pick an anonymous Euro or South American who could replace his production for a tenth of his salary. I can’t imagine he’d even be in the league if he wasn’t white.
Edit: And Midwestern.
Lakers in 4.
Wally Sexyback used to be decent. Never $13 mil a year decent, but he’s atrophied significantly. He was a legit player on the T-Wolves, for sure. But actually, now that I think of it, he’s been an occasional starter his whole career.
Yeah. Big rip off. I could conscience 6 or 7 million back in his hey day when he would go for 15 or 20 routinely. He’s also supposed to be a gigantic prick.
No chance the Lakers sweep. They’re too erratic.
Who checks Howard? Bynum? Laughable. Gasol? Too weak. They’ll have a much easier time with the Hedo/Lewis combo though, having Gasol, Ariza, and Odom to throw at them. Pietrus really played over his head this series and should have an easier time checking Kobe than LeBron (more his own size).
I could see an upset. I just can’t get excited about Magic/Lakers though.
Orlando’s not that good. Cleveland just overachieved with a superstar carrying a mediocre team. The Magic really have no business in the Finals, and they will get handled easily by an experienced championship team and a coach who already has 9 rings.
As for who guards Howard – Gasol will do just fine. Superbaby will probably DQ himself from the series with T’s before it ever gets back to Orlando anyway.
Thing is, I don’t think LA’s that good either. Neither of these teams are going to scream Great NBA Champion like the Bulls, Spurs, or Lakers past. Plus, Orlando’s still underrated by, well, everyone. They seem gimmicky but it works.
As for Gasol: he does not hold his own against real big men. Howard’s going to eat his lunch. Pau got pushed around by Kendrik freakin’ Perkins last year.
I was convinced that the NBA and the officials would insure that Cleveland would play against the Lakers in the final. The drama of LBJ against Kobe would certainly make commenters on the game salivate with the possibilities of the hyperbole it would generate. Oh, well, the final series will be a pedestrian affair in any case.
I’ll go with this.
Theres no way the Lakers can put together four straight good games. I think they will win it, but a lot of times they simply do not show up ready to play ball. I’m gonna go with Lakers in 7 and be very happy with my boys season.
What championship did this Lakers team win, exactly?
Keep on picking the other team. Worked just fine so far.
Gamblers give L.A. roughly a 70% chance to win the series (+216/-246 prices here, e.g.).
I’m not a big basketball betting guy, but I’d take the Lakers all day at those odds.
Apparently most folks agree with my assessment, as the line has moved significantly in LA’s favor (now +249/-269).
Kobe and Fisher have won three championships together, under Phil Jackson, who has won nine.
No player on this season’s Orlando team has won a championship, nor has Van Gundy.
Nobody called Orlando a “championship team”, and two players from a 15-man roster does not make the Lakers one either.
If Tim Duncan and Brent Barry both signed with the Knicks tomorrow would that make them a “championship team”?
Tyronn Lue has 2.
HA. I forgot he was even there. Sorry, Tyronn, but you were never good.