Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

Heim

EOG Master
Center Andrew Bynum vs. Dwight Howard. The Lakers sorely missed Bynum last year against Boston, and they need him to play well now against Howard, because having to double-team Orlando's All-Star means leaving one of its 3-point shooters open. But Bynum hasn't regained his full mobility after returning from a knee injury and that puts him at a disadvantage against Howard, who scored 40 points in the Magic's clinching victory over Cleveland and authored a 25-point, 20-rebound masterpiece last time he visited the Lakers.
Edge ? Magic

Power Forward ? Pau Gasol vs. Rashard Lewis. Intriguing matchup of All-Stars who hurt teams in different ways, Gasol from inside and Lewis from the perimeter. Gasol was a disappointment against Orlando in the regular season, averaging just 12 points and 8.0 rebounds, but a repeat of those struggles seems unlikely the way he is playing now. Lewis will continue to cause matchup problems with his 3-point shooting, as he did against Cleveland's big forwards, so the Lakers may often use Lamar Odom to defend him away from the basket.
Edge ? Even
Small forward ? Trevor Ariza vs. Hedo Turkoglu. Ariza, a former Magic forward, is no longer just a slasher, shooting 50 percent from 3-point range in the postseason. He made two key steals on inbounds passes against Denver that helped the Lakers pull out victories, and his athleticism is a key to their defense. Turkoglu had awful shooting efforts in three of the final four nights in the conference finals, but still finds ways to impact games with his passing and rebounding. Edge ? Magic
Shooting guard ? Kobe Bryant vs. Courtney Lee. Bryant will likely be guarded often by Mickael Pietrus, the Magic's best perimeter defender. Bryant had a 41-point game and a 28-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist effort against Orlando during the regular season, and he's desperate to come through in the finals after Boston's defensive schemes made life miserable for him last June.
Edge ? Lakers
Point guard ? Derek Fisher vs. Rafer Alston. Both will get open shots when their defenders have to help on other players, but neither has consistently made them in the playoffs. Alston is shooting 38 percent and Fisher only 36 percent -- 23.5 percent from behind the arc. Still, Alston has had a few strong performances, more of them than Fisher.
Edge ? Magic

Reserves ? Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Josh Powell vs. Mickael Pietrus, Anthony Johnson, Marcin Gortat, Tony Battie and J.J. Redick. Orlando doesn't go as deep but has received reliable play from the guys it calls on, winning games when Johnson and Gortat had to start after suspensions to Alston and Howard. The Lakers' bench was supposed to give them an edge against Boston and instead was a disappointment, but with Odom looking sharp at the end of the conference finals, this is their chance for redemption. Edge: Lakers.

Coaches ? : Phil Jackson vs. Stan Van Gundy. Van Gundy has been criticized by his former center (Shaquille O'Neal) and his current one (Howard) this season, but hard to find any fault with him these days after leading his team to consecutive series victories over higher-seeded opponents. Jackson tries again for a 10th title, which would move him ahead of Red Auerbach, and his experience and calm on this stage remain one of the Lakers' biggest assets. To win it, he'll need to find a way to solve the matchup problems the Magic created for their opponents in the East. Edge: Even.

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Square analysis from the Associated Press but I agree with it....
 

winkyduck

TYVM Morgan William!!!
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

Great - glad to hear that

Paper is worth what is put on it

Games are won ON THE PLAYING SURFACE - NOT PAPER

"On Paper" I doubt the Magic make it this far

Lakers in 6
 

railbird

EOG Master
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

The Midwest is a big pile of shit. The midwest reps in Little LEauge havent won a game in like 7 years. The only sport where big 12 doesnt massively underachieve, or more like overrated, is rodeo.
 

Viejo Dinosaur

EOG Master
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

Only two match-ups are significant...

Kobe and Phil Jackson...that's why I believe the Lakers will win...(one year late for Lapdance)
 

royalfan

EOG Dedicated
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

The Midwest is a big pile of shit. The midwest reps in Little LEauge havent won a game in like 7 years. The only sport where big 12 doesnt massively underachieve, or more like overrated, is rodeo.


What in the world does the midwest little league reps record have to do with the Orlando'Lakers series? You are a strange cat Rail, but as long as you know your tennis all is good. :cheers

For the record, talk about a piece of shit conference. The pac ten. How in the hell can they suck so bad at baseball with unreal weather advantages over much of the country? They are soft in everything but you would think that wouldn't factor in as much in bases. One team left? Not to mention the rotten big west. Irvine proved they were a fraud too. California just basically sucks at baseball which is surprising.
 

Apple

Banned
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

Railbird came out of left field with that comment. Lol
 

Heim

EOG Master
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

Great - glad to hear that

Paper is worth what is put on it

Games are won ON THE PLAYING SURFACE - NOT PAPER

"On Paper" I doubt the Magic make it this far

Lakers in 6

Btw there is basketball east of Needles, CA. lol

Didn't the Magic just beat the prohibitive favorite to win
it all in 6.....stop being a homer.
 

mike499

EOG Veteran
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

Whatifsports begs to differ I know it is just a simulation but they have been acurate in the past.
 

tripp

EOG Master
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

lakers should win rather easily imo. denver has a better team than the magic and the lakers didn't really have too much trouble there (denver looked very impressive in a few games, but by the end it was clear the lakers were better).

dwight is the only real adv i see with the lakers. i'd take gasol over lewis, id take ariza/odom over hedo, and the laker guards over the magic guards easily. kobe/fisher is much better overall than alston/lee/pietrus

if the lakers can guard howard effectively this could be a sweep. im probably alone in thinking this but i just don't see the magic winning any games in la, so not sure how they can win the series.
 

winkyduck

TYVM Morgan William!!!
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

Btw there is basketball east of Needles, CA. lol

Didn't the Magic just beat the prohibitive favorite to win
it all in 6.....stop being a homer.

To who? NOT ME - i said too many times to count here the Cavs were NOT going to win it all and if they faced te Lakers the Lakers would win because the cavs have one of the worst - if not the worst coach in the NBA. The Magic won because Mike Brown is too freaking stupid to know how to react during a game except to give the ball to LeBron. the MASSIVE coaching mismatch the Magic had vs the Cavs disappears here with Stan Van vs Phil

Stan Van will actually have to do something here as opposed to the moron he went against in the ECF

we all know how the papers are doing these days so "on paper" ain't worth shit

Lakers in 6
 

shdw01

EOG Dedicated
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

Howard > Bynum
Kobe > Lee
Alston > Fisher
Gasol > Lewis

Turkoglu = Ariza.....both are playing way better than I'm used to seeing them play....too tough to call at this point

Van Gundy > Jackson (I think he will get extra tips for brother Jeff....Phil is getting old and doesn't do porn)

Home Court adv.....lakers > magic

bench.....magic > lakers......magic bench won't be needed as much since they aren't fielding old soon-to-be retired people like fish.....should be more fresh even though they don't have the name recognition like Odom and Walton.

looks pretty even to me....I think the lakers win but I think the line is too much in their favor.....not sure what to do with that in mind.
 

rjt721

EOG Master
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

Power Forward ? Pau Gasol vs. Rashard Lewis. Intriguing matchup of All-Stars who hurt teams in different ways, Gasol from inside and Lewis from the perimeter. Gasol was a disappointment against Orlando in the regular season, averaging just 12 points and 8.0 rebounds, but a repeat of those struggles seems unlikely the way he is playing now. Lewis will continue to cause matchup problems with his 3-point shooting, as he did against Cleveland's big forwards, so the Lakers may often use Lamar Odom to defend him away from the basket.
Edge ? Even

No way Pau/Rashard is even. Substantial edge for the Lakers there, even though they might not be matched up against each other much.

Lakers have Ariza and Odom to defend Lewis and Hedo.

Rashard can't guard Gasol or Odom in the post. Pau, in particular, will kill Lewis.

Bynum's size, and the fact he can move, unlike Ilgauskas, will make it tougher for Dwight. But obviously Dwight will still be a huge problem.

Lakers will probably be best served to play small and go with Gasol at center and Odom at the 4. And that's almost always the lineup Phil goes with in the 4Q. Let Howard get his, contain Hedo with Ariza, and Lewis by putting Odom on him.

Lakers in 6. Would be a different story if Nelson were 100%. He's exactly what the Lakers can't stop - a quick, offensive-minded PG. Lakers can't stop the pick and roll. Nelson and Howard running it would be deadly. Rafer's not good enough to hurt them.
 

royalfan

EOG Dedicated
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

No way Pau/Rashard is even. Substantial edge for the Lakers there, even though they might not be matched up against each other much.

Lakers have Ariza and Odom to defend Lewis and Hedo.

Rashard can't guard Gasol or Odom in the post. Pau, in particular, will kill Lewis.

Bynum's size, and the fact he can move, unlike Ilgauskas, will make it tougher for Dwight. But obviously Dwight will still be a huge problem.

Lakers will probably be best served to play small and go with Gasol at center and Odom at the 4. And that's almost always the lineup Phil goes with in the 4Q. Let Howard get his, contain Hedo with Ariza, and Lewis by putting Odom on him.

Lakers in 6. Would be a different story if Nelson were 100%. He's exactly what the Lakers can't stop - a quick, offensive-minded PG. Lakers can't stop the pick and roll. Nelson and Howard running it would be deadly. Rafer's not good enough to hurt them.


Very spot on post again by rjt
 

Heim

EOG Master
Re: Magic/Laker Matchups....Magic Win On Paper.

You guys are nuts....The ML on this game is predominately for HCA. Two fairly
even teams with an inflated line. -255 means that the Laker win probability is
a little under 72%....Come on now, the Magic has only a 28% chance to win
this series?? The Lakers have lost two out of their last seven at home against
a +380 squad (Houston) and +240 (Denver)......This team isn't as
dominant as you think.
 
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