Two of my favorite teams are meeting in the finals this year! Obviously I am rooting for the Lakers but there are many matchups in this series that favor the Magic. This series is going to go down to the wire but I am predicting that the Lakers will pull it out in 6.
Here is my breakdown of the series:
Point Guard:
Phil Jackson needs to stop playing D fish. I love fish but his time is done. Phil is not going to bench him but expect to see a lot of Farmar and Brown guarding Alston, and Johnson respectively. The key for the Laker guards are to stop dribble penetration.
On the magic side when Alston is hot the magic play extremely well. There have been rumors that Nelson might be able to come back for the finals. Jameer is a horrible matchup for the Lakers and would be a big boost to the Magic if he can play. The key for the Magic point guards is to get as much dribble penetration and to make open shots.
Advantage: Magic
Shooting Guard:
The magic have no answer for Kobe. Expect to see a lot of Pietrus. What will be interesting to see is if the Magic use double teams. They did not double team Lebron that much so I expect to see a lot of one on one defense from Pietrus.
Advantage: Lakers
Small Forward:
Trevor Ariza will guard a lot of different players in this series. His offense and ability to stay out of foul trouble will be very important for the Lakers. Hedo on the other hand is the Magic's closer. In the Playoffs he has not been shooting particularly well but he has been making shots at all the right times. For Orlando Hedo needs to shoot well and keep the floor stretched out. His dribble penetration will be another key.
Edge: Slight Edge Magic
Power Forward:
The Power Forward matchup matches Pau Gasol and Rashard Lewis. Gasol plays more like a Center, and Rashard more like a small forward. This matchup will be the most interesting because the Lakers will have to decide who guard Rashad and likewise the Magic will have to decide who guards Pau because as the matchup stands it is a huge mismatch both ways. The Lakers have Lamar Odom who is versatile enough to guard Rashad but the Magic will have to decide if they want to use Gortat or double teams to guard Pau.
Edge: Lakers
Center:
Unlike the Cavaliers, the Lakers have a lot of big bodies to throw at Dwight Howard. The Lakers will need to make sure to foul Dwight and make him make free throws and limit his dunks. On offense Lakers will need to attack Dwight and try to get him in foul trouble. Gortat is a skilled backup but he is the only other Magic player who can control the paint.
Edge: Magic
Bench:
Magic Bench is led by Pietrus who will see a lot of minutes guarding Kobe. His corner three killed the Cavs and the Lakers will have to make sure he does not get good looks. If Nelson returns he could be a huge help for the Magic bench which is not particularly explosive. Gortat is solid and can score on the pick and roll.
The Lakers Bench has been a different story every game and it is unclear what kind of production the Lakers will get in the finals. Lamar, Brown, Farmar, Vujacic, and Luke will all play. Powell will also be used for fouls on Dwight. Expect Lamar to close out games and Brown and Farmar to get extensive minutes.
Edge: Slight Edge Lakers
Coach: Phil has the experience but no longer makes many adjustments within series. Stan Van Gundy will run many plays and try out a variety of strategies. However in the Finals I think Phil's calm style and experience and control over the team will win the series.
Edge: Lakers
My keys to the series:
Lakers:
Get Howard off the court
No Dunks for Howard
No Open three pointers
Pound the Ball Inside
Fast Break Points
100% Effort Every Game
Role Players Shoot well
Magic:
Keep Howard on the Court
Dribble Penetration
Contain Kobe
Shoot above 40% from 3 point line
Transition Defense
Biggest Questions:
The starting lineups have a lot of mistmatches for both teams who will make the lineup changes first? Who will guard Rashad and Hedo? Who will guard Pau?
In the end the Lakers experience and defense will win the series. If La controls the paint and speed that will compensate for the Magic's great 3 point defense. The Lakers have more offensive weapons than the Magic and the size advantage. I expect the Lakers to win the 2009 Championship in 6!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Nba Reffing
Nba reffing is horrible. Every single playoff referee is over 60 years old. How can we trust 60 year old referees to keep up with arguably the fastest sport in the game. Their eye site is horrible and they are not close enough to make the correct calls. But beyond the referees being senile the nba has bigger problems. Why do they keep calling fragrant fouls and then downgrading them, why do they keep rescinding technicals. Why are non-calls in the first quarter fouls in the fourth quarter and why are there 45 fouls in one game and 135 fouls in another game between the same two teams running the exact same offenses? The refs are horrible and I am going to join Bill Simmons and say that we need to start a revolution and demand more.
Here are my suggestions:
Kobe keeps saying this but go back to more physical play. Today's athlete can score with coincidental contact. Too many fouls are called in the nba that are completely meaningless. Players start expecting these calls and whining about any kind of incidental contact. Soccer has a similar problem with diving, once players have success they will whine and act more and more. Now acting and gamesmanship is unavoidable but we can stop it from ruining basketball.
The changes:
1. Coincidental contact is not a foul.
2. The offensive player cannot jump into the defensive player and draw a foul, this is a non-call.
3.A referee fund is created to train players who don't make nba or whose careers end early to be referees in the league.
4. Refereese go through NBDL games learning how to be NBA referees. The program is extremely competitive and only the best referees make it. Referees are also given consistency grades and are graded on how they call games with respect to the nba rules.
5. Each player is given a handbook on what a technical foul is. If they do anything that is in the handbook they receive a technical. Make technicals as objective as possible.
6. Each team is given a remove one foul card which can be used at any point to remove one foul from any player. Only one per game. This way bullshit calls don't change an entire game by putting a guy in foul trouble. Hopefully this bad call will not exist but this is insurance.
7. When offensive players are clearly passing the other team cannot take a charge.
8. Kickball is only called when the player actually kicks the ball I know this is the rule but the refs miss this call all the time.
9. Only the head coach and captain of each team are allowed to talk to the referee during the game. (Every single player whines in the league on every play)
Here are my suggestions:
Kobe keeps saying this but go back to more physical play. Today's athlete can score with coincidental contact. Too many fouls are called in the nba that are completely meaningless. Players start expecting these calls and whining about any kind of incidental contact. Soccer has a similar problem with diving, once players have success they will whine and act more and more. Now acting and gamesmanship is unavoidable but we can stop it from ruining basketball.
The changes:
1. Coincidental contact is not a foul.
2. The offensive player cannot jump into the defensive player and draw a foul, this is a non-call.
3.A referee fund is created to train players who don't make nba or whose careers end early to be referees in the league.
4. Refereese go through NBDL games learning how to be NBA referees. The program is extremely competitive and only the best referees make it. Referees are also given consistency grades and are graded on how they call games with respect to the nba rules.
5. Each player is given a handbook on what a technical foul is. If they do anything that is in the handbook they receive a technical. Make technicals as objective as possible.
6. Each team is given a remove one foul card which can be used at any point to remove one foul from any player. Only one per game. This way bullshit calls don't change an entire game by putting a guy in foul trouble. Hopefully this bad call will not exist but this is insurance.
7. When offensive players are clearly passing the other team cannot take a charge.
8. Kickball is only called when the player actually kicks the ball I know this is the rule but the refs miss this call all the time.
9. Only the head coach and captain of each team are allowed to talk to the referee during the game. (Every single player whines in the league on every play)
Kobe versus Lebron
Lebron or Kobe, Kobe or Lebron
Tons of people have had heated discussions about Kobe and Lebron over last couple weeks as the NBA tries to hype and market a dream marketing final. The two top selling and most popular nba players, the two reigning MVPs, the two leaders of the summer Olympic gold medal team going head to head for the championship but more than that the individual title of the World’s best basketball player. I am here to clarify all issues and settle this debate once and for all. Before I start you should know I am a die heart laker fan who loves Kobe but I am also a huge lebron fan.
First lets clear up what the hell World’s best basketball player means. Does that mean most dominant, most well-rounded, best one-on one player, best team player? What we want is some overall combination of everything I mentioned. We want to give an individual title in a team sport so we must value both individual skill as well as what the player brings to the team in terms of intangibles and improving the overall quality of the team.
Kobe Bryant is the most skilled basketball player in the game and has mastered every single shot possible in basketball. He has no weaknesses and drives equally to his left and to his right. He has a strong post game, mid-range, and has an above average 3 point shooting percentage. He has mastered every single shot and has no clear weakness in his offensive game. On defense he is an excellent free safety, great at ball denial and a perennial pick for first team all defense. His game is pretty and fluid and it has been perfected through repetition and tons of practice.
Lebron James is an animal, a beast, a freak of nature. His body type has never been seen in the nba. His football linebacker body is perfect for an NBA Power Forward. However, his speed and explosiveness match the quickest guards in the game. If you were to create the ideal player in NBA LIVE 99 strength, 99 speed, 99 explosiveness you get King James. Somehow he got all that strength and size without losing any speed. Lebron is a one of a kind physically blessed athlete. The league has never seen a player with his physical attributes. Lebron does not have a consistent jumpshot, and lacks a perfected mid-range and post up game. However, his physical attributes cover any weaknesses and make him the most dominant player in the game. His size and speed make him a tremendous defensive player as well.
Practice makes perfect but god given attributes trump practice. Teams have seen Kobe like players before. No one matches Kobe’s skill and there are still no clear ways to defend him but you know what to expect and there are athletes that can make him less effective. Kobe’s repertoire also includes many jumpshots in addition to drives which give him an average field goal percentage of 47-48%. On the other hand Lebron shoots above 50% and is in a league of his own. No matter who is guarding him there is already a physical mismatch. In Kobe’s case the mismatch is just skill wise.
In addition to Lebron being more efficient he also has a very likeable and contagious personality that makes him a great teammate. The knock that was always on Jordan was that he was a horrible teammate, Kobe gets this a lot as well. Jordan and Kobe both understand the power of teammates but also knew that when it comes down to it they would make the plays necessary to win and no one in the world could stop them. Lebron is more similar to Magic and does not have that same competitive one on one edge that Kobe and Jordan were born with. Lebron’s numbers show that he controls pretty much every part of the box score while Kobe’s numbers are not as balanced.
As the debate goes on even the biggest Kobe Bryant fan must concede that Lebron is more well-rounded and more dominant. Lebron is a rare specimen that the league has never seen. He has the perfect build for basketball and the passion and contagious personality last seen by Magic Johnson. Everybody loves him. He has already been named King and 3-4 years from now we will start arguing he is the greatest player of all time. However, to be considered great longevity and health are essential. Players are judged on entire careers and not on individual seasons.
These last few points make it clear that if I wanted to start a team today I take Lebron because of his age, physical attributes, and contagious personality. However, the crown for better career cannot be given until King James provides more statistics. If he continues to improve as he has done the past few seasons, then we all truly will be witnesses. King James the possibilities are infinite.
Before we end the debate we must also give Kobe credit where he deserves it. Kobe is the games best closer and if I need a basket I still pick him over Lebron because he is familiar with every spot on the court and can shoot a high percentage shot from anywhere. Furthermore Kobe is a better scorer and Lebron will never score 81 in a game. But basketball is not about only one possession it is about the entire game and all of the teammates who play on the court the entire game. When we consider all these factors Lebron does more to a game than Kobe does. The King is the new MVP and could be there for a long time to come. Kobe’s prime is coming to an end and unfortunately the media robbed him of two mvp’s. I am a die heart (I like die heart better than diehard ) laker fan but with the new nba rules the King is going to dominate this league for a long time.
Tons of people have had heated discussions about Kobe and Lebron over last couple weeks as the NBA tries to hype and market a dream marketing final. The two top selling and most popular nba players, the two reigning MVPs, the two leaders of the summer Olympic gold medal team going head to head for the championship but more than that the individual title of the World’s best basketball player. I am here to clarify all issues and settle this debate once and for all. Before I start you should know I am a die heart laker fan who loves Kobe but I am also a huge lebron fan.
First lets clear up what the hell World’s best basketball player means. Does that mean most dominant, most well-rounded, best one-on one player, best team player? What we want is some overall combination of everything I mentioned. We want to give an individual title in a team sport so we must value both individual skill as well as what the player brings to the team in terms of intangibles and improving the overall quality of the team.
Kobe Bryant is the most skilled basketball player in the game and has mastered every single shot possible in basketball. He has no weaknesses and drives equally to his left and to his right. He has a strong post game, mid-range, and has an above average 3 point shooting percentage. He has mastered every single shot and has no clear weakness in his offensive game. On defense he is an excellent free safety, great at ball denial and a perennial pick for first team all defense. His game is pretty and fluid and it has been perfected through repetition and tons of practice.
Lebron James is an animal, a beast, a freak of nature. His body type has never been seen in the nba. His football linebacker body is perfect for an NBA Power Forward. However, his speed and explosiveness match the quickest guards in the game. If you were to create the ideal player in NBA LIVE 99 strength, 99 speed, 99 explosiveness you get King James. Somehow he got all that strength and size without losing any speed. Lebron is a one of a kind physically blessed athlete. The league has never seen a player with his physical attributes. Lebron does not have a consistent jumpshot, and lacks a perfected mid-range and post up game. However, his physical attributes cover any weaknesses and make him the most dominant player in the game. His size and speed make him a tremendous defensive player as well.
Practice makes perfect but god given attributes trump practice. Teams have seen Kobe like players before. No one matches Kobe’s skill and there are still no clear ways to defend him but you know what to expect and there are athletes that can make him less effective. Kobe’s repertoire also includes many jumpshots in addition to drives which give him an average field goal percentage of 47-48%. On the other hand Lebron shoots above 50% and is in a league of his own. No matter who is guarding him there is already a physical mismatch. In Kobe’s case the mismatch is just skill wise.
In addition to Lebron being more efficient he also has a very likeable and contagious personality that makes him a great teammate. The knock that was always on Jordan was that he was a horrible teammate, Kobe gets this a lot as well. Jordan and Kobe both understand the power of teammates but also knew that when it comes down to it they would make the plays necessary to win and no one in the world could stop them. Lebron is more similar to Magic and does not have that same competitive one on one edge that Kobe and Jordan were born with. Lebron’s numbers show that he controls pretty much every part of the box score while Kobe’s numbers are not as balanced.
As the debate goes on even the biggest Kobe Bryant fan must concede that Lebron is more well-rounded and more dominant. Lebron is a rare specimen that the league has never seen. He has the perfect build for basketball and the passion and contagious personality last seen by Magic Johnson. Everybody loves him. He has already been named King and 3-4 years from now we will start arguing he is the greatest player of all time. However, to be considered great longevity and health are essential. Players are judged on entire careers and not on individual seasons.
These last few points make it clear that if I wanted to start a team today I take Lebron because of his age, physical attributes, and contagious personality. However, the crown for better career cannot be given until King James provides more statistics. If he continues to improve as he has done the past few seasons, then we all truly will be witnesses. King James the possibilities are infinite.
Before we end the debate we must also give Kobe credit where he deserves it. Kobe is the games best closer and if I need a basket I still pick him over Lebron because he is familiar with every spot on the court and can shoot a high percentage shot from anywhere. Furthermore Kobe is a better scorer and Lebron will never score 81 in a game. But basketball is not about only one possession it is about the entire game and all of the teammates who play on the court the entire game. When we consider all these factors Lebron does more to a game than Kobe does. The King is the new MVP and could be there for a long time to come. Kobe’s prime is coming to an end and unfortunately the media robbed him of two mvp’s. I am a die heart (I like die heart better than diehard ) laker fan but with the new nba rules the King is going to dominate this league for a long time.
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