Orlando has to cope with Kobe

[Lumi]

Orlando has to cope with Kobe

The great thing about the NBA Finals is no matter how magnified a blowout win or loss is, it only counts for one game. The Los Angeles Lakers showed in Game 1 against Orlando why they were favored to win the NBA title, with conclusive 100-75 mauling. This was the third consecutive full team effort from the Lakers, who might be finally matching everyone?s expectations.

If Kobe Bryant continues with the ?mean face? he might land a few minor acting roles as villain or thug. The way he played in the series opener, he might be on his way to MVP after scoring 40 points, while dishing out eight assists and snaring the same amount of rebounds. It was rather evident, Bryant was setting the tone for the Lakers intensity and anybody wearing a gold uniform that wasn?t going to play hard, might as well grab some bench or face the wrath of Kobe the Terrible.

The Los Angeles defensive game plan was brilliant, holding Orlando to 29.9 percent shooting. The Magic are unlikely to shoot as woefully again in the series, nonetheless the difference between how Cleveland defended Orlando?s long range shooters and what the Lakers did was clear. The Cavaliers defense is more structured and is not as good straying 20 feet away from the rim. Los Angeles, when focused, has the athletes and length to contest three point shots and when Orlando players give ball-fakes and drive to basket, a number of tall Lakers are part of the greeting committee.

That was the Lakers first cover of a NBA Finals game in last dozen tries (1-10-1 ATS) and it does not guarantee they will cover the 6.5-point spread at Sportsbook.com for next contest. Since 1997, the last 20 teams that won by 10 or more points are only 12-8 and 10-8-2 ATS in next contest.

You have to chuckle about what teams say about injuries. Jameer Nelson was either ?definitely out? or ?will not play under any circumstances?, yet a guy wearing number 14, with ?Nelson? on a back of deep water blue Orlando jersey played better than 23 minutes in the opening contest.

Coach Stan Van Gundy may have opened the Pandora?s Box in letting Nelson play so much, as Rafer Alston was rendered useless. Alston is smart enough to know Nelson is a better shooter, probably a better playmaker, but it was he who took over the squad at the point guard and helped bring the team into the Finals.

Nelson was immediately effective upon hitting the floor, however after about the six minute mark of playing; he was ineffectual like the rest of his teammates. Van Gundy has potentially hazardous situation to workout.
The Magic got away a little too quickly from the big man in the middle, when the game was still within reach just before the midpoint of third quarter. Dwight Howard totaled six shots, with ONE make and was 10 for 16 from the charity stripe. Orlando offense works best most nights when they play inside-out, giving the touches the broad-shouldered one has requested. The Magic are 15-4 ATS off a road loss and 14-3 against the spread if it is by double digits.

Orlando complained outwardly about not being mentally ready, but what they were really saying they weren?t ready for was Kobe and the Lakers actually prepared to play 48 minutes. The Magic have had two days of preparation to make adjustments and forgettable loss is easy to shake for a team that is 13-5-1 ATS who about 71 hours between assignments.

Phil Jackson will presume Howard will see the ball with a higher frequency and be more aggressive in taking it to the hoop. His players might need to be a few inches even closer in second encounter, with Orlando likely hitting more of their shots. Offensively, keep attacking the Magic off the dribble and have motion that sets up Lamar Odom and Luke Walton for interior baskets. The Lakers also are very solid off two days of rest with 8-2 ATS mark.

The total has been reduced to 202 and L.A. is 12-2 UNDER as a postseason favorite. You have to figure the Magic bunch can?t play any worse and are 20-11 UNDER when the total is greater than or equal to 200.

The start time Sunday for Game 2 moves up an hour to 8 Eastern and Hedu Turkoglu and the guys will have to bring more game if they expect to improve upon recent 7-2 ATS run.

 

[Lumi]

Lakers-Magic, Game 2

Lakers-Magic, Game 2

Lakers-Magic, Game 2

If you listened to any sports radio or watched ESPN?s Around the Horn, the worst show in ESPN history, on Friday, you had to be floored by the outrageous and seemingly unanimous thought process that these 2009 NBA Finals are over after just one game. I know I was stunned.

Contrary to popular belief, the only thing that?s over is L.A.?s dominant 100-75 win in the series lid-lifter Thursday night at Staples Center. The Lakers easily covered the spread as 6 ?-point home favorites.

Kobe Bryant was sensational, scoring a game-high 40 points with eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals, two blocked shots and merely one turnover. Pau Gasol added 16 points and eight boards, while Lamar Odom produced a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Dwight Howard had 12 points and 15 rebounds, but he was just 1-for-6 from the field. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis weren?t much better. Turkoglu finished with 13 points, but he was 3-for-11 from the floor and committed more turnovers (four) than assists (two). Lewis was held to only eight points, going 2-for-10 from the field.

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Orlando made only 29.9 percent of its shots and the pedestrian 75-point output was its lowest since losing 82-73 to Denver way back on Feb. 11. Perhaps the surprising appearance of Jameer Nelson impacted the Magic?s offensive rhythm.

Nelson, who has made a remarkable recovery from a shoulder injury that was believed to have ended his season, looked just fine when he gave his team a spark early in the second quarter. Nelson knocked down his first shot, a 12-foot baseline jumper, and then dished out several nice assists of off dribble penetration.

But Stan Van Gundy seemed to stick with him a little long in the second stanza and consequently, starting point guard Rafer Alston never got back in the flow of the game in the second half. Alston had six points, one assist and no turnovers, but he missed all four shots from 3-point land and played only 25 minutes.

In 23 minutes of play, Nelson had six points, four assists, two boards and one turnover. But Nelson was just 3-for-9 from the field and 0-for-2 from beyond the arc.

For Sunday?s Game 2 at Staples Center, Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Los Angeles (78-23 straight up, 53-48 against the spread) as a seven-point favorite with a total of 202. As of Saturday afternoon, most books had the Lakers as 6 ?-point ?chalk? with the total at 202 ?. Bettors can back the Magic to win outright for a plus-250 payout (risk $100 to win $250).

Obvioulsy, the oddsmakers aren?t overreacting to the Game 1 result like the national media has. I?m not surprised by that


?I felt like there would be more of an adjustment for Game 2 after the Lakers destroyed Orlando in Game 1. But it?s only Saturday so the public could still push this line higher then seven. I?ve seen first hand the flocks of bettors from Southern California that travel to Vegas on the weekend, and they always have their money on L.A.?

Although he expected the Lakers to be a little more ?chalky? for Game 2, he agrees with me in that this series is far from over. Franco said, ?I don?t believe this series is over after one game and we?ve seen the Lakers have lapses in these playoffs. They have a propensity to just play when they want too. The Magic disappeared in Game 1 and I think they have too much talent to go up in smoke early in this series. We?ll see if the Lakers get complacent.?

Remember, Orlando won both regular-season encounters, including a 109-103 triumph at Staples Center on Jan. 16. The ?under? is now 2-1 in the three head-to-head meetings between these squads this year.

The ?under? is 57-45 overall for the Magic but is just 26-26 in its road assignments. The ?over? is 5-2 in Orlando?s last seven outings in the postseason.

The ?under? is 52-48-1 overall for the Lakers, 27-25 in their home games. The ?under? is on a 9-2 run for L.A. in its last 11 games regardless of venue. L.A. has watched the ?under? go 16-5 in its last 21 home outings.

Orlando owns a 32-20 SU record and 31-20-1 spread record on the road this season. Meanwhile, the Lakers are 45-7 SU and 26-26 ATS at home this year.

Tip-off on Sunday night is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. Eastern on ABC.



--Sportsbook.com has already released its future odds for the 2009-2010 NBA season. The Lakers are the plus-250 ?chalk? (risk $100 to win $250), followed by the Cavs with plus-300 odds. Other contenders include Boston (+500), Orlando (+700), Denver (+1200), San Antonio (+1500) and Houston (+1500).

--Per LVSC?s recommendation, the adjusted series price is the Lakers minus-500 with the Magic plus-350 on the comeback (risk $100 to win $350).

--Orlando?s blowout loss was the worst Game 1 defeat since 1992 when Chicago destroyed Portland at the old Chicago Stadium. That was the game when Michael Jordan hit six 3-pointers in the second quarter and after draining his sixth, turned to press row and gestured as if he didn?t know what was going on with all these treys at a time in his career when he had yet to master that aspect of his game.

--According to BoDog Sports Book Manager Richard Gardner, bettors backing Bryant?s points to go ?over? 31 ? easily cashed tickets. The offshore website was forcing ?over? backers to lay a minus-175 price (risk $175 to win $100). Gamblers backing Bryant in a points matchup with Dwight Howard (Bryant was favored by 7 ? points) also turned a profit.

--Phil Jackson teams have never lost a series in which they prevailed in Game 1.

--Orlando is making its first Finals appearance since it was swept by the Rockets in 1995 (think missed free throws galore by Nick Anderson). After the Game 1 loss, the Magic are now 0-5 in five NBA Finals games.

--L.A. has lost two home games in the playoffs ? Game 1 vs. Houston and Game 2 vs. Denver.

--I left my house at the end of the first quarter of Game 1 to drive to Smith?s Olde Bar for the rest of the game. During the drive, I had the privilege of hearing the ESPN Radio call from Mike Tirico, Dr. Jack Ramsay and Hubie Brown. Now I love Jeff Van Gundy as an ABC analyst, but I?ll take that radio crew over the TV guys every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Brown and Ramsay haven?t lost a step in their analysis even though they are way up there in age. Brown had Howard pegged perfectly early in the second quarter when he said, ?I don?t like Howard?s body language at all right now. He?s got to be motoring down the court, making himself available and demanding the ball in the lane. He doesn?t have the look intensity-wise that you have to have out of your leader on the road in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.? Again, those were Hubie?s thoughts early in the second quarter. Obviously, he was dead on.

--Ever heard of NBA ref Eric Lewis? According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Daytona Beach Police have.

 

[Lumi]

Magic confident going into Game 2

Magic confident going into Game 2

Magic confident going into Game 2
June 6, 2009


LOS ANGELES (AP) - Dwight Howard hasn't been surprised by anything during his first trip to the NBA finals. It's all seemed so familiar to Orlando's center, like he's been here before.


If it wasn't June, it would be like any other game.

Sure, there's more media. There's ``that big trophy everywhere you look.'' There's a stenographer sitting in on the press conferences.

``That's new,'' Howard noted. ``Other than that, it's just basketball.''

And as has been the case most of this season, the Magic appear to be in trouble.

Down 1-0 to the Los Angeles Lakers after being blown out 100-75 in Game 1, the Magic spent part of Friday watching film of their pathetic return to the finals after a 14-year hiatus. They got lit up by Kobe Bryant, who scored 40 points, and Howard and Orlando's other big men were dominated on the boards by the Lakers' frontline, which posted a 55-41 advantage in rebounding.

``Embarrassing,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy snorted.

Orlando was out of its league.

Bryant scored almost at will, punctuating each bucket by extending his lower jaw to show his lower teeth - a menacing look underscoring the self-proclaimed Black Mamba's drive at winning his fourth title. The Magic also hurt themselves by shooting 30 percent and missing open shots, and Howard was a non-factor on offense with 12 points and only one field goal, a 7-foot hook shot in the game's first two minutes.

The NBA's leading dunker didn't dunk. He didn't dominate. He didn't do diddly.

Howard knows he and his teammates have to do much more in Game 2 on Sunday night.

``We just didn't have any energy or effort,'' Howard said. ``We didn't box out, all the little things. We can't control Kobe scoring 40 points, but we can control boxing out, getting loose balls, stuff like that, and we didn't do that. We have to come out with a better effort.''

Howard's ineffectiveness was the main topic of conversation at Friday's media gathering. One reporter wondered if the sleeve on his arm may have affected his shot.

``Man, I just wear the sleeve because I like how it looks,'' Howard said, shaking his head in disbelief at the query. ``It had nothing to do with making shots or anything. I started wearing it in practice, it felt good one day, and I thought, 'Man, I should wear this in the game.' It might make my shot look better.''

Being in a hole is nothing new to the resilient Magic, it's where they've lived most of the season.

They made it to the finals despite losing All-Star guard Jameer Nelson for 42 games because of a shoulder injury, and they came from behind against Philadelphia and Boston to win previous series this postseason. Against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals, the Magic shot their way back from impossible deficits.

They're down again, not out.

``It's just one game,'' said forward Hedo Turkoglu, who went just 3-of-11 from the floor. ``It's a long series. We've got a couple days to work on some things. We know how good we are, and we know what we need to do to win.''

A good place to start would be getting Howard more involved on offense.

Nothing came easy for him in Game 1. Like paparazzi swarming outside a nightclub for a magazine cover photo, the Lakers' forwards and centers were everywhere he turned. Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom pushed him, prodded him, poked him.

Superman's cape got torn to shreds.

And when Howard got the ball deep in the lane, one of Los Angeles' guards would dive down on a double team and force him to pick it up. By the time he passed out from inside to an open teammate on the perimeter, the lengthy Lakers were able to recover and contest.

``They're going to make it tough to get Dwight rolling,'' Van Gundy said. ``We got him the ball a lot, but they're always coming with another guy.''

Van Gundy admitted he made a mistake in playing Nelson for the entire second quarter. In his first action since Groundhog Day, Nelson sparked the Magic early but then tired and faded. Van Gundy still plans to use him off the bench in Game 2, but will monitor his minutes more closely.

The Lakers aren't taking anything for granted. They may have won Game 1 without breaking a sweat, but their demeanor remained very businesslike during Friday's workout.

Bryant, whose kids have been calling him ``Grumpy'' because of his sour mood of late at home, remained stone faced. He answered questions with short, measured responses and only cracked a smile once.

Does he remember the Lakers' attitude before the finals last season?

``No,'' he said.

Is he driven to win a title to prove anything to LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal?

``Not at all,'' he said.

So why the frosty attitude?

``I'm just focused and ready to go,'' he said. ``I've been pacing myself all year waiting for these playoffs to come around. The table is set.''

 

[Lumi]

Double Bryant? Magic won't tell

Double Bryant? Magic won't tell

Double Bryant? Magic won't tell
June 5, 2009


LOS ANGELES (AP) -The Orlando Magic couldn't stop Kobe Bryant, who scored 40 points, his high in an NBA finals game, in a dominant Game 1 performance.





So how about putting another body on him?

That question certainly made the rounds Friday before Orlando had its practice session at Staples Center. Don't expect the Magic to give away any strategies, though.

``We're going to make sure we make an adjustment on everybody,'' said Mickael Pietrus, who split time with rookie Courtney Lee guarding Bryant. ``The thing we're going to try to do is make sure he doesn't move freely. Hopefully we're going to come out hard on him.''

So is that a yes on doubling the Lakers' star?

``I'm not going to give you my game plan. People read the news, so it's all about team,'' Pietrus said. ``Sometimes you have to say stuff and sometimes you have to keep stuff for yourself. (But) we're going to make some changes, so hopefully you guys are going to see it.''

---

GRUMPY AND GRUMPIER: Kobe Bryant hasn't been smiling in the NBA finals and said even his kids call him Grumpy.

How about Lakers coach Phil Jackson?

``I call him Mr. Grumpy,'' said Lakers executive vice president Jeanie Buss, also Jackson's girlfriend. ``It's just the pain they went through from losing last season. I saw how long it took Phil to get out of that depression. Kobe was able to go right into Olympic mode, so he just focused all his energy on that. I look at this as a continuation of last season because they never let that go.''

Buss was at the unveiling of the Reading and Learning Center at the Salesian Family Youth Center in Los Angeles on Friday after the Lakers practiced. Commissioner David Stern, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Lakers players Derek Fisher and Sasha Vujacic were also there to unveil the room, which included a library stocked with new books, new laptop computers, furniture and presentation equipment.

---

AND1 OR FINALS: Rafer Alston was a streetball star, but that doesn't compare to playing in the NBA finals.

Alston, formerly known as ``Skip to my Lou'' on the famous AND1 Mixtape tour, is happy to be on this stage.

``This is the best. By far, it's the best time in my life,'' said Alston, Orlando's starting point guard. ``You have to understand the difference. In streetball the fans come to see the individual player and in the NBA they want to see their team, and that's the biggest adjustment you have to make.''

Looks like he's adjusted just fine.

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SCRUFFY SASHA: Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic says his scruffy beard isn't coming off until the finals are finished. He and teammate Pau Gasol are the hairiest bunch on the team, with overflowing locks and facial hair.

``I shaved a couple of times, but I said I wasn't going to shave in the playoffs. Not until we get that,'' said Vujacic, pointing to the trophy drawing on the media banners.

``I don't think it's superstition. The best excuse for me is that I say that I'm just lazy and I don't want to shave but it looks really good for me. It makes me look older because I really have a babyface.''

And Gasol's looks?

Well, ``I think he looks better like that,'' Vujacic said.

---

DISNEY DUDS: In this Disneyland vs. Disney World NBA finals, Mickey Mouse likes both teams.

The NBA and Disney Consumer Products unveiled a pair of T-shirts Friday, each with the famous character showing support of his neighboring team.

He's dressed in Magic blue and white in one of them, standing above ``The Finals 2009'' logo. He's joined by some friends in the Lakers version of the shirt, where he's wearing Kobe Bryant's No. 24 jersey and spinning a basketball on his finger. Disney characters Pluto, Goofy and Donald Duck are also on that shirt.

Disneyland is in nearby Anaheim, while Disney World is located in Orlando. The presidents of the resorts already weighed in with a friendly wager.

The shirts are available at both team's arenas and Web sites, both resorts, and nbastore.com.

 

[Lumi]

Lakers' Bryant pushing toward title

Lakers' Bryant pushing toward title

Lakers' Bryant pushing toward title
June 6, 2009


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -Behind Kobe Bryant's stone-faced mask and the icy grimace he's wearing in these finals, his eyes are laser locked on one target: His fourth NBA title.


His vision is so narrow, so sharp that he can't think about anything but a shiny championship trophy now close enough to touch.

To him, these two weeks are all that matters.

After that, it's anyone's guess.

As he and the Los Angeles Lakers practiced in advance of playing the Orlando Magic in Sunday's Game 2, Bryant, as few as three games from wrapping up his 13th season as a pro, said he has not given any thought about giving up what has been the driving force in his life.

``I don't know,'' he said when asked how much longer he'll play. ``I just love the game so much still. ``I just feel like there's still so much out there for me to improve on and work on. My body feels great. God willing, I stay healthy, I'll just keep going.''

Bryant, who will turn 31 in August, has an upcoming decision to make on his future. While he's under contact to make $23 million next season, he has an early termination option, which he can exercise if he so chooses this summer. The idea of a Bryant-less Lakers may be farfetched, but nothing can be assumed.

Michael Jordan was just 30 the first time he quit, stepping away to chase his dream of playing baseball.

Could Bryant, who scored 40 points in Game 1 and has been the closest thing to M.J. the league has seen, follow him and do something else?

His coach doesn't think so.

``Kobe is going to play it out for as long as he can,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. ``He's just a player that is going to find a way regardless. When his skill level deteriorates, he's going to find a level to play at that his athleticism is going to allow. I can see him playing to 36, 37.''

There are no apparent signs that Bryant's wondrous skills are receding. In fact, and this is a scary thought for every other team in the league, Bryant may be just hitting his prime. He has become a smarter, more efficient player. He takes care of his body. His work ethic is unsurpassed. He is driven like never before.

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy laughed when he was asked if he has seen any flaws or erosion in Bryant's magnificence.

``Yeah, I thought he dropped off quite a bit the other night,'' he quipped.

Van Gundy, who has spent the past two days devising a better scheme to slow L.A.'s No. 24, expects Bryant's game to evolve in the years ahead. Bryant won't be able to slash to the basket as often, but he'll figure out new ways of destroying defenses - just like Mike.

``That's what happened to Jordan,'' Van Gundy said. ``So now even though at the end of his career he might have lost a half step or a quarter step, they get to the basket when they want to because you've got to take away that jump shot, and they just get smarter and smarter.

``Those guys get better and better.''

Jackson has seen it firsthand. He won six titles with Jordan in Chicago, and the gray-haired Zen Master is seeking his fourth with Bryant. As long as Bryant stays healthy, Jackson expects him to follow the same path toward retirement as Jordan did.

``All players that remain physically competent, as they get old, they just get better,'' Jackson said. ``Their reactive ability is probably most noted on the defensive end. That's usually where they get hurt the most. But you saw guys like (Jerry) Stackhouse and Jordan playing past 35 with great ability.

``There's no reason why Kobe won't.''

With the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks opening their season at Staples Center, both teams had to work out at the Lakers' training facility on Saturday.

As the Magic shot around on L.A.'s practice floor, they could look up and see eight of the 14 Larry O'Brien Trophies won by the Lakers lined up side by side behind a second-floor window overlooking the court. It's an imposing sight for a franchise which has been to the finals just twice, has yet to win a game in either visit and got blown out in Game 1.

Van Gundy has reminded his players that they can get back in the series. Orlando shot just 30 percent from the field and center Dwight Howard made only one field goal.

The Magic have spent the entire season in comeback mode. It's time to rally again.

``We've been through it,'' said Van Gundy, who plans to keep his rotations intact for Game 2. ``As the playoffs have gone on, I'm given them history lessons of just about anything that can happen in the playoffs, people being blown out at times. All of us were upset with our performances the other night; I wasn't happy with mine, I don't think they were happy with theirs. We're anxious to get back at it.''

So is Bryant.

He is consumed with winning it all, and although his body language says otherwise, Bryant insists he's having fun in his sixth finals.

``Just because you're focused on something doesn't mean you don't enjoy something,'' he said. ``That's part of the fun is just figuring out how to focus and how to get ready. You can still do your job and have a good time.''

At various times, Bryant has been called aloof, selfish, moody, arrogant. Those he allows to get close to him, say he's different.

Jackson was asked the biggest misconception about Bryant.

``That he's a nice guy,'' Jackson said. ``He's a killer. He's a gun slinger, and he's a guy that's going to take the weak and have no mercy on them.''

Bryant, whose obligatory news conferences have been painful because of his uptight demeanor and one-word responses, was told of his coach's portrait of him.

``He lied,'' Bryant said, smiling.

 

[Lumi]

Howard, Magic not shaken by opening loss

Howard, Magic not shaken by opening loss

Howard, Magic not shaken by opening loss
June 5, 2009


LOS ANGELES (AP) - Back in his Clark Kent days, when he was an 18-year-old rookie, Dwight Howard was welcomed to the league by Kobe Bryant.


It wasn't with a fist bump or handshake.

It wasn't friendly at all.

In his first game against Howard, Bryant drove the lane and delivered a ferocious dunk that still haunts Orlando's center five years later.

``Don't remind me,'' Howard said, playfully covering his eyes. ``He baptized me, brought me into the NBA and back to reality with one play.''

On Thursday night, Bryant initiated Howard again - this time into the NBA finals.

Looking much more like The Man of Steel than Howard, Bryant scored 40 points - his most in a finals game - and the Lakers steamrolled to a 100-75 win in Game 1 over the Magic, who watched tape of the rout at their hotel before heading to Staples Center on Friday for practice.

Orlando, back in the finals for the first time since 1995, was way out of its league.

Bryant scored almost at will, punctuating each bucket by extending his lower jaw to show his lower teeth - a menacing look underscoring the self-proclaimed Black Mamba's intensity. The Magic hurt themselves by shooting 30 percent and missing open shots, and Howard was a non-factor on offense with 12 points and only one field goal, a 7-foot hook shot in the game's first two minutes.

Howard understands he and his teammates have to do much more in Game 2 on Sunday night.

``We just didn't have any energy or effort,'' Howard said. ``We didn't box out, all the little things. We can't control Kobe scoring 40 points, but we can control boxing out, getting loose balls, stuff like that, and we didn't do that. We have to come out with a better effort.''

The Magic are no strangers to adversity.

They made it to the finals despite losing All-Star guard Jameer Nelson for 42 games because of a shoulder injury, and they came from behind against Philadelphia and Boston to win previous series this postseason. Against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals, the Magic shot their way back from impossible deficits.

They're in another hole. It's not deep. Not yet.

``It's just one game,'' said forward Hedo Turkoglu, who went just 3-of-11 from the floor. ``It's a long series. We've got a couple days to work on some things. We know how good we are, and we know what we need to do to win.''

A good place to start would be getting Howard more involved on offense.

Nothing came easy for him in Game 1. Like paparazzi swarming outside a nightclub for a magazine cover photo, the Lakers' forwards and centers were everywhere he turned. Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom pushed him, prodded him, poked him.

Superman's cape got torn to shreds. The league's dunk leader couldn't get close to the rim.

And when Howard got the ball deep in the lane, one of Los Angeles' guards would dive down on a double team and force him to pick it up. By the time he passed out from inside to an open teammate on the perimeter, the lengthy Lakers were able to recover and contest.

``They're going to make it tough to get Dwight rolling,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``We got him the ball a lot, but they're always coming with another guy. I thought he forced a couple plays and he made some good passes out, where we couldn't make shots. And when you're not making shots, then obviously the team is coming more and more and more.

``If you make some shots, you force teams to adjust and give you a little more room.''

The ever critical Van Gundy's biggest beef was with his team's inability to rebound. The Lakers dominated the boards 55-41, a differential Orlando's coach chalked up to lack of effort.

``I'll blame myself for a lot of things,'' Van Gundy said. ``But I don't really have an adjustment for when the ball goes up on the rim and everybody is going after it. I can't really X and O that. You're either going to put a body on somebody and go get the ball or you're not. And last night, not.''

The Lakers aren't taking anything for granted. They may have won Game 1 without breaking a sweat, but their demeanor remained very businesslike during Friday's workout.

Bryant, whose kids have been calling him ``Grumpy'' because of his sour mood of late, remained stoic during media availability. He answered questions with short, measured responses and only cracked a smile once.

Bryant didn't remember many details about his nasty dunk of yore on Howard, and he expects Orlando to regroup in two days.

``They just had an off game,'' he said. ``They didn't shoot the ball particularly well and they'll shoot better in Game 2. We'll face a different Magic team.''

As for that dunking moment back in 2004, Howard says he can still feel it.

``Ever since then, I've had the flash of him dunking and hearing the crowd,'' he said. ``It was like 'Boom,' that's all I heard. I'll make sure that won't happen again.''

 

[Lumi]

Teeth-baring Kobe Bryant is defiant one

Teeth-baring Kobe Bryant is defiant one

Teeth-baring Kobe Bryant is defiant one
June 5, 2009


LOS ANGELES (AP) -Magic Johnson had his magnetic smile. Michael Jordan soared to the basket with his tongue hanging out. Kobe Bryant is baring his teeth and scowling in these NBA finals.

His young daughters don't think much of Daddy's attitude around the house, calling him Grumpy, as in the Seven Dwarfs. His media sessions aren't exactly packing in the crowds, either.

Bryant makes no apologies for his no-fun demeanor.

``I just think it's been building,'' he said Friday. ``I've been pacing myself all year waiting for these playoffs to come around. The table is set.''

Bryant and Derek Fisher, the Los Angeles Lakers' co-captains, talked on the bench during practice while their teammates enjoyed themselves on the floor.

The Lakers exhaled a day after routing the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 of the NBA finals. Game 2 is Sunday at Staples Center.

Even their step back Friday was carefully choreographed, though.

``Today we did feel like it was important to have that space where our guys that are 20 can be 20,'' Fisher said. ``But when we see everybody at 10 o'clock in the morning (Saturday), that space will be closed off and we'll be back to work preparing for Game 2.''

Much of Bryant's laser focus is the result of the Lakers losing to Detroit and Boston in their previous finals appearances in 2004 and last year. He detests losing, and at 30, he is more conscious that winning championships is the bedrock in building the legacy of a player who wants to be among the greatest.

``I just want it so bad,'' he said. ``This time around we're just really locked in.''

Coach Phil Jackson said that behind closed doors Bryant is just as quiet and focused.

``You have to stay driven and motivated, and I think it's really important that he takes that leadership role for this team,'' he said.

Bryant joined an exclusive club with 40 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in Game 1. Only Shaquille O'Neal, Jordan and Jerry West before him posted those numbers in a finals game. His points were a career-high in the finals, bettering the 36 he scored against Boston last year.

Of the 46 players scoring at least 40 points in the finals, 26 of them have played for the Lakers. West did it 10 times and O'Neal five, leaving plenty of room for Bryant to catch up.

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy has seen Bryant's willful side emerge before. He believes it has as much effect on the rest of the Lakers as Bryant's offensive outburst in Game 1.

``When he's playing as well as he did last night, there's really no pressure on anybody else. You shoot the ball freely, you play freely because if you hit a bad stretch, you'll just go back to him and he'll take care of everything,'' Van Gundy said. ``What the great players do to make their teammates better is they take the pressure off of them.''

Bryant's clipped responses and nearly permanent poker face emerged early this week in a sure sign that the finals were near. But his grimace and jutting jaw were new for Game 1.

``This is the first year it's been prominent, extremely noticeable,' Fisher said.

Not that Bryant's facial expression compares to the famously maniacal look of Jack Nicholson, the Lakers' No. 1 fan, in ``The Shining.''

``I don't know if anything can compare to that one,'' Fisher said. ``Even for me as a kid that was a pretty scary moment.''

 

[Lumi]

Magic need more effective Howard in Game 2

Magic need more effective Howard in Game 2

Magic need more effective Howard in Game 2
June 6, 2009


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -Hubie Brown first tried positioning two recorders and a knife on the table in front of him. When that didn't work, he grabbed a reporter's notebook and sketched his idea on paper.


Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy has his own equipment and undoubtedly spent his Saturday doing what Brown was doing: Trying to draw up ways to make Dwight Howard more effective.

After a lackluster start to the NBA finals, the Magic need Howard to play better - and maybe smarter and harder - when they face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 on Sunday night.

``I don't think I was patient enough in the post. I don't think that they caused a lot of problems for me. I think it was just rushing and wanting to do so much without being patient,'' Howard said. ``I think out of all the games I've had in the last two playoff series, I was probably the most impatient the last game.''

Howard was limited to six shots - six Orlando players took more - made only one, and scored 12 points in the Magic's 100-75 loss on Thursday.

After dominating the Cavaliers and averaging 25.8 points in the conference finals, Howard found things much more difficult against the Lakers, whose post players are stronger and much more mobile than Cleveland's.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao played behind Howard, who bulled his way into good position down low and often just had to spin around and dunk. The Lakers put a defender in front of Howard, and when he was able to catch it, they further threw him off his game by sending double and even triple teams.

``Just by fronting this kid the other night, Howard got absolutely frustrated,'' said Brown, the former coach turned ESPN commentator.

``When your center doesn't get the ball, he stops rebounding and stops blocking shots. You see the kid the other night? He puts his head down and you sulk as a big guy.''

Van Gundy refused to single out Howard, saying his entire team played poorly in the opener.

``I wasn't happy with anything we did on the floor,'' Van Gundy said. ``I don't think our effort and intensity was great. I'm not pointing fingers at anybody. I think it was all of us. But to say I was satisfied or happy, no, not at all. I don't think you can be after a game like that. But that's not to lay it on one guy.''

Brown said one adjustment Howard could have made was to post up further away from the basket, making it harder to front him because teammates would then have more room to pass him the ball going toward the baseline. But he was more alarmed by Howard's work rate once the Defensive Player of the Year started realizing things weren't going his way.

``After just watching him six times against Cleveland, if he does not get the ball when he's running hard - when he thinks he's running hard - then he has a tendency to slow down,'' Brown said. ``If he does not get the ball, he's just like most young, big guys. I'm not running hard if you're not going to throw me the ball.''

Howard called out Van Gundy for not getting him the ball enough after an Orlando loss to Boston during the second round. And while six shots is far too few for a team's leading scorer, ESPN analyst and former coach Jack Ramsay thought Howard got the ball enough, just didn't make good decisions with it.

``When he couldn't get it, or when he got it, he didn't read the defense. That's on him,'' Ramsay said. ``He got enough touches early on to establish a game for himself, but didn't read the defense. The defense was very good and it took him out of his game.''

Howard led the NBA in dunks, but his offensive repertoire is limited.

``I think he still needs to develop a little more into a better post player because that's going to help him,'' Lakers forward Pau Gasol said. ``That's just going to help him be more unstoppable. Develop a little bit more of a shot, face-up shot, and turnaround jumpers will help him, too. I just think it's a weapon that you can use for double teams.''

Howard won't have all that in time for Game 2, but he knows there are plenty of other things he can do better.

``I have to slow down, slow down. When they come down and double, pass it out to my teammates and trust that they'll make the shots,'' Howard said. ``And also when I have the ball in the post, really just read where the help is coming from.''

``I don't think I did a good job of that during the game. I've talked with the coaching staff and I've talked with the players who have seen what was going on on the floor. I've seen it, and the think the biggest thing for me is just being patient.''

 

[Lumi]

Bynum ready for 2nd rumble with Superman

Bynum ready for 2nd rumble with Superman

Bynum ready for 2nd rumble with Superman
June 6, 2009


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -Andrew Bynum was helpless to stop the Boston Celtics' pummeling of the Lakers in the NBA finals a year ago. He's finally getting a chance to do something about bringing a title to Los Angeles.





Even with an awkward brace on his surgically repaired knee, Bynum had the best start of any Lakers player in the 100-75 Game 1 victory against Orlando. He had eight points and four rebounds playing just under 9 minutes in the first quarter.

``That's what we want, that early inside presence out there in the ballgame, and the combination of Pau (Gasol) and Drew out there gave us that impact,'' coach Phil Jackson said.

At the same time, Bynum was helping hold down Dwight Howard, who made just one shot in the game.

``That was part of our game plan, just keep him away from the basket and make him shoot shots,'' Bynum said.

Still a pro basketball baby at 21, Bynum has endured two major knee injuries since becoming the youngest player ever drafted three years ago.

He was rapidly coming of age in January 2008 - shooting a league-best 64 percent - when he went up for a rebound in a game and came down on teammate Lamar Odom's foot. Bynum underwent surgery and missed the rest of the season while rehabbing.

Then injury struck again.

Bynum tore the MCL in his right knee on Jan. 31 and missed 32 games. He returned just as the regular season was ending, giving the 7-footer barely any time to prepare for the playoffs.

``Playing a handful of games at the end of the season I think was a benefit for him,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. ``He didn't fully get to rehab his knee, but he got as close as we can possibly get before he started playing. So that's one of the things that we're really concerned, that he fully rehabs after the season is over and he's 100 percent. But he's come back and played with a brace which has some limitation.''

Bynum used up some fouls working down low against Howard, having picked up three at halftime. He played fewer minutes in the second half, when Bryant carried the offensive load and Gasol, the Lakers' other 7-footer, took over.

``Pau has been very good at looking for Andrew, feeding Andrew, getting the ball into him when he has an open spot and an opportunity, and that's helped Andrew's game a lot,'' Jackson said.

Now the coach is looking for Bynum to strike a balance between helping shut down Howard in Game 2 on Sunday and stopping penetration.

``He's very animated, intensely focused, on this matchup between himself and Howard, almost too much so, to the point where he still has to help,'' Jackson said. ``But he really has it in his mind that he's going to stay attached to him, keep his body off the rim or away from the rebounds.''

Howard, who's 23, first saw Bynum play in a high school All-Star game. They were both drafted out of high school; Howard in Atlanta and Bynum in New Jersey.

``He was wider but now he's slimmed down, gotten into better shape,'' Howard said. ``His game has improved from the first time he's been in the NBA. I really love watching him develop, and I think we both have a lot of respect for each other. Knowing that we're like dinosaurs in the NBA, there's not a lot of us (big men), we have to stick together.''

Now in his third year with the Lakers, Bynum was the youngest to play in a regular season game at 18 years and 6 days against Denver. He became the youngest Lakers player to record a double-double in November 2006, surpassing Magic Johnson's mark.

``Andrew is a really good shooter,'' Jackson said. ``He's a good enough shooter to have a touch and make baskets and shoot free throws, we know that. The big key with him is defensive help, defensive retreat and how active he can be at that end of the floor.''

Bynum helped hold Orlando to 30 percent shooting in the opening win.

``We can be better, but as far as the intensity, we're going to have the same level as the other night,'' he said. ``We've just got to hold them under 100 points, that's the way we look at it. Keeping a team under 100 points gives you your best chance to win.''

 

[Lumi]

NBA Finals Game 2

NBA Finals Game 2

NBA Finals Game 2

Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers (-6.5, 202)

The betting line

If you blinked, you probably missed it.

The Lakers opened as 7-point favorites for Game 2 but were quickly bet down to -6.5.

That's a half-point higher than we saw in Game 1 and two full points higher than in the Magic and Lakers regular season meeting in Los Angeles.

The total opened at 203.5, but currently sits at 202.5 at most books. If you're looking to bet the over, you might be able to find a 201.5 or 202 before tipoff.

Where have you been?

"I just want it so bad, that's all."

That was Kobe Bryant following the Lakers 100-75 thrashing of the Magic in Game 1.

Now, I'm not saying that Kobe had been a no-show up to this point, far from it. It's just that we saw a much different guy wearing No. 24 Thursday night.

Kobe was aggressive from the opening tip, taking 34 shots en route to a 40-point night. But it's not as if he was selfish. He also dished out eight assists and grabbed eight rebounds.

If he brings that same level of intensity the rest of the way, this series is going to be over in a hurry.

On the rebound

The good news for the Magic is that they've shown the ability to bounce back from losses time and time again in these playoffs.

Orlando is 6-1 straight-up and 4-3 against the number following a loss.

They've split the first two games of each of their first three playoff series.

Dwight Howard believes there's plenty of room for improvement heading into Game 2.

?We?ve never had a shooting night this bad,? he told reporters. ?We?ve just got to come out and play a lot harder than we did tonight.?

Kobe Bryant expects to see a different Magic squad on Sunday.

?This is a resilient team,? Bryant told the media. ?They?ve been through a lot of adverse situations before. This is nothing new to them. We?ve got to forget about this and move on.?

Bad timing

Did Jameer Nelson's return have a negative impact on the Magic?

I wouldn't go that far, but there's no question he showed some rust, hitting just 3-of-9 shots including two misses from beyond the arc.

Nelson acknowledged that fact.

"I felt good. My rhythm was a little off, but it was good to be back out there," said the diminutive point guard. "There's always room for improvement, and the next two days individually - and as a team - we need to improve on some things."

The Magic lead the game 24-22 at the end of the first quarter, before Nelson entered at the start of the second. He played just over 23 minutes in the game and Orlando was outscored by 19 points with him on the floor.

History lesson

If recent history is any indication, the Lakers have the inside track in Game 2.

The home team has won and covered the first two games of the NBA Finals in each of the last four years.

Interestingly enough, the last team that failed to do so was the Los Angeles Lakers. They split the first two games against Detroit in 2004, eventually losing the series in five games.

 

[Lumi]

Game 2 Betting Preview

Game 2 Betting Preview

Game 2 Betting Preview
By BETJAMAICA.COM

For the sake of the entertainment value, let's hope the NBA Finals proceed with a little more drama than was provided by Game 1 on Thursday night.

Kobe Bryant went off for 40 points and the Los Angeles defense did the rest as the Lakers meticulously built up a 28-point lead and cruised to a 100-75 victory over the Orlando Magic Thursday at Staples Center to take a 1-0 series lead in the Finals.

LA also easily covered the 6.5-points they were favored by on the BetJamaica.com NBA betting line, and the game never approached its over/under of 203.

One might think the best thing for the Magic to do is to forget all about Game 1, and get back on the court as soon as possible. Unfortunately for them, they'll sit and stew for the next two-plus days. Game 2 of this series will be played Sunday night (8 pm Eastern, ABC), again at Staples Center.

As of Friday morning, BetJamaica.com is listing the Lakers again as 6.5-point home chalk for Sunday's Game 2 over Orlando, with a total of 202.5.

The Lakers certainly looked like a team that had been to the Finals before, having lost in last year's championship series in six games to the Boston Celtics. Orlando looked like a team that had not ? at least not recently ? as they play in the franchise's first league Finals since 1995.

LA held Magic F Dwight Howard to just 12 points Thursday, 10 of which came from the free-throw line. And the Lakers' big men did not allow the man with the cape to score a basket over the last 46 minutes of the game.

Orlando actually shot better from 3-point range ? eight of 23 (35%) ? Thursday than from inside the arc ? 15 of 54 (28%). All together, the Magic shot just 30% from the floor on the night, and scored just 32 points after halftime.

And thanks to all those missed shots, the Lakers outrebounded Orlando on Thursday 55-41.

Game 1 bore little resemblance to the pair of games these teams played during the regular season. The Magic shot 46% from the field in those two games together, and held LA to 41% shooting. And Orlando outrebounded the Lakers by a 47-40 per-game margin.

Orlando guard Jameer Nelson, who led the team in scoring in both games when the Magic swept the regular-season series from the Lakers this year, came back after three months off because of a shoulder injury and played Thursday. And while he made an initial impact in his first few minutes, Nelson ended up going just three-for-nine from the floor for the game and scoring six points in 23 minutes of play.

The Magic are now 5-6 both straight up and vs. the pointspreads on the road during these playoffs, while the Lakers are now 9-2 SU and 6-5 ATS at home this playoff season.

The over/unders are now 9-11 in Orlando's playoff games this spring, which have averaged 191 total points. Meanwhile, the totals are now a lop-sided 6-13 in LA's playoff games this year, which have averaged 198 points.

Following Sunday's Game 2, the Finals move to Florida for Games 3, 4 and (if necessary) 5 next Tuesday, Thursday (9 Eastern, ABC both nights) and Sunday (8 E, ABC).

Bettors should check back at BetJamaica.com for updated odds on both Sunday's Game 2 and the eventual outcome of this NBA Finals series.

 

[Lumi]

Sunday's best NBA bet

Sunday's best NBA bet

Sunday's best NBA bet

Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers (-6.5, 202)

With the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks opening their season at Staples Center, both teams had to work out at the Lakers' training facility on Saturday.

As the Magic shot around on L.A.'s practice floor, they could look up and see eight of the 14 Larry O'Brien Trophies won by the Lakers lined up side by side behind a second-floor window overlooking the court. It's an imposing sight for a franchise which has been to the finals just twice, has yet to win a game in either visit and got blown out in Game 1.

Van Gundy has reminded his players that they can get back in the series. Orlando shot just 30 percent from the field and center Dwight Howard made only one field goal.

The Magic have spent the entire season in comeback mode. It's time to rally again.

''We've been through it,'' said Van Gundy, who plans to keep his rotations intact for Game 2. ''As the playoffs have gone on, I'm given them history lessons of just about anything that can happen in the playoffs, people being blown out at times. All of us were upset with our performances the other night; I wasn't happy with mine, I don't think they were happy with theirs. We're anxious to get back at it.''

Pick: Over 202

 

[Lumi]

Orlando isn't an illusion: Expect Magic to levitate

Orlando isn't an illusion: Expect Magic to levitate

Orlando isn't an illusion: Expect Magic to levitate

Well, I think it?s safe to say the Orlando Magic quickly learned the differences between their last opponent and their current. The matchup advantages Stan Van Gundy?s squad enjoyed against the Cleveland Cavaliers were not there against the Los Angeles Lakers.

That still doesn?t mean Magic backers should write off their futures ticket and go hang out on a deserted island with Evangeline Lilly for the next week or two.

Many people expected some opening-game jitters from Orlando, but we didn?t see that in the first quarter. The Eastern Conference champs seemed comfortable in their sets, going to Hedo Turkoglu early in the pick-and-roll offense.

Unfortunately for Magic fans, their club couldn?t equal the Lakers? intensity when Kobe Bryant pulled a Nigel Tufnel and turned his amplifier up to 11.

Bryant was feeling out how the Magic would defend him and quickly found out that he would have room to get his perimeter shot off whenever he wanted.

While Bryant was hitting his shots, Orlando went ice cold. Normally, the club responds by pushing the pace and nailing run-stopping 3-pointers. But Los Angeles? defense excels in transition. Its big men run the floor like gazelles, swiftly challenging spot-up shooters. And when the Magic did get clean looks, they didn?t cash in.

Van Gundy has some adjustments to make.

He?ll have to do something about Pau Gasol?s passing in the high post (the Spaniard found open cutters for easy lay-ins too often) and Courtney Lee might as well be a pylon when guarding Kobe Bryant.

The Magic coaching staff have to make a decision on which point guard to give the bulk of playing time. I don?t think it?s a good plan to split the minutes between the returning Jameer Nelson and Rafer Alston.

Nelson was impressive in his first game back since February. He wasn?t afraid of contact and took the ball into the teeth of the Lakers? defense several times. It was apparent, however, that he isn?t confident in his 3-point stroke yet and that could be a problem.

The Magic?s offense only works when it has four capable and willing shooters beyond the arc to deter opposing defenders from collapsing on Dwight Howard.

And don?t get down on D-12?s Game 1 numbers. He was doing the right thing passing out of those double teams and trusting his teammates to make their open looks.

Rashard Lewis has to play much better than his performance in Game 1. If he?s not contributing offensively, he?s useless to his club. And there?s no legitimate alternative to him in the Magic?s lineup at the power forward. (Did you see how it was 4-on-5 whenever Tony Battie came into the game? Gasol was just letting the Orlando reserve take whatever shot he wanted ? and rightfully so).

Despite all these issues for Orlando ? this series isn?t close to being over.

It really pisses me off when I see ESPN?s Jon Barry dismissing the Magic as some fluke Finals club that?s overly reliant on the 3-pointer and will never be able to play with the Purple and Gold.

Orlando will start hitting its long distance shots and this series will be closer. I originally said the Lakers would win in seven games and I?m not going to jump off that prediction after one blowout.

And don't forget how good of a road team Orlando has been this season (26-14-1 against the spread in the regular season). Van Gundy's boys have bounced back from numerous tough breaks and let downs in the postseason. They are not easily jarred.

Total players should be careful too. Just because Game 1 was a bricklayers? convention doesn?t mean we should expect more games in this series finishing with 175-point totals.

The over/under number opened at 203.5 and has already moved down to 202. I liked the under in Game 1 (set at 206.5) but I think the over has a lot of value ? especially if it drops any farther.

 

[Lumi]

It's time to start Nelson at point guard

It's time to start Nelson at point guard

It's time to start Nelson at point guard

All of this conversation and consternation about whether Magic point guard Jameer Nelson should be playing in the NBA Finals is as ridiculously aggrandized as the "Sorry, honey" $4 million purple diamond ring Kobe Bryant bought his wife.

As the Magic ready for tonight's crucial Game 2 against the Lakers, we should not be asking why Nelson is playing.

What we should be asking is this:

Why isn't Nelson starting?

Why are the Magic and Coach Stan Van Gundy skirting and skulking and hemming and hawing about this move?

Why are they being so indecisive and unclear?

Let's review, shall we?

A couple of weeks ago, after a Magic practice in Boston during the conference semifinals, the injured Nelson was shooting some layups and working out with trainers.

I joked from the sideline: "He's going to be Willis Reed."

Magic GM Otis Smith, standing nearby, scoffed.

I then prodded Smith some more with this hypothetical situation: "What if, for the sake of argument, a bunch of your guards got injured during the playoffs and you had nobody else. Would you play Jameer then?"

Smith's reply: "No way."

We've gone from no way on Nelson playing ... to Magic President Bob Vander Weide saying the Magic would explore the possibility ... to Smith saying there was just a "smidgen" of a chance ... to Van Gundy saying it would be a "pretty tall order" for Nelson to play in the Finals.

And then came Game 1 of the Finals, where Nelson played nearly as many minutes in a reserve role (23:28) as starter Rafer Alston (24:32).

Van Gundy says now it was a mistake to have played Nelson so many minutes even though Nelson contends he wasn't tired and his conditioning is fine.

"If it was the regular season, I'd throw him in there and figure he would get better and better over time," Van Gundy says when asked why Nelson isn't starting. "But we've won three series without Jameer. It's mainly a conditioning issue at this point. We're looking at Jameer as more of a support player in this series."

I understand Van Gundy's reasoning, but I don't agree with it. I don't want to see less of Jameer in Game 2, I want to see more of him. He was an absolute Laker-killer during the Magic's two regular-season victories over L.A., leading the Magic in scoring both times with 28 and 27 points.

Let's face it, you're taking a gamble by bringing Nelson back at all. You're risking upsetting the chemistry and mojo the team has built up through the playoffs. Just ask Alston, who was a bit perplexed when he sat out the entire second quarter in Game 1.

"I sat 12 minutes real-game time, I sat about 30 minutes real-life time," Alston told NBA reporters. "It was odd. I mean, I think everyone can see that. That's unusual to start the game and then you don't even touch the court in the second quarter. But there's no pouting, there's no getting mad."

As you can see, a delicate balance has already been disturbed. Not to worry. Alston is a pro. He knows this is Nelson's team. As for Nelson, he classily says Alston "deserves to start" and his role is to provide "energy" off the bench.

When you get this close to a championship, your best shouldn't be coming off the bench. And make no mistake about it: Nelson is the best point guard on the Magic roster. Do you remember the phenomenal numbers he was putting up before he got hurt? He was averaging 16.7 points, 50.3 percent from the floor, 45.3 percent from 3-point range and 88.7 percent from the free-throw line.

This is an All-Star we're talking about. If Steve Nash suffered an injury but was ready to play during the NBA Finals, don't you think the Phoenix Suns would immediately insert him into the starting lineup?

"I don't know what they would do in Phoenix," Smith says, "but in Orlando this is what we're going to do."

Two words:

Wishy.

Washy.

If you're going to make the move, then make the move! Don't go halfway with it.

If Jameer Nelson is ready to play in the NBA Finals then he should be ready to start in the NBA Finals.

 

[Lumi]

Trends - Orlando at L.A. Lakers

Trends - Orlando at L.A. Lakers

Trends - Orlando at L.A. Lakers

ATS Trends

Orlando
Magic are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points.
Magic are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Magic are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Magic are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Magic are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 vs. NBA Pacific.
Magic are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Sunday games.
Magic are 37-14 ATS in their last 51 games following a S.U. loss.
Magic are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 games playing on 2 days rest.
Magic are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 vs. Western Conference.
Magic are 54-22-1 ATS in their last 77 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Magic are 35-16-1 ATS in their last 52 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Magic are 37-17-1 ATS in their last 55 games as an underdog.
Magic are 17-8 ATS in their last 25 games as a road underdog.
Magic are 41-20-1 ATS in their last 62 games following a ATS loss.


L.A. Lakers

Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Lakers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 2 days rest.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite.
Lakers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 vs. Eastern Conference.
Lakers are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following a S.U. win.
Lakers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Lakers are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 vs. NBA Southeast.
Lakers are 1-10-1 ATS in their last 12 NBA Championship games.


OU Trends

Orlando
Under is 4-0 in Magic last 4 Sunday games.
Over is 4-0 in Magic last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Magic last 5 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 4-1 in Magic last 5 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Over is 4-1 in Magic last 5 games as an underdog.
Over is 4-1 in Magic last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Magic last 5 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Over is 4-1 in Magic last 5 playoff games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Over is 4-1 in Magic last 5 playoff games as an underdog.
Under is 8-2 in Magic last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 7-2 in Magic last 9 games following a S.U. loss.
Under is 16-6 in Magic last 22 games playing on 2 days rest.
Over is 5-2 in Magic last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-2 in Magic last 7 overall.


L.A. Lakers


Under is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 vs. NBA Southeast.
Under is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Under is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5.
Under is 6-0 in Lakers last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 9-1-1 in Lakers last 11 Sunday games.
Under is 12-2 in Lakers last 14 playoff games as a favorite.
Under is 5-1 in Lakers last 6 games playing on 2 days rest.
Under is 9-2 in Lakers last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 9-2 in Lakers last 11 overall.
Under is 13-3 in Lakers last 16 playoff games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.
Under is 16-5 in Lakers last 21 games as a home favorite.
Under is 16-5 in Lakers last 21 home games.
Under is 28-9 in Lakers last 37 games as a favorite.
Under is 6-2 in Lakers last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-3 in Lakers last 12 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-3 in Lakers last 11 games following a S.U. win.
Under is 21-8-1 in Lakers last 30 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.


Head to Head

Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Los Angeles.
Road team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
Underdog is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

 

[Lumi]

Today's Refs - Orlando at L.A. Lakers

Today's Refs - Orlando at L.A. Lakers

Today's Refs - Orlando at L.A. Lakers

Steve Javie - Profile
GeneralJersey Number 29 Avg. Home Score 100.1
Games Officiated 74 Avg. Road Score 95.8
Home Team ATS 38-35-1 Home Avg. Margin 4.3
Home Team W/L 49-25 Avg. Total Score 195.9
Over/Under vs. the TotalOverall 33-41
184.5 or less 4-5
185-194.5 14-12
195-204.5 6-15
205+ 9-9
Favorite or UnderdogSpread Home Fav Home Dog
0-4.5 15-11 0-4
5-9.5 15-9 2-5
10+ 6-6 0-0

Recent Games with OrlandoDate vs. Score Line O/U Mar ORL FG Opp FG Reb
05/30/09 CLE W 103-90 W -2 O 192.5 11.0 37/80 35/79 47-34
05/17/09 @BOS W 101-82 W 2.5 U 187.0 21.5 36/70 29/74 35-37
04/22/09 PHI W 96-87 L -10.5 U 193.0 -1.5 34/79 35/75 44-37
02/22/09 MIA W 122-99 W -9 O 191.0 14.0 41/75 37/89 53-28
02/01/09 @TOR W 113-90 W -6 O 198.5 17.0 39/87 35/87 49-45
01/06/09 WAS W 89-80 L -12.5 U 192.5 -3.5 31/75 34/86 49-39
11/21/08 @IND W 100-98 (OT) P -2 U 203.5 0.0 37/86 38/99 47-53
11/08/08 WAS W 106-81 W -9.5 U 198.5 15.5 39/78 31/79 42-35
05/05/08 @DET L 93-100 L 6 O 185.0 -1.0 32/73 36/76 40-35
03/14/08 @MIA W 103-94 L -12.5 U 204.0 -3.5 35/74 39/82 41-31
Recent Games with L.A. LakersDate vs. Score Line O/U Mar LAL FG Opp FG Reb
05/21/09 DEN L 103-106 L -5.5 U 212.0 -8.5 35/77 35/79 43-42
05/08/09 @HOU W 108-94 W -1.5 O 192.5 12.5 36/82 35/84 43-56
04/27/09 UTA W 107-96 L -12 U 211.0 -1.0 36/80 35/87 50-43
04/09/09 DEN W 116-102 W -8.5 O 210.0 5.5 37/87 36/81 51-46
02/08/09 @CLE W 101-91 W 5 U 205.5 15.0 43/88 34/87 42-42
01/27/09 CHAR L 110-117 (OT) L -11 O 196.0 -18.0 43/99 45/96 42-53
12/25/08 BOS W 92-83 W -2 U 200.5 7.0 36/78 36/77 35-40
11/28/08 DAL W 114-107 L -10.5 O 205.0 -3.5 47/96 43/84 45-36
11/12/08 @NO W 93-86 W 1.5 U 195.0 8.5 32/78 34/76 40-43
06/12/08 BOS L 91-97 L -7.5 U 191.5 -13.5 32/77 33/73 41-40

Monty McCutchen - Profile
GeneralJersey Number 13 Avg. Home Score 101.7
Games Officiated 79 Avg. Road Score 98.4
Home Team ATS 40-38-0 Home Avg. Margin 3.3
Home Team W/L 50-29 Avg. Total Score 200.1
Over/Under vs. the TotalOverall 39-39
184.5 or less 3-4
185-194.5 14-7
195-204.5 11-16
205+ 11-12
Favorite or UnderdogSpread Home Fav Home Dog
0-4.5 12-3 11-5
5-9.5 9-20 5-5
10+ 2-5 1-0

Recent Games with OrlandoDate vs. Score Line O/U Mar ORL FG Opp FG Reb
05/22/09 @CLE L 95-96 W 9 O 188.5 8.0 34/71 35/77 30-38
05/12/09 @BOS L 88-92 L 2 U 192.5 -2.0 36/80 33/78 39-42
04/24/09 @PHI L 94-96 L -3.5 U 192.5 -5.5 31/73 37/71 35-35
04/15/09 CHAR W 98-73 W -3.5 U 183.5 21.5 37/81 24/68 45-43
04/04/09 @ATL W 88-82 W -1.5 U 192.0 4.5 30/79 30/77 51-44
03/15/09 UTA W 105-87 W -5.5 U 203.0 12.5 40/90 32/86 60-44
02/28/09 @PHI W 106-100 W -1.5 O 196.5 4.5 37/78 38/79 34-33
02/11/09 DEN L 73-82 L -7 U 209.5 -16.0 21/69 27/66 42-38
12/12/08 @PHO L 112-113 W 2 O 209.0 1.0 39/86 44/87 39-44
11/27/08 @WAS W 105-90 W -3 U 197.0 12.0 38/81 35/83 49-46
Recent Games with L.A. LakersDate vs. Score Line O/U Mar LAL FG Opp FG Reb
05/27/09 DEN W 103-94 W -6 U 209.0 3.0 37/76 32/83 42-43
05/14/09 @HOU L 80-95 L -9 U 197.5 -24.0 30/84 36/71 45-39
04/21/09 UTA W 119-109 L -11 O 211.0 -1.0 45/75 39/79 30-30
02/05/09 @BOS W 110-109 (OT) W 7 O 206.0 8.0 42/88 42/93 42-47
01/25/09 SA W 99-85 W -7.5 U 201.0 6.5 32/69 33/88 43-40
12/02/08 @IND L 117-118 L -9 O 213.0 -10.0 39/76 45/99 41-50
11/14/08 DET L 95-106 L -9.5 O 194.5 -20.5 40/95 35/69 43-42
05/29/08 SA W 100-92 W -7.5 U 193.0 0.5 38/85 36/74 42-39
05/09/08 @UTA L 99-104 P 5 U 215.0 0.0 32/66 39/78 32-35
04/23/08 DEN W 122-107 W -8.5 U 230.0 6.5 46/91 37/84 41-45

Tom Washington - Profile
GeneralJersey Number 49 Avg. Home Score 101.8
Games Officiated 78 Avg. Road Score 97.6
Home Team ATS 42-36-0 Home Avg. Margin 4.3
Home Team W/L 47-31 Avg. Total Score 199.4
Over/Under vs. the TotalOverall 35-41
184.5 or less 3-2
185-194.5 20-11
195-204.5 5-16
205+ 7-12
Favorite or UnderdogSpread Home Fav Home Dog
0-4.5 5-8 5-4
5-9.5 20-15 5-4
10+ 7-4 0-1

Recent Games with OrlandoDate vs. Score Line O/U Mar ORL FG Opp FG Reb
05/22/09 @CLE L 95-96 W 9 O 188.5 8.0 34/71 35/77 30-38
05/06/09 @BOS L 94-112 L 4 O 190.0 -14.0 31/70 41/80 34-41
04/30/09 @PHI W 114-89 W 5.5 O 186.5 30.5 44/82 31/76 41-36
03/23/09 @NY W 106-102 L -6 U 216.0 -2.0 33/74 36/87 48-48
03/11/09 CHI W 107-79 W -8 U 204.0 20.0 40/84 27/86 53-44
02/08/09 NJ W 101-84 W -13 U 195.0 4.0 35/73 34/86 45-39
01/16/09 @LAL W 109-103 W 4.5 U 215.0 10.5 37/83 37/93 54-40
12/27/08 @MIN W 118-94 W -9.5 O 194.0 14.5 43/80 35/85 42-40
12/13/08 @UTA W 103-94 W 7.5 U 201.5 16.5 36/75 33/77 33-46
11/01/08 SAC W 121-103 W -10.5 O 199.0 7.5 44/80 39/74 40-28
Recent Games with L.A. LakersDate vs. Score Line O/U Mar LAL FG Opp FG Reb
05/27/09 DEN W 103-94 W -6 U 209.0 3.0 37/76 32/83 42-43
05/14/09 @HOU L 80-95 L -9 U 197.5 -24.0 30/84 36/71 45-39
03/27/09 @NJ W 103-95 W -7 U 205.0 1.0 41/87 39/83 37-48
03/12/09 @SA W 102-95 W 3 O 194.0 10.0 43/83 38/73 42-33
02/04/09 @TOR W 115-107 W -7.5 O 212.5 0.5 45/89 42/90 45-40
01/16/09 ORL L 103-109 L -4.5 U 215.0 -10.5 37/93 37/83 40-54
11/05/08 LAC W 106-88 W -13.5 O 191.5 4.5 33/85 35/90 54-44
06/12/08 BOS L 91-97 L -7.5 U 191.5 -13.5 32/77 33/73 41-40
05/29/08 SA W 100-92 W -7.5 U 193.0 0.5 38/85 36/74 42-39
05/14/08 UTA W 111-104 L -8.5 O 212.5 -1.5 35/74 37/81 34-44

 

[Lumi]

(3-E) Orlando Magic (0-1) at (1-W) Los Angeles Lakers (1-0), 8 p.m.

(3-E) Orlando Magic (0-1) at (1-W) Los Angeles Lakers (1-0), 8 p.m.

(3-E) Orlando Magic (0-1) at (1-W) Los Angeles Lakers (1-0), 8 p.m.

- Kobe Bryant's quest for a fourth NBA championship and his first without former teammate Shaquille O'Neal has dominated the headlines in the NBA Finals.

Bryant and his current Lakers teammates took the first step toward that lofty goal by embarrassing the Orlando Magic, 100-75, in Game 1 of The Finals on Thursday.

Now, Stan Van Gundy and the Magic hope to have short memories as they attempt to turn this into a competitive series and earn the franchise's first ever finals win when things resume at Staples Center tonight.

It won't be easy.

Orlando is now in the crosshairs of history. Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson, who is aiming for his record 10th NBA championship as a coach, has a 43-0 mark in the postseason when his team wins the first game. Meanwhile, the Magic are 0-5 in NBA Finals games.

Orlando, however, has been incredibly resilient this postseason and has already made a little history. Down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against last year's NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, the Magic recovered to win that set in seven games. The C's had been a perfect 32-0 in their history when taking a 3-2 edge.

"We've been through it," said Van Gundy. "As the playoffs have gone on, I'm given (his team) history lessons of just anything that can happen in the playoffs, people being blown out at times. All of us were upset with our performances. I wasn't happy with mine, I don't think they were happy with theirs. We're anxious to get back at it."

Bryant poured in a personal NBA Finals-high 40 points with eight rebounds and eight assists in Game 1, as the Lakers quickly sent a message.

"We played with a lot of energy. I just want it so bad, so bad," said Bryant.

Pau Gasol added 16 points with eight rebounds, Lamar Odom notched a double- double with 11 points and 14 rebounds and Andrew Bynum donated nine points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 46.1 percent from the field and held the Magic to a miserable 29.9 percent shooting.

"There were a lot of little things. Tipped balls, missed shots, we made some shots. It all added up," said Jackson.

Orlando's vaunted 4-1 offensive set with Dwight Howard in the paint and four sharp- shooting rovers around the perimeter didn't work due in part to an 8- of-23 effort from beyond the arc.

Howard only made one field goal, totaling 12 points and 15 rebounds overall. The Magic's leading scorers were Mickael Pietrus with 14 points and Turkoglu with 13.

Those numbers, and the one assist from Rafer Alston, along with the 2-of-10 shooting from Rashard Lewis told the story of Orlando's offensive futility on Thursday.

The pre-game headline of Jameer Nelson's return proved to be less than pivotal. The All-Star guard, who missed the last four months with a torn right shoulder labrum, appeared very rusty after a great start and scored just six points with four assists in just over 23 minutes of action.

"We were totally dominated at both ends of the floor. The biggest thing for us going forward in this series is we need to find a starting point. We need to play a lot better," said Van Gundy.

Orlando Sentinel scribe Mike Bianchi summed up Nelson's night.

"It was like my sex life," Bianchi deadpanned. "Great for three minutes."

Alston is set to remain in the starting lineup in tonight's game.

The Magic are in their first NBA Finals since 1995 when they were swept in the championship series by Houston. That Orlando team was led by none other than O'Neal.

The Lakers have not won a championship since 2002, the last of their three consecutive titles, but have won 14 in the storied history.

Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday in Orlando.

 

[Lumi]

NBA Matchup - Orlando vs. LA Lakers

NBA Matchup - Orlando vs. LA Lakers

NBA Matchup - Orlando vs. LA Lakers

(3-E) Orlando Magic (59-23) vs. (1-W) Los Angeles Lakers (65-17)
Game One LA Lakers 100, Orlando 75
Game Two Sunday, June 7th - Orlando at LA Lakers, 8 p.m.
Game Three Tuesday, June 9th - LA Lakers at Orlando, 9 p.m.
Game Four Thursday, June 11th - LA Lakers at Orlando, 9 p.m.
*Game Five Sunday, June 14th - LA Lakers at Orlando, 8 p.m.
*Game Six Tuesday, June 16th - Orlando at LA Lakers, 9 p.m.
*Game Seven Thursday, June 18th - Orlando at LA Lakers, 9 p.m.
Records
2008-09 Head-to-head record Orlando 2-0
2007-08 Head-to-head record Tied 1-1
2006-07 Head-to-head record Los Angeles 2-0
2005-06 Head-to-head record Los Angeles 2-0
2004-05 Head-to-head record Tied 1-1
2003-04 Head-to-head record Los Angeles 2-0
2002-03 Head-to-head record Tied 1-1
Overall Head-to-head record Los Angeles 30-11
Home Record Orlando 32-9; Los Angeles 36-5
Away Record Orlando 27-14; Los Angeles 29-12
Record vs. Pacific Division Orlando 9-1
Record vs. Southeast Division Los Angeles 4-6
Record vs. Western Conference Orlando 22-8
Record vs. Eastern Conference Los Angeles 21-9
2008-2009 Meetings
12/20 - Orlando, 106-103 (at Orl)
01/16 - Orlando, 109-103 (at LA)
2007-2008 Meetings
12/02 - Orlando, 104-97 (at LA)
02/08 - Los Angeles, 117-113 (at Orl)
2006-2007 Meetings
12/27 - Los Angeles, 106-93 (at Orl)
01/12 - Los Angeles, 109-106 (at LA)
2005-2006 Meetings
12/23 - Los Angeles, 104-88 (at Orl)
02/28 - Los Angeles, 102-87 (at LA)
2004-2005 Meetings
11/12 - Orlando, 122-113 (at Orl)
12/12 - Los Angeles, 105-98 (at LA)
2003-2004 Meetings
02/08 - Los Angeles, 98-96 (at Orl)
03/15 - Los Angeles, 113-110 ot (at LA)
2002-2003 Meetings
11/27 - Orlando, 112-102 (at Orl)
12/15 - Los Angeles, 107-84 (at LA)
Game Notes
Note - Orlando has won two straight and three of the last four meetings.
Note - The Lakers have won six of nine and nine of the last 13 meetings.
Note - The Lakers have won 16 of 21, 17 of 23 and 19 of the last 26 meetings.
Note - Orlando has won two straight after losing its last 10 at the Lakers.
Note - Orlando has lost 12 of its last 15 at the Lakers.
Note - Orlando is 4-16 at the Lakers.
Note - Orlando snapped a three-game series home losing streak on 12/20/08.
Note - The Lakers have won four of their last six at Orlando.
Note - The Lakers have won eight of 11 and nine of their last 14 at Orlando.
Orlando last 20 games Los Angeles last 20 games
04/19 - L vs. Philadelphia, 98-100 POFF 04/14 - W vs. Utah, 125-112
04/22 - W vs. Philadelphia, 96-87 POFF 04/19 - W vs. Utah, 113-100 POFF
04/24 - L at Philadelphia, 94-96 POFF 04/21 - W vs. Utah, 119-109 POFF
04/26 - W at Philadelphia, 84-81 POFF 04/23 - L at Utah, 86-88 POFF
04/28 - W vs. Philadelphia, 91-78 POFF 04/25 - W at Utah, 108-94 POFF
04/30 - W at Philadelphia, 114-89 POFF 04/27 - W vs. Utah, 107-96 POFF
05/04 - W at Boston, 95-90 POFF 05/04 - L vs. Houston, 92-100 POFF
05/06 - L at Boston, 94-112 POFF 05/06 - W vs. Houston, 111-98 POFF
05/08 - W vs. Boston, 117-96 POFF 05/08 - W at Houston, 108-94 POFF
05/10 - L vs. Boston, 94-95 POFF 05/10 - L at Houston, 87-99 POFF
05/12 - L at Boston, 88-92 POFF 05/12 - W vs. Houston, 118-78 POFF
05/14 - W vs. Boston, 83-75 POFF 05/14 - L at Houston, 80-95 POFF
05/17 - W at Boston, 101-82 POFF 05/17 - W vs. Houston, 89-70 POFF
05/20 - W at Cleveland, 107-106 POFF 05/19 - W vs. Denver, 105-103 POFF
05/22 - L at Cleveland, 95-96 POFF 05/21 - L vs. Denver, 103-106 POFF
05/24 - W vs. Cleveland, 99-89 POFF 05/23 - W at Denver, 103-97 POFF
05/26 - W vs. Cleveland, 116-114 OT POFF 05/25 - L at Denver, 101-120 POFF
05/28 - L at Cleveland, 102-112 POFF 05/27 - W vs. Denver, 103-94 POFF
05/30 - W vs. Cleveland, 103-90 POFF 05/29 - W at Denver, 119-92 POFF
06/04 - L at LA Lakers, 75-100 POFF 06/04 - W vs. Orlando, 100-75 POFF
Game Notes
Note - All statistics are regular season except where noted.
* - If necessary.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Lumi]

The Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at STAPLES Center in the second game of the NBA Finals.

Oddsmakers currently have the Lakers listed as 6?-point favorites versus the Magic, while the game's total is sitting at 203?.


Kobe Bryant poured in a game-high 40 points as the Lakers ran over the Magic 100-75 in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday.

The Lakers easily covered the 6-point spread, but the 175 points fell UNDER the night's posted total of 205.5.

Bryant also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out eight assists in that win.

Dwight Howard had a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Magic in the loss.


Team records:
Orlando: 59-23 SU, 49-32-1 ATS
Los Angeles: 65-17 SU, 42-39-1 ATS


Orlando most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing LA Lakers are 6-4
After playing LA Lakers are 4-6
After a loss are 7-3

Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing Orlando are 3-7
After playing Orlando are 6-4
After a win are 5-5


A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Orlando is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Orlando's last 7 games
Orlando is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games at home
LA Lakers are 15-2 SU in their last 17 games at home
LA Lakers are 11-2 SU in their last 13 games when playing at home against Orlando
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 6 games when playing at home against Orlando


Next up:
Orlando home to LA Lakers, Tuesday, June 9
LA Lakers at Orlando, Tuesday, June 9

 

[Lumi]

BETTING TRENDS

BETTING TRENDS

BETTING TRENDS

ORLANDO MAGIC

Orlando is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
Orlando is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Orlando's last 7 games
Orlando is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Orlando is 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games when playing LA Lakers
Orlando is 5-17 SU in their last 22 games when playing LA Lakers
Orlando is 4-8-1 ATS in their last 13 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Orlando is 2-11 SU in their last 13 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

LA Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
LA Lakers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of the LA Lakers last 11 games
LA Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games at home
LA Lakers are 15-2 SU in their last 17 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games at home
LA Lakers are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games when playing Orlando
LA Lakers are 17-5 SU in their last 22 games when playing Orlando
LA Lakers are 11-2 SU in their last 13 games when playing at home against Orlando
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 6 games when playing at home against Orlando