Sports Thread #1 for 6/9/09: 2009 NBA Finals, Game 3 Preview and Current In-Game Thread

Photo from NBA.com

The Orlando Magic blew a golden opportunity to win Game 2 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and come home to the Sunshine State with the series knotted at 1. Instead, Orlando's carelessness with the pill and poor free throw shooting led to sabotaged their chance of getting the victory, committing 20 turnovers and missing 5 consecutive free throws down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Orlando now faces a desperate must win tonight or face a perilous 3-0 deficit. Impossible odds no team in NBA history has surmounted. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers know the significance of taking a commanding 3-0 lead and essentially making the finals a snack wrap. Will Orlando make it a series or will LA seal their championship fate tonight?

Orlando Magic

Howard must be tower of power
Dwight Howard was dominant against the Cleveland Cavaliers inferior frontline, averaging 25.8 points and 13 rebounds on 65 percent shooting. However, the Magic's First Team All-NBA center has been unable to duplicate the monstrous performances against LA. The board work and defense has been there, as D-Ho is snatching 15.5 rebounds, punching 3 shots and even getting 3 thefts a game. However, Howard has faltered against the length and athleticism of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. The Defensive Player of the Year is averaging a sub-par 14.5 points on 37.5 percent from the floor. Even more disconcerting, Howard's only taken a total of 16

shots in two games and only has one dunk. That's an intolerably low amount of attempts.

Howard has been unable to use his shredded wheat frame to big boy his way to the rack for thunderous booms. His underdeveloped post move catalog has been exposed. If LA pushes Howard out the paint it dramatically decreases his chances of scoring. D-Ho has to rely less on overpowering Laker defenders and using his quickness. He also has to avoid the inclination to tentatively hold the rock for long periods of time waiting for double teams to come. Howard had 7 turnovers, most of which came off indecision. He has to make quick, decisive strong moves before the help rotates. Orlando's perimeter players making some shots wouldn't hurt either. Howard didn't have any touches the Magic last 8 possessions in overtime. That just can't happen. In the three games D-Ho got 33 or more touches versus Cleveland he dropped 26 points per game. Orlando needs the gorilla Howard to emerge and eat LA like skittles.

Regain the Magic

With all due to Jameer Nelson who is an All-Star point guard and one of the dopest conductors in the league today the Magic made a catastrophic mistake reactivating him for the NBA Finals. Giving Nelson limited burn in short intervals would have been cool, but letting him play the entire 2 quarter in Game 1 was a horrible move. Nelson missed the last four months of the year, and you can't expect him to come back and toast the Lakers like he did twice earlier this year, averaging 27.5 points, 8 boards and 7 dimes. His presence has definitely disrupted the rhythm Orlando had and been detrimental to their overall synergy. The Magic committed 20 turnovers in Game 2. Orlando's offense hasn't flowed as smoothly, and Rafer Alston who was crucial hitting 12.5 points a night on 38 percent from treyland against Cleveland is shooting a regurgitious 0-8 on triples in the Finals and confidence is noticeably shaken.

To remedy this, Stan Van Gundy has to go to Nelson and tell him, we got mad love for you but you gotta sit this one out until next year. If Nelson does get any run it needs to be sparingly. Van Gundy needs to tell Alston you're our guy and we're riding and dieing with you. That should shake his consternation, get his mind right and hopefully “Skip To My Lou” will reemerge. Van Gundy also needs to play Anthony Johnson, who's burly 6'4 frame enables him to get penetration for scores for himself or jumpers for teammates as well. Orlando should also use their big lineup more of, Mickael Pietrus, JJ Reddick or Courtney Lee, Hedo Turkoglu Rashard Lewis, Martin Gortat and D-Ho because the better combats LA's size and gives the Magic a stronger inside presence. These moves could go a long way in helping Orlando recapture the supreme braswado they entered the Finals with.

Avoid the Trap Music Pietrus

Pietrus played a pivotal role in Orlando pulling off the stunner over Cleveland in the East Finals. The former lottery pick busted 14 points a game on 51 percent shooting, and played hellacious defense on LeBron James, stalking his every move. However, the man his teammates refer to as “Air France” has been grounded by foul trouble in the NBA Finals thus far. Pietrus is averaging only 8 points on 37.5 percent from the floor. Granted, he's been the victim of some horrendous calls the likes of which Dwayne Wade received in 2006 when it appeared if you sneezed on him you'd get whistled for a foul. Pietrus has to play with a disciplined ferocity, hounding Kobe but not picking up petty fouls.

Run n gun

Orlando shooting has been as frigid as an ice polar cap. The Magic have connected on 34 percent of their trey attempts and are 18-53 overall. One anecdote is Orlando taking advantage of their athleticism and pushing the pill for some easy opportunities. Making it a frenetic game enables Orlando to get some open court layups and jumpers which should get them in a rhythm to nail rip some triples in the half court.

Be Easy

No one expected the Magic to be vying for an NBA Championship. Few gave them a chance to beat defending NBA champs Boston at the Garden in a Game 7, and even fewer thought they had a chance of foiling King James Cavs coronation. Even thought they're down 0-2 the Magic should play with the same free-wheeling, dealing, cap peeling freedom they did to reach the Finals. Just go out and have fun and forget about the pressure of going down 3 games. Having fun is the first step to winning one.

Los Angeles Lakers

Pau work em out

Spaniard Third-Team All-NBA power forward Pau Gasol has been the most consistent inside force all season and in the playoffs. Gasol is averaging 18.4 points, 11.1 boards, and most importantly 1.95 swats a game. Pau has a distinct advantage on the block against Turk or Lewis. In Game 2 Gasol got 14 shots, made 10-11 throws and registered 24 points and 10 rebounds. When he consistently gets the orange LA is a far more diverse, potent offensive attack. LA needs to make sure to venture to Spain to make it rain in the paint.

Keep selling the goods

Lamar Odom has been nothing short of sensational in the first two games. Odom is averaging 15 points, 11 boards and 2 blocks so far. When Odom balls with conviction LA has few afflictions. Da Goods” possesses an eclectic skill set few big men can match with his gross handles, incredible court vision, jump shooting, board snatching and ability to attack the cup. Odom has also been huge defensively, smacking 3 shots in Game 2. He does need to be conscious of Lewis though, because he lost him a few times for open jumpers and Lewis barbecued LA for 34 points, 11 rebounds and 7 helpers. Odom and LA can't leave Lewis unaccounted. When Odom's focused LA is very hard to beat.

Keep containing D-Ho

The Laker bigs, and LA in general have done a great job collectively containing Howard. Andrew Byum, Gasol and Odom have made life very difficult for the dominant center. Bynum needs to play more controlled, intelligent defense because he's racked up 9 fouls in 45 minutes of play. When he's on the floor he's aggressively taken it to Howard, but offset his production with dumb, unnecessary fouls. Bynum, Gasol and Odom need to continue collapsing on D-Ho hard forcing him to score against double teams because he'll definitely come out ferociously krunk wanting to atone for two pedestrian offensive games.

End it now

Now is the time for the Lakers to seize control of the series. They need to take a commanding lead and eliminate all hope of Orlando having a chance to win the series. If the Magic win Game 3 it will give them confidence and momentum heading into Game 4, and a chance to knot it at 2. Kobe, who's averaged 34.5 points and 8 dimes in the first two games, insatiable appetite for a title has traversed his crew. Now is the time to drive a harpoon through the hearts of Orlando and practically place their signatures on the Larry O' Brien trophy.

Prediction

The Magic know the imminence of this game. If they lose tonight it's murder she wrote for the series and they may as well spend Game 4 at Universal Studios. Orlando's fans will have the building raucously rocking, the Magic will come out energized and their hypeness and prospects of an insurmountable 0-3 deficit will help them pull out a must win game. Magic 108-100.

Update 1: Big 1st quarter for Kobe, as the Lakers lead 31-27, but the tempo is being played at Orlando's pace right now.

Final Update: Kobe choked, the Magic win 108-104, as the series is now 2-1 Lakers going into Game 4 on Thursday.