The NBA Championship Debate – It’s Kobe’s Time

May 29, 2009

(Site note: If you missed the set up to this debate, click here. If you missed why the Magic will win, click here. If you missed how the Cavaliers will win, click here. Read Loyal Homer’s argument for the Lakers, then vote!).



As it stands today, four teams are left in what has been one of the most entertaining playoffs in recent memory. All four teams have strong credentials and a superstar – which is good for ratings. We all know what matchup the NBA and ABC are hoping for. It’s what most fans are hoping for also. But, when all is said and done, no matter what the matchup is in the Finals, I believe the Los Angeles Lakers will come out on top, and win their first championship since 2003.

Sports Geek has given you his reasons why Orlando will win with all of his numbers and statistics. But, that’s what sports geeks do! Bleacher Fan has given his reasons why Cleveland will win. Let me tell you why the Lakers will win.

Kobe knows it’s his time. It’s not quite “now or never” time but it really isn’t that far off. Lebron is only getting better and Wade, Anthony, and Howard are on teams who are only going to get better in the coming years. Perhaps Kobe just isn’t ready to hand over the throne to King James just yet.

It’s been an ongoing debate amongst NBA fans about who the best player in the NBA is right now. The pendulum has swung to Lebron James’ favor in the past year. Heck, even former Laker player (and Kobe Bryant’s former boss) Jerry West agrees. Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard have had their moment in the spotlight, also. Meanwhile, there’s a guy that plays at the Staples Center. You may have heard of him.

I will say that Andrew Bynum is going to have to consistently step up his game for the Lakers to win. Bynum had an awful two first rounds against the Jazz and Rockets, respectively, but he has picked it up slightly against the Nuggets. To beat the Cavs or Magic, he will have to continue to pick it up.

Let’s not forget the Lakers are coming off an NBA Finals loss last year to the Celtics. Couple the taste of that recent loss with the loss to the Pistons in the 2004, and the Lakers are on what you might call a mini-championship slump. It’s time to right the ship. It’s time for Kobe to get his fourth ring and continue to climb the ladder of the all time greats.

Lakers over the Nuggets in 6. Lakers over The Sharply Dressed Coach Stan Van Gundy and his Orlando Magic team in 6!!!

2 Comments | The NBA Championship Debate May 09 | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Loyal Homer

The NBA Championship Debate – Hallelujah, the Cleveland Strife is O’er!

May 29, 2009

(Site note: If you missed the set up to this debate, click here. If you missed why the Magic will win, click here. If you missed how the Cavaliers will win (below), click here. Read Loyal Homer’s argument for the Lakers, then vote!).

I can see it now… puppet LeBron hoisting a puppet O’Brien Trophy over his weeping puppet head, chugging a big ol’ bottle of puppet Vitamin Water, while Kobe Bryant officially joins the ranks of “We”, who are all Witnesses (by the way, it’s sad to watch a grown puppet cry). There will be much rejoicing on the shores of Lake Erie!

That’s right, I said it. The Cleveland Cavaliers will be the 2009 NBA Champions!

The formula is a simple one…

The best PLAYER in the NBA + the best TEAM in the NBA + the best COACH in the NBA = CHAMPIONSHIP!

Let’s break that down…

LeBron is undeniably the best player in the NBA. This year, he racked up career bests in field goals (48.9%), free-throws (78%), assists/game (7.2), turnovers (2.98), and blocks/game (1.1). He also saw his second-highest totals for points/game (27.5), rebounds/game (7.6), and 3-point field goals (34.4%). He was nearly a unanimous MVP winner, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive team. Most remarkably, though, is that he accomplished this with the lowest minutes-per-game average he’s ever had (37.7)!

He’s producing more, in less time… how can that be?!

It’s because of the elevated play of his supporting cast, who will ultimately allow LeBron to claim his first (of many) titles. More specifically, it boils down to the addition of Mo Williams.

It was evident that LeBron was missing something. He couldn’t take on the NBA powerhouses alone, no matter how hard he tried. A supporting cast which included guys like Ira Newble, Larry Hughes, and Drew Gooden just wasn’t cutting it. Mo, however, came to the team and turned in an All Star year of his own, totaling personal bests in 3-pointers (43.6%), free-throws (91.2%!!!), and points per game (17.8). His field goal percentage (46.7%) was the second highest of his career.

I hate to draw the comparison, but it sounds a lot like Jordan – Pippen to me…

Last, Coach of the Year Mike Brown’s philosophy has been one of defense first, and 2008 was the year it paid off. Under Brown’s direction, the Cavaliers led the league in allowing just 91.4 points per game, and had the greatest scoring differential at +8.9. They DOMINATED on defense! That domination was even more evident in their regular-season record of 66-16, and a 39-2 home record, which is second best in history.

So, why have they struggled against the Magic? People are quick to point out that the Cavs are only alive because of LeBron’s 3-pointer at the end of game 2. Yet, Orlando is only alive because of Rashard Lewis’ shots in the final seconds of games 1 and 4. Cleveland has carried a lead into the final 30 seconds of 4 out of the 5 games this series, and the Magic have relied on miraculous 3-pt shooting that CANNOT be sustained.

After the first 4 games, the Magic averaged 43% from 3-pt land, compared to 36% during the season. They lived by the sword, and will surely die by that same sword. In game 5, the Magic shot their second-highest number of 3-pointers in the series but suddenly couldn’t hit anymore, sinking only 8 of 25. The result was their worst defeat of the series. Is this a sign that the hot-streak has ended? I think so.

Looking ahead to the Finals, then, it comes down to a question of whether or not the LeBron-aliers continue to struggle as they did against Orlando, or will they return to the level of domination demonstrated during the first two rounds? My answer (obviously) is a return to the form they have sustained through the ENTIRE season!

Cavs over Orlando in 7, Cavs over the West Champs in 5!

8 Comments | The NBA Championship Debate May 09 | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Bleacher Fan

The NBA Championship Debate – Why the Orlando Magic Will Win

May 29, 2009

(Site note: If you missed the set up to this debate, click here. If you missed why the Magic will win (below), click here. If you missed how the Cavaliers will win, click here. Read Loyal Homer’s argument for the Lakers, then vote!).

The Orlando Magic will hoist this year’s Davey O’Brien trophy in their champagne soaked home locker room. Bold statement? Not when you consider how good this team really is.

First is their impressive offense, which has only picked up since the post-season started. For starters, their field goal percentage has gone up in the playoffs compared to the regular season. As a team the Magic shot 46% in the regular season to an improved 47% in the playoffs, and nearly 50% in the Eastern Conference finals. The Magic get better each game, so let’s compare regular season stats to the Eastern Conference finals stats and gauge how this team keeps improving.

Their defensive star, center Dwight Howard, is a big reason why they’ve improved so much. He shot 57% in the regular season, but has improved to 62% from the field in the conference finals. Orlando’s version of Mr. Big Shot, Rashard Lewis, (sorry, Chauncey) shot 44% in the regular season, but is now shooting 56% in the conference finals. The list of improved performance goes right down the line, Rafer Alston shot 41% in the regular season, but is shooting 45% now. Supposed backup and defensive specialist Mickael Pietrus knocked in 41% of his shots in the regular season, and is now money 49% of the time. These are not statistical anomalies – these are trends. The team’s ball movement and ability to spread the floor on offense with great 3-point shooters make it impossible to double Howard and prevent a 3-point shot. Keep in mind that it’s not little guard that are hitting these 3s and driving the lane – it’s a bunch of 6’10″ match up nightmares.

There is no team left in the playoffs good enough to play Howard straight up on defense and not foul out in the first 5 minutes of the game. Therefore, the double team will come, Howard will pass, and the Magic will connect on a wide-open 3-point shot more times than not.

On defense, Howard, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year has been good enough in protecting the paint that the Cavs, and every other team the Magic have played this post-season, are settling for low-percentage outside jump shots. Not even great players (or puppets?) like Kobe or LeBron can connect every time. No remaining team in the playoffs can outshoot the Magic. Period.

Playing against the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals was a stroke of good luck for them, having gone 2-1 against them in the 2009 regular season, plus winning 9 of their last 12 against them going into the series. I’m sure Cavs fans were thinking this was the ONE team they did NOT want to play come late May. The Magic will end this series at home and move on to the West.

The Magic were great against the West this year. They went 2-0 versus the Lakers and 1-1 against the Nuggets. They actually beat the Nuggets in Denver, but lost to them at home in a dismal game on February 11, 2009 where they scored just 12 points in the second quarter just 9-days after losing All-Star Jameer Nelson for the season. They also shot a very uncharacteristic 30% in that game. Basically, everything had to go wrong for the Magic, and they still only lost by 9.

It’s easy to see that when the Magic get behind in games early, it’s because they aren’t trying yet. When they concentrate, work for open shots, dominate inside on defense and listen to their talented coach Stan Van Gundy (what’s with the short-sleeves under the suit coat, man – is it THAT hot in Orlando?), there is not a team in the NBA that can stop them.

Orlando over the Cavs in 6. Orlando over the Western champs in 5.

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Posted by Sports Geek

The NBA Championship Debate – Who’s the King of the Hill?

May 29, 2009

(Site note: If you missed the set up to this debate (below), click here. If you missed why the Magic will win, click here. If you missed how the Cavaliers will win, click here. Read Loyal Homer’s argument for the Lakers, then vote!).

As of this morning, 4 teams still remain in the hunt for the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship trophy. So, which of the 4 will take it? Sports Geek will argue that the trophy is being shined for the Orlando Magic, Bleacher Fan will argue for their opponent the Cleveland Cavaliers, and yesterday’s “not winner” – Loyal Homer – will argue for Jack Nicholson’s favorite team the LA Lakers. The abundantly tattooed Denver Nuggets are on the outside looking in.

Check back all day, as we’ll be posting each argument at different times throughout the day today (mostly because our real jobs are boring).

Here’s the best part (that sounds like a line from an infomercial… ShamWow anyone?) – the winner is decided by you, our quickly growing population of Sports Debaters. After the final argument we’ll put up the poll. Vote all weekend, get your friends to vote, your Grandma, even that Aunt you hardly talk to and the Uncle who’s lap you weren’t allowed to sit on when you were a kid. We’ll see who won the debate first thing Monday morning, before the next judge (Sports Geek) posts the first debate topic of next week. You won’t want to miss that debate – it promises to be full of controversy.

Also, post your own comments and try to sway the votes of other visitors – this only works if you bums readers participate! Vote early, vote often. Vote for the best argument, or your favorite team, or because you like Lakes, Nuggets of things, Cavalier attitudes or Magic (who doesn’t like Magic?).

3 Comments | The NBA Championship Debate May 09 | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Sports Geek

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