I think Orlando has all the tools in place for a title run. It will come down to coaching adjustments and execution as to whether they will go any further than what they already have.

Personally, I see them coming out of the east right now, but I'm not so sure they'll win the finals.

I think you're crazy if you think Kobe wants the Magic over the Cavs. People like Kobe do not want the 'easy' way out (even though I think it's actually more difficult outing Orlando).

Kobe is an alpha dog of the highest order and he wants the highest glory possible. He knows full well a two-birds-with-one-stone title over the reigning two-time MVP in addition to his long-time nemesis would cement his legacy and put him on as close as possible to equal footing with Magic Johnson as far as beloved Laker figures.

This is the last possible 'great' challenge Kobe has in front of him and time is not on his side should it happen again. We would see a duel of epic proportions between him and LeBron and Shaq would have his A game against Gasol and Bynum. This match-up would be the best, most-hyped match-up since the Lakers-Celtics wars in the 1980's.

quote:

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Shaq would have his A game

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Any semblance of Shaq's A game left 3 seasons ago and hasn't been back. He sucks now and looks like Aretha Franklin in a basketball uniform.

Lebron's the best player in the game now, but the Magic have a better team than the Cavs. He IS their team. Cowherd had a spot on rant about the Cavs this season today concerning their coach and the team past Lebron. They tear it up in the regular season when teams may or may not be trying every night, but when EVERY team is D-ing up hard every play of every game (except for the Hawks), the Cavs have problems. Lebron still needs help bad... Jamison and Shaq ain't it. Jamison might be the most meaningless 20 point a game scorer the league has seen in 20 years.

Threats to the Lakers go in this order (assuming the Cavs get out of their series with Boston):

1. Orlando
2. Phoenix
3. Cleveland

[This message has been edited by ATM9000 (edited 5/10/2010 4:07p).]

Now that I've been rendered a casual observer by the Suns, I would love to see the NBA's fully marketed "drama" over a Lebron/Kobe showdown. Lets face it....the rivalry could turn ugly, and everyone wants that. The league office would be like that circle of kids that stands around the two fighting boys, pushing them back in.

You know it is late afternoon when I begin making hard-to-follow 3 o'clock high playground references.

soooo...about this thread.

people wrong in this thread:
Mookie
aero
ATM
Mass
Ital


hell everyone. except me. orlando = overrated. lewis does not play well with carter. vince is a HUGE downgrade.

[This message has been edited by Simplebay (edited 5/18/2010 11:16p).]

Orlando can't win because Vince Carter is Vince Carter.

He's going to fail them, it is inevitable, it happend tonight, it will happen again.

No team that relies on Vince, "I'm going to take off for my graduation the same day as a game 7 and hopefully I'll make it back in time" Carter in the clutch can win a contested series.