Today has finally arrived. Sure, its a nice sunny day (at least where I'm at) that I need to crank the AC to the max, and that it'll probably be filled with me blogging, reading up news, and studying for a midterm that's coming up this upcoming weekend. I wish I was on the beach :(


But today is also when the Black Mamba will see if he can be the kryptonite to Superman II. Kobe Bryant, having hit the 30-years milestone, is back in his second back-to-back finals appearance, and for the Lakers their 30th Finals. If the Laker win this, they will have won 15 in total - and Kobe his first as the "true" leader of the team.


Dwight Howard, labelled "Superman II" by the media and himself, has taken a franchise that hasn't seen the spectacle of the Finals since 1995 - when Superman I, Shaquielle O'Neal, was still wearing the blue and white before he switched to the gold and purple. Howard has carried his team beyond what anybody expected, knocking out favorites Cavaliers (for good cause too!) and defending champs from '08 the Boston Celtics.


Both franchise players are playing magnificently. Dwight Howard posted 40 points, 14 rebounds in game 6 of closeout game with the Cavaliers. Kobe Bryant has come from arguably his best 6 quarters of basketball with the Denver Nuggets, dishing out properly and scoring when need be.


However, it becomes more and more of a story of the readied experienced team that is the Lakers, versus the new, green, inexperienced team that is the Magic. The Lakers have no one new on their roster, as every single one of them remember how last year's Final went. The Magic have two veterans who have even been this far, with no one having won a ring. But the Lakers have a haunting shadow on them - ever since they won the three-peat in '01 - '03, they haven't been able to do it without Shaq. The Magic couldn't do it without Shaq - being a throwaway expansion team until they finally drafted Howard in '04. Kobe and his team weren't real contenders until last year (after winning two scoring titles) Kobe decided to be an actual leader and pass the ball around and create open shots for his teammates - winning the MVP for '08 and hitting the Finals (before bowing out in game 6 with the worst blowout in Lakers history).


"But the Magic are on a roll!" That is true - after picking apart the favorite (and #1 seed) Cavaliers by creating double teams on Howard and raining on them in 3's, or posting up Howard 1vs1 (and come on, the Cavaliers backcourt is WEAKKKKKK sauce) and drawing fouls and easy baskets. The Cavaliers had huge matchup problems, with their point guard/forward Turk being listed at 6'8", 250 pounds (damn!) and their rookie Courtney Lee playing, well not like a rookie. Plus you got Lewis, who I'd have to say is showing why he deserved the 100$million+ contract, and Alston doing his And 1 thing. The Cavs had problems keeping a man on Dwight (they don't have Perkins (Boston Celtics) who can hold his ground), but anytime they shifted it left an open man with an open look and time to shoot. If the Magic can draw fouls inside and keep their outside men free, then the Lakers will have a problem keeping them down.


"But we got Kobe...right?" Yes - that is one of the biggest X factors in this series. Will Kobe play how he's been doing lately? Or will he revert to selfish shoot'em up Kobe? If Kobe keeps the ball moving and getting hits teammates open looks, the Magic are...well to put it, SCREWED. Not only do you have to respect Kobe (since he has like123o31290231 different moves he can pull on you), but also watch out for Pau Gasol, one of the speedier, if not versatile centers the league has. (note, center!). Why do you think Kobe was named the Black Mamba? Black Mambas are the deadliest snakes in the world, and with Kobe, he'll poison you either way. Double team him? He'll pass it off and create an open look. Man-up? He'll breeze by you. Zone? He'll shoot from downtown. Harass him Battier style? That'll keep Kobe down...but oh, wait, this is the MAGIC we're talking about, not the Rockets. With Pau, as long as Bynum is in, will cause huge matchup problems for Lewis/Turk. This will probably draw double teams, allowing their outside shooter or, (gasp) Bynum to make some shots. As long as Kobe and Fisher keep the ball moving, and get some productive work from their bench (Walton, Odom, Brown), they will be unstoppable. The only reason why the Magic steamrolled the Cavs, was that their only weapon (that worked) was LeBron. And Kobe has shown us in '06 and '07 a one-man team can't win it all.


So how does this matchup? Well, the Lakers and Magic have matchup problems. Fisher can't keep up with any of their PG's (he's getting old). Pau Gasol is gonna have difficulty with Lewis (and vice versa), and Bynum will need to show some balls in making sure Dwight has no easy baskets. Kobe is gonna spell trouble for anyone guarding him, and Ariza has proven that the Magic traded away a great quick player - and probably kicking themselves in the foot.


But the biggest thing is - Kobe's hungry. He needs to win it this year. With a lot of potential contenders next year (Boston, San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Cleveland), it's going to be harder. With this win, his name will be cemented in history (vs. he won three with Shaq, and never got a Finals MVP), and it won't matter what he does after this. Yes Dwight and co. have had a fairytale season, but they can come back next year - most teams don't end up winning the first time they reach the centerstage of the Finals. Most teams don't also shoot three-pointers ~10% higher than their regular season averages. The law of averages will bring that number back down, as well as nerves, expectations, and the daunting task at hand have made plenty choke at this time. Plus, with Kobe being as productive as he is now, and still dropping bombs, the Lakers are more ready and poised for the title - and rightfully so, as Kobe has been patiently waiting since '03 for this.

As long as the Lakers keep the ball moving, and make sure Dwight + co don't get easy baskets and three's, the Lakers will destroy the Magic.


Lakers in 5.

EH

Find the latest in stars * media * hype+ * sports * fashion
@ STRKNG LIGHTS BLOG