Let’s just get these out of the way now before the Disney channel starts its 24 hour discussion of the titillating topics revolving around the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 NBA Finals.
Kobe‘s Quest to Quiet the Haters – KB24 is trying for the second year in a row to prove to the national sports media and barbershops nationwide that he can win without Shaq. Make no mistake; this is rarefied air that Kobe is floating in. After all, Magic never won without The Cap. MJ never won without Scottie. Bird never won without McHale. (Side note – for those of you still dwelling on the “Had Shaq stayed we’d have four more titles”, I suggest you add a little Roy Jones Jr. to your ipod cause y’all must’ve forgot about 2004.)
Phil Again Attempts to Ace Auerbach – Phil Jackson is making his third attempt to surpass Celtic legend Red Auerbach as the only coach to ever win 10 NBA titles. It is hard to believe that he’s again on the brink of accomplishing a feat that will never be matched yet has just one coach of the year award. (Reason #175 why the sports media shouldn’t be allowed to vote on awards in professional sports)
Is Pau Tough Enough? – The biggest plot line this season has been Pau’s hard lesson learned in the 2008 NBA Finals. Yes, Pau will need to stand strong during the brief instances when he’s going to be asked to check Howard in the post. However, Pau is a European big man and it’s unfair to expect him to become Charles Oakley overnight. All Pau can do is play his game and try to make Dwight work for his buckets. Pau’s game is predicated on that idiotic key they play with in Europe and his advantage will be in facing up Dwight and making him move his feet, hopefully putting the Orlando big man in foul trouble.
Fisher’s Last Stand – The writing was on the wall way back in 2003 when Troy Hudson lit up Derek Fisher for 23 a night in the playoffs. Since then Fisher has left and then returned to L.A. but little has changed. This time around Aaron Brooks took his turn on the Fisher crash course in making average point guards great by dropping 34 points in one game and walking Derek like an Aston Martin against a motorized wheelchair. No doubt Fisher badly wants to end his career with his fourth ring in hand as he will be seeing a diminished role next season should he decide to return at all.
The Battle of the Houses that Shaq Built – Yes, I have to agree with the Big Aristotle on this one. Dwight Howard did bite Shaquille’s “Superman” persona in Orlando and yes Shaq was one of the biggest reasons why Staples Center was built. Although this is one Laker fan who badly misses going to games in Inglewood. Howard’s Post-Shaquille O’Neal Superman obsession in Orlando is a little like Frank Caliendo becoming the newest impersonator to hit the Vegas strip after the passing of Danny Gans.
The Battle of the X-Factors – Pietrus vs. Ariza, Skip vs. The Three Headed Laker Point Guard, Odom vs. Hedo. Of all these, the Ariza/Pietus Factor could be the most important. Both have shown a knack for knocking down big shots this post season and both are superior perimeter defenders. There is one other battle that will be key to this series as well; Odom vs. Gummy Bears. I know next to nothing about human physiology and won’t even begin to weigh in on the harms of abusing sugar. All I know is that whatever L.O. was doing the last two games of the Denver series is what he needs to do every game of the Orlando series. If that means the cost of hanging a new banner in the rafters is Lamar ending up in a Sour Patch Kids induced coma, then so be it. This war, there’s going to be collateral damage.
Will Jameer Nelson channel Willis Reed? – There have been rumors that the biggest Laker Killer left standing might actually suit up for the Finals. During the regular season, Jameer torched the Lake Show to the tune of 27 points and 7 dimes per game in the two Magic victories over Los Angeles. Having not played since February, it is doubtful that Nelson would be as dominant, but his presence alone could lift the Magic in ways not unlike the advantage Willis Reed gave the New York Knicks back in 1970 when the injured big man scored the first two fields goals of a game seven victory in the NBA Finals against the Lakers.
Will Andrew Bynum stand his ground? – Before the playoffs started, I told everybody not to expect much from Bynum. He had never seen anything like the pressure of the playoffs before and Phil was sure to keep him on a short leash. I’m reversing field now by stating the Bynum is going to have to do much more than the 8 points and 2 boards he averaged against Dwight Howard in the regular season. There is no way to stop Howard, but Bynum is the only big man on the Laker roster who stands a chance of keeping Dwight from catching the ball with two feet in the paint.
The Trevor Ariza/Shannon Brown/Lamar Odom poster contest – So far this post season, the Lakers have been holding their own dunk contest. Ariza opened the competition with that sick steal and reverse dunk on Carlos Boozer in the first round. Not to be left out, Shannon Brown and Lamar Odom each took turns posing for pictures high above the rim while looking down on Birdman in the Western Finals. Who’s going to raise the stakes and one up Krypto-Nate by actually jumping over Howard in a game?
Will DJ Mbenga one up Dwight’s flagrant? – When Dwight Howard went Anderson Silva on the back of Samuel Dalembert’s head he earned a one game suspension. No doubt Mbenga will be called on by Phil Jackson to defend Howard in the Finals. The question is, will Phil go John Chaney and “send in the goon” by instructing D.J. to use those eighth degree black belt skills on Howard to get under his skin a little. Jackson will pay the fine and Mbenga will do the time, the advantage could be priceless. (see Robert Horry’s hip check on Steve Nash)
Shannon‘s Court Case – As of now there is nothing to the story of Shannon Brown being served with papers while in Denver. However, if the Lakers are up 3-0 or (God forbid) if they’re down 0-3, expect Stuart Scott to roll this out as either a bottom of the barrel story when there is nothing left to talk about or a “team distraction” plot line.
Who will win the LeBron James award for Sportsmanship? – Should Kobe come up short for the second year in a row many will wonder if he’ll be sitting in the idling team bus as Sasha and Pau nervously play with their hair while answering questions KB should be handling. Or, will it be Dwight Howard who will pay it forward by snubbing his fellow Olympic teammate after defeat? Either way, we all know that it’s just because these guys want so badly to win.