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Magic Lakers NBA Finals Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

magic-lakers-predictions-6109 The NBA wanted to see Kobe Bryant versus LeBron James in the NBA Finals, but instead they got Bryant versus Dwight Howard – not a bad consolation prize. Howard led his Magic to an upset victory over the No. 1 overall seed Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade. The Lakers took down Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets to get back to the NBA Finals for the second straight year. Jimmy Boyd breaks down each team and gives you his series prediction in this article.

The Orlando Magic will once again be the underdog in this series and they’ll gladly take on that role as it worked out pretty well for them against the team with the best record in the NBA. You heard plenty during the Cavs series about how the Magic have had Cleveland’s number. While I wouldn’t say Orlando has had LA’s number, there’s no hiding from the fact that the Magic went 2-0 against the Lakers this season. Orlando won 106-103 at home as a 1.5-point underdog back on December 20th and then won in LA 109-103 as a 4-point underdog on January 16th. I think we are beginning to see a pattern with the Magic; they play their best against the best. The Magic have come out strong in each of their last two series’ to win Game 1 on the road and the Lakers have come out sluggish in each of their last two Game 1’s. If Orlando can steal Game 1 again, we just might have another upset on our hands. The keys for the Magic will be their three-point shooting and keeping Dwight Howard out of foul trouble so he can put pressure on the Lakers on both ends of the floor. If you think Orlando has what it takes to pull off the upset, bet the Magic at +210 to win the 2009 NBA Finals.

It should definitely be to LA’s benefit that it played in the Finals a season ago. Experience should be completely on its side. We know about coach Phil Jackson’s 9 rings, and the rings of Kobe and Derek Fisher, but more importantly, the guys who were new to the big stage a season ago now have their feet wet. It should also be to LA’s benefit that it will have the home court advantage in this year’s Finals. However, the Magic have won each of their last two playoff series’ without the home court edge and have won two straight games in LA. We know Kobe Bryant is going to get his and make the right plays when he has the ball in his hands so once again it falls on the other guys if the Lakers hope to capture the title. Lamar Odom figures to be a very pivotal performer on both ends of the floor, but especially with his defense. The Magic killed the Cavs with bigger perimeter players in Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, but Odom has the ability to guard either player with his size and quickness. Overall, the Lakers are a long team and they match up much better with the Magic than Cleveland did. If you like Los Angeles to come away with a title this time around, bet the Lakers at -280 to win the 2009 NBA Finals.

Prediction: Lakers in 6 – We saw the Lakers step up their level of play against a Nuggets team that had been rolling in the Western Conference Finals and I expect LA to take things up another notch here. The experience factor and home court will be too much for the Magic to overcome despite a solid effort.

Bet the NBA Finals with Jimmy Boyd’s NBA expert picks for continued success against the basketball odds!

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