The LA Lakers took a 1-0 lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night with a 105-103 win at the Staples Center, maintaining home court advantage. Although the Nuggets looked to be the better team throughout the evening, it was Kobe Bryant’s late game free throws that put the Lakeshow ahead. Don’t be fooled though folks. You haven’t forgotten about last year already, have you? Don’t you remember La La’s team falling apart against the Boston Celtics. A championship has been within reach before for this Laker team, and they didn’t want it. Expect a similar outcome again, only this time, the Lakers won’t see the Finals. An early exit is in the cards for Los Angles when the Nuggets win this series in 7 games. The Nuggets are too deep and Carmelo Anthony can’t be stopped. Also, people forget that Chauncey Billups is liable to hit that buzzer beating, game-winning shot ala Derek Fisher in years past while Melo takes on the bulk of the scoring. Thats where the Lakers are at a disadvantage, only relying on one guy to do both… score all game long AND hit the big shot to win a game. This is where Trevor Ariza can make a difference, but it won’t be enough. The Nuggets will take Game 2 tonight in Los Angeles.
You heard it here, Nugs surprise in 7.
And now we move on to the Eastern Conference Finals where the old story goes on…”Cleveland has had too much rest. They haven’t played basketball is soooo long. They’re gonna be rusty.” What?!? Wrong. So wrong. First off, the Cleveland Cavs WERE playing basketball, just not competitively. So what? Rust from a week-long break wears off about 2 minutes into the first quarter of the Game 1. I didn’t see much rust on the Cavs last night. In fact, the extra rest will benefit Lebron James & Co. if this series goes long, although I don’t expect it to. The Orlando Magic showed their grit last night and were resiliant in a come-from-behind win. My hat is off to them for winning a tough game on the road. But the magic will run out and the seven game battle that Orlando fought against the Boston Celtics just days ago will take its toll on Dwight Howard and the boys. Maybe not last night, maybe not for the first 3 or 4 games, but the scars will eventually show. Cleveland has learned its lesson about leaving Rashard Lewis open and fatigue will creep into the picture for the league’s remaining underdog. Expect Cleveland to take this series in 6.
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West: Nuggets in 7 games
East: Cavs in 6 games
Goose
May 21st, 2009
Nugs in 6 (they are taking 2 at home)
Cavs in 7
Joey
May 22nd, 2009