Look, what was a big reason Cleveland lost? Toughness. The Magic have it, and the Lakers don't. Also when defense puts pressure on Howard, they make 3s, when they put pressure on guards, they give it to Howard who makes a lot of 3 and 2 point plays.
Orlando is literally the best team out in the East hands down. Cleveland just crashed after the season. The post-season is what separates the boys from the men. Any who, this match-up is actually my first guess of the match-up for the finals and I am quite happy it happened. Lakers were swept by Magic this year because of 4 things. 1.) Lakers are terrible defending three point line. If magic get hot early, it can get messy. 2.) The Lakers also suck on defending pick and rolls. Magic run that play countless. 3.) Lakers have only shown brief moments or ferocity. Magic have been in a killer instinct the whole post-season. That's why they came back from numerous crazy deficts from Cleveland. 4.) Orlando one big man beats both Lakers big men. However, this does not mean Lakers are out of it. They have grown much after the 2nd loss in January. I can get guarantee this will be a bloody series and that either Dwight or Kobe will be suspended in this series. I'm going for Lakers since I loved them since '03 and since I want Kobe to get his fourth cookie.
It depends on if the Magic is hitting their 3's, they live and die by the 3's. I was shocked that they beat the Cavs but LeBron did not have the help he haa in the first two rounds when they swepted the Pistons and the Hawks. Also, it depends on how well the Lakers can guard the 3's and how domiate their inside game will be. In the end it will probally come down to who ever has the last run of each game. I'm going with the Lakers.
