The Basketball Oracle Top 10: Centers

The Center position in basketball is the arguably the most important and dominant, but it is also the weakest in the current NBA.  In the NBA today, there are very few dominant low-post scorers at the center position.  In fact, the majority of the star low post players like Zach Randolph, Pau Gasol, Tim Duncan, and Al Jefferson are Power Forwards.  It can be argued that the only pure dominant low-post center in the NBA right now is the 22-year old Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers.  Now, time for the actual rankings.  Yao Ming has been excluded due to his injury.

Just Missed Out: Andris Biedrins, Golden State Warriors; Kenrick Perkins, Boston Celtics

10. Greg Oden, Portland Trailblazers

Oden gets the nod of Kendrick Perkins and Andris Biedrins because he is a better scorer than both, and a better rebounder than Perkins.  Biedrins may have the advantage in rebounds, but that is because he plays on a team that shoots a lot and causes a lot of possessions.  Oden will probably never be an all-star, but he will most likely develop into a 14 ppg, 12 rpg, and 2 bpg guy.

9. Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks

Bogut is a solid NBA center, not a franchise player, and not a scrub.  He can rebound in double-digits every game, as well as scoring in double-digits every game.  He is like a slightly better Greg Oden because he is a superior rebounder and has a more polished offensive game.

8. Tyson Chandler, Charlotte Bobcats

Chandler isn’t as good without Chris Paul setting him up for alley-oops, but what puts him above the other centers is the fact that he is a solid rebounder, and is really athletic which gives him opportunities the other centers don’t have.  He still has not post-game, but he can still get offensive opportunities with alley-oops, the pick and roll, and putbacks.

7. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies

This may come as a surprise to most, but Gasol has proved that he can be a strong rebounder and scorer at the center position.  His offensive game is near the top in the league for centers, and he is also a great rebounder.  He isn’t as good as his brother, Pau, but he is creating his own name in the NBA as one of the top centers.

6. Emeka Okafor, New Orleans Hornets

Okafor was drafted 2nd overall behind Dwight Howard, but so far in the NBA he has not even come close to being as good as Dwight Howard.  But he has established himself has a guaranteed double-double every night.  He doesn’t have a lot of offensive moves, but he has a decent mid-range jumper and can score in the post better than most centers.

5. Shaquille O’Neal, Cleveland Cavaliers

Shaquille O’Neal may be old and slow, but he still has the ability to be a good low-post scorer and rebounder, as evidenced by his 08-09 season with the Phoenix Suns.  This season he is struggling with a new team and injuries, but if he can get in rythme and healthy he will be a good pickup for the Cavs, as long as he stays out of LeBron’s way.

4.  Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets

Brook Lopez is only in his 2nd season in the NBA, and he hasn’t done anything special.  But, he has proved that he can be a consistent 14 ppg and 9 rpg guy in the NBA.  He also has a nice shooting touch and decent post-up game.  Lopez plays for the worst team in the league, which is part of the reason he doesn’t get any recognition, but he is the only big man they have that can produce on a consistent basis.  He will only continue to improve and should be a Top 3 center next season.

 3. Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers

When healthy, Chris Kaman is one of the best offensive centers and rebounders in the league.  He has a solid mid-range jumper, and is a good low-post and high-post scorer.  Injuries have hindered him the last couple of seasons, but in the 07-08 season he averaged a very impressive 15.7 ppg and 12.7 rpg.

The Basketball Oracle Special: Writer Choices

 

Who is the Best Shooter in the NBA?

Joey Mills – Ray Allen

Ryan Drescher - Jason Kapono

David Downs – Ray Allen

Jace Puckett – Ray Allen

Nathan – Ray Allen

Marlowe Alter – Ray Allen

Eric Johnson Jr. – Rashard Lewis

Timothy Tan – Ray Allen

 

Who is the Best Dunker in the NBA?

Joey Mills – Jason Richardson

Ryan Drescher – Dwight Howard

David Downs – LeBron James

Jace Puckett – Vince Carter

Nathan – Vince Carter

Marlowe Alter – Jason Richardson

Eric Johnson Jr. – Nate Robinson

Timothy Tan – Vince Carter

 

Who is the Best Passer in the NBA?

Joey Mills – Chris Paul

Ryan Drescher – Chris Paul

David Downs – Chris Paul

Jace Puckett – Chris Paul

Nathan – Steve Nash

Marlowe Alter – Steve Nash

Eric Johnson Jr. – Steve Nash

Timothy Tan – Steve Nash

 

Who is the Best Perimeter Defender in the NBA?

Joey Mills – Shane Battier

Ryan Drescher – Kobe Bryant

David Downs – Shane Battier

Jace Puckett – Kobe Bryant

Nathan – Kobe Bryant

Marlowe Alter – Shane Battier

Eric Johnson Jr. – Ron Artest

Timothy Tan – Shane Battier

Lakers Smack Magic, Pop Champaign

The Los Angeles Lakers are your 2009 NBA Champions.  Not too surprising considering they had the world’s best player, a player who craved a 4th championship, a player who was motivated beyond any measure to finish the job this time. And his teammates followed his lead all the way to a championship. That player has put himself in the conversation as one of the top 5 greatest basketball players of all-time.

Kobe Bryant, the greatest wing player of this decade, vaulted his team’s play to another level and the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans can now celebrate a 15th championship. This one was a long time coming. Just 24 months ago, it looked as though Kobe Bryant would never wear the purple and gold again. It started to get ugly, with Kobe asking to be traded before the ’08 season. Teams lined up trying to secure Bryant’s services but GM Mitch Kupchak refused to trade the superstar. I’d say it turned out to be a good move.

In a dominating performance, the Lakers won their 4th title in the last 10 years by soundly beating the Orlando Magic 99-86 to win the series 4-1. Big ups to Phil Jackson for a record 10th title as a coach. He is one of the top 3 coaches of all-time. Yes he had Jordon and Pippen, then Kobe and Shaq but everyone needs talent to win a championship so that argument is just ridiculous. He is arguably the best coach ever. And this year there was no second star player. It was Kobe and some good players who filled in nicely and that is how you build a champion.

Game 5– Kobe Bryant led the way with 30 pts to go with 6 rebounds, 5 assists,  4 blocks, and the Bill Russell Finals MVP Award. He averaged 32.4 pts and 7.4 assists in the Finals. Lamar Odom added 17 and 10, Ariza had 15 pts, Gasol racked up 14 pts and 15 boards, and Fisher had 13. Orlando was led by Rashard Lewis’s 18 pts on 6-19 shooting. The Lakers shot 8-16 from behind the arc compared to the Magic’s 8-27 and outrebounded the eastern champs 47-36. I was disappointed by the Magic’s response after LA went on a killer 16-0 run at the end of the 1st half. Frankly, it looked as though Orlando packed it in after that. Rashard Lewis for one was not hustling after rebounds. Ariza beat him to a ball early in the 4th and it just showed he was mentally gone. He wasn’t the only one. The entire Magic team played poorly and other for game 3, they shot terribly from 3 pt. range, which was their undoing. The 3-pt. shots went down against Cleveland but not in the Finals against a more determined, couragous team. If you actually take a closer look at LA, they were not suprememly talented. Kobe is the best player in the world, Gasol is one of the top big man but in no way is he dominant,  and Odom is a good player but excruicatingly inconsistent. All three played great in the series and that was the difference. Ariza was just awesome throughout the entire playoffs. He has turned himself into an invaluable player because of his desire, hustle, 3-pt. shooting ability, and excellent defense. The rest of the team are bench players. Fisher is a verteran who stepped up at the end of game 4 but other than that, he is an average player. Walton, Farmar, Vujacic, Brown, and Bynum are bench guys right now. So LA wasn’t like Boston from last year where they were obvioulsy talent laden with three stars in Garnett, Pierce, Allen, and a young stud in Rondo. But the Lakers came back tougher this year and they played very well. They were clearly the best team in the last two rounds of the playoffs.

The lasting image i’ll remember from this series is Kobe’s hanging banker over Dwight Howard midway through the 3rd quarter of game 5. Just an unblievable display of strength and hangtime, especially considering he shot over a 7 footer with mad bunnies. Which play was better, MJ’s against the Lakers in the ’91 Finals or Kobe’s over Superman?

Player of the Finals other than Bryant: I love Trevor Ariza’s game and the way he plays. While his Finals stats were modest at 11 pts and 6 rebounds, he’s like the Chase Utley of basketball in terms of playing the game “the right way.” He plays with so much desire and determination and it translates to success. As mentioned, he has become a great shooter and a stud defensively. He can jump out of the gym and doesn’t make many mistakes. You’re not nervous when he gets the ball because he doesn’t get flustered by pressure. He got hurt at the end of last year and I think that if he and Bynum hadn’t gotten hurt, LA might have won over Boston or at least made it a tougher series. Ariza (and Odom) are free agents this year and if the Sixers (my team) weren’t so stacked at small forward, I’d beg them to sign Ariza. LA needs to sign at least one of the two while also upgrading through trades/draft/free agency because if they don’t do that and Bynum doesn’t develop next season, LA won’t win the title next year. Boston will be improved with Garnett’s return and Orlando and Cleveland will be just as good if not better as well.

Key Play of the Finals: No question it was Derek Fisher’s 3-pointer over Jameer Nelson to force OT at the end of game 4. If Fish misses that, the series is deadlocked at 2 and who knows what would have happened. But he knocked it down and then hit the game winner with 31 secs. left in the extra session. As a veteran in this league and with 3 championships coming into the series, Fisher clearly had more experience and it payed off. In fact, that was the key to the entire series. The Magic were a young team while the Lakers were here last year and had guys who had won before. It up in coaching too when Van Gundy stuck with Nelson and sat Rafer Alston on the bench for all of the 4th and OT. And Nelson didn’t foul Fisher but instead let him rise into a 3-ball. Makes no sense and the Magic will be beating themselves forever for giving away that game. Oh what could have been for Orlando.

Everyone’s A Winner Baby, Especially in LA!

Well the Los Angeles Lakers have proven to be triumphant in securing their fifteenth NBA title. It is also Phil Jackson’s tenth title as a coach and his eleventh overall over the course of his professional career within the NBA.    

Finals MVP holds both the Larry O'Brien Trophy as well of the award given to the Finals' MVP. For the player it was his 4th professional NBA title but his first Finals series MVP award. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Noah D Bernstein

For the Orlando Magic this was something of a disappointing way to end their season in what one might describe as something of a blowout. victory for Los Angeles.

Rafer Alston of the Orlando Magic looks somewhat disappointed after the team's 99-86 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the game 5 of the NBA Finals played at the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Jesse D Garrabant

The Lakers’ 99-86 triumph over the Magic secured a 4-1 series’ win and all the adulation one could come to expect that’d be poured upon perhaps the NBA’s most storied franchise. And even though the feat was achieved away from home at the Amway Arena in Orlando. It didn’t however make the victory anytheless sweeter. And for Finals’ MVP Kobe Bryant it may well have brought the redemption he’d finally sought. The talk of him not being able to land and win the Big One without Shaquille O’Neal finally becomes mute.

Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol celebrate after the team's victory over the Orlando Magic in game five of the NBA Finals played at the Amway Arena in Orlando , Florida. With the victory the Lakers secured their fifteenth NBA title as a franchise. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Jesse D Garrabant

If ever there was to be an indication that last night wasn’t to be the night where the home team may well have felt that there could somehow be some jubilation on the part of their fans. Then one had to look no further than the performances of their main triumvirate of Dwight Howard , Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. Who for all sense and purpose were weighed down with the undue pressure of expectation. Their’s was the daunting task of trying to keep the team in contention against the Lakers and perhaps force them to win the title on their home-court. Alas it wasn’t to be ! They came up short when it mattered most.

Pre-Game Analysis: NBA Finals 2009 – Game 5

In just a few hours Amway Arena will be packed with a sellout crowd. Lakers and Magic fans alike across the country, as well as the players on the floor will be pumped for a potential close out game for the NBA Championship. After tonight will there be many questions answered? Will the Lakers finally win a Championship since the passing of the late great Chick Hearn? Will Kobe finally get that ring sans Shaquille O’Neal? Will Phil Jackson sit alone as the only coach with double-digit Championships? Will Trevor Ariza get sweet revenge on the team who dumped just two years ago? Will all of these questions be answered around 11:30ET or will the Orlando Magic have something to say about this?

Keys for Lakers:

Are the Lakers going to be making a trip back to L.A. for the parade? Or are they going to be heading back there to prepare for game 6?

1. For starters the Lakers need not to listen to the hype. I’m sure they are hearing all about how this series is in the bag- how 29 teams have tried to come back from a 1-3 deficit in the finals, and 29 have failed. Need I remind the Lakers that just 4 years ago (albeit with a much weaker team) they had a 3-1 lead against Phoenix only to lose the series in 7 games.
2. Kobe, continue trusting your teammates. I know you can taste that Championship sitting right in front of you- still don’t try to do too much, your teammates are there to help you, they want this just as bad as you do. The Magic know that you are 1 game away from your goal and will do everything in your power to achieve it, so they will throw everything at you- in that case continue on your 8ast per game pace and the more important MVP trophy will be in your hands sooner than you think.
3. Get Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom involved early and often. There has been no stopping Pau all series long- the only time he’s been stopped is when he doesn’t receive the ball. Lamar has had an amazing Finals as well, he wasn’t as affective in Game 4 because of foul trouble- getting these two guys involved will make Kobe and everyone of the Lakers lives much easier and a Championship will only be a few hours away.

*The Lakers are 5-1 in postseason play when Lamar Odom has a double-double.

Keys for Magic:

While the Lakers made key plays and hit some HUGE shots, the Magic definitely choked that game away. They had everything going for them- they had their crowd behind them, 7 year- old Gina Marie Incandela sang the National Anthem (prior to Game 4 they were undefeated when she sang), I hate to say it, but they were getting a majority of the calls(from the fourth quarter until the flagrant foul by Pietrus, the Magic had attempted 18 free throws to the Lakers Zero), and of course they were up by 3 with just seconds to go; only having to knock down 1 of 2 free-throws to ice the game. The rest is history.

1. I do think Stan Van Gundy is a good coach; but he has to do a better job managing his team if he wants any shot at staying alive. For starters after that nice performance in Game 3 where Rafer Alston had 20 points (and to me was the one who got the team going) why does he continue to sit on the bench. I understand that he loves Jameer, and that he feels a certain loyalty to his all-star point guard- However they went out and made the trade for Alston knowing he’d be the starter for the remainder of the year. You know the saying if it aint broke, don’t fix it. Well it wasn’t broke and Stan Van tried to fix it.
2. Did anybody see Rashard Lewis on Thursday? Yes he had a bad shooting night, but I don’t understand why he played 20 minutes more than Alston, yet he had less shot attempts. The Magic need to continue riding this guy, he is a big reason they’re even in the Finals and why they’ve been in every game except Game 1.
3. The Magic know that the Lakers can feel that Championship in their grasp. They need to take Kobe’s killer mentality and use it against him. He knows they are only 1 win away from the title, so the Magic should let him go out there and try to get it by himself. You’re not really going to stop him with your best defense anyway so- If they focus more on guarding the role players they will have a much easier time with the Lakers than they would if Kobe were to get everyone involved.

Have the Magic lost all confidence or will they show some mettle, tenacity and continue to be the resillient team we’ve seen in these ’09 playoffs to force a sixth game? We’ll see.

Post-Game Analysis: NBA Finals – Game 4

99-91 (OT)

Down the stretch on the biggest stage, in the biggest game, it was the old veteran guard who made the two biggest plays of the series. Derek Fisher’s long 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds left in regulation tied the score and the Lakers went on to beat the Orlando Magic 99-91 in dramatic fashion.

Fisher’s 27 foot 3-pointer over Jameer Nelson came after Dwight Howard missed two free throws with 11.1 ticks left. Then with under 35 secs. left in overtime, Kobe Bryant kicked the ball out to the top of the key where Fisher launched and swished home another clutch 3 ball, this time breaking the 91 all score. This shot was the game winner and gives Los Angeles a commanding 3-1 series lead while also putting LA one win from a championship. The Lakers were led by star guard Kobe Bryant who moved pass legendary Celtic Dennis Johnson into 16th place on the Finals scoring list by scoring 32 pts. It was difficult though as Bryant hit just 11-31 shots, although he did make all 8 of his free throws while adding 8 assists and 7 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu’s 25 pts and Howard’s 16 pts, 21 reb and 9 blocks were not enought to keep Orlando from the brink of elimination. Game 5 is Sunday in Orlando.

Play of the Game: Derek Fisher’s game tying bomb from a couple feet behind the arc saved LA from falling into a deadlock with the Magic and instead puts the Lakers one win from capturing their first NBA title since Shaquille O’Neal and the boys swept New Jersey to win their third straight championship back in 2002. But the truth is Fisher should never have been allowed to shoot the ball but for a bone-headed defensive play by Jameer Nelson. As Fisher received the ball from Trevor Ariza just behind halfcourt with 8.5 secs. left, Nelson retreated and allowed Fisher to get to the three point line without any defensive pressure. Fisher (who was about 30 feet from the hoop) then took a little hesitation step while Nelson stood beneath the three line. D-Fish rose and fired home the trey while Nelson barely got a hand up. But Nelson should have been 1) on the bench! Alston had a great game 3, what the hell was Van Gundy doing? Van Gundy said he stayed with Nelson because the group he had on the floor in the fourth regained the lead and because it reached a point when Alston had sat too long– http://www.comcast.net/articles/sports-nba/20090612/Whitlock-Van-Gundy-Choke/– Are you kidding me ? 2) Nelson should have been right on top of Fisher, a 3 ties the game for god’s sakes and 3) even fouled the veteran guard before he got the shot off. This would have put Fisher on the line with about 7 secs. to go and would have prevented Fisher’s game tying attempt. Instead, Nelson did neither and Orlando is now on the doorstep of elimination.

Player of the Game: Trevor Ariza deserves player of the game honors for leading the Laker 3rd quarter comeback. Orlando led 49-37 at the half but Ariza and co. quickly turned the game around. After a jumper by Fisher, Ariza dunked the ball and Bryant hit a 3. Ariza then scored the next 9 points including two treys to bring LA to within one at 54-53 at the 6:41 mark. The rest of the Lakers took over from there and ended up outscoring the Magic 30-14 to take a 67-63 advantage into the final quarter. But it was Ariza’s furious play that sparked the comeback. Then in OT, Ariza grabbed a huge offensive rebound with about 48 secs. to go, which gave LA another chance to take the lead. Less than 20 secs. later, Fisher was hitting the game winner, only because of Ariza’s hustle and determination.

Key Stat: Orlando was atrocious from the foul line, hitting just 22 of 37 shots for 59.5%. Dwight Howard was 6-14 including 2 missed free throws that could have made it a two possession game. Instead, the Magic’s lead stood at 87-84 and Fisher preceded to hit his game tying shot seconds later.

Game 5 Outlook: The outlook is bleak for Orlando as no team has comback to win games 6 and 7 on the road. But to even get the series to a game 6, Orlando must salvage game 5 at home. They have the physical talent to do it, but where will their heads be after collapsing at the end of game 4? Orlando has bounced back after heartbreakers but this one is different because instead of holding home court advantage and having a chance to take a 3-2 series lead, the Magic are left to wonder what if. They must bounce back and keep themselves alive otherwise, Kobe and the Lakers will be celebrating in Orlando on Sunday Night.

Who Says Defense Doesn’t Win Championships? Well Converting Free Throws Also Helps As Well

Can the Orlando Magic now save face and stave off elimination in game five of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers ? This now has to be the burning question that’ll be asked of the players and their fans at this juncture.  

Derek Fisher's game tying three pointer during the regular session of game 4 was like a dagger to the heart of the Orlando Magic and their fans. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Noah Graham

After last night’s tremendous effort by the team whereby they gave of themselves. They merely threw the game away with their woeful efforts at the free throw line and the way with which turnovers came into being at the most inopportune of moments. And the 99-91 overtime win eked out by the Lakers, was merely reflective of the way this series has gone for the Magic. With the win , the Los Angeles Lakers now possess a 3-1 lead and are but a game win away from securing their fifteenth NBA title.

Kobe Bryant knocks away Dwight Howard's rebound attempt, though the game was already over. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Garrett Ellwood

And while we can laud the effort of the Lakers in taking advantage of their opponents when all but seemed lost for them. It’d also be prudent to take a look at what went wrong and right for the Orlando Magic last night on their home-court of the Amway Arena in Orlando, during game four.

Trevor Ariza of the Lakers drives to the basket for a dunk against the Magic in game 4 of the NBA Finals. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Noah Graham

For three quarters this game was the Magic’s for the taking had they sought to step up to the task and the take the opportunities afforded them at the time. In having said that , one also has to question the thought process of the Magic’s coach Stan Van Gundy and his belief that Jameer Nelson has the prerequisite skills to lead this team at the point when it matters most. The player’s contributions to last night’s game reads like a script that when looked upon offers nothing of note. Twenty five plus minutes , 4 reb’s ,3 assists, 1 turnover and a mere 2 points. If this is what Van Gundy wishes to latch his reins to , in order to win this series outright . Then the fate of the team at this juncture is reflective of their fortunes at present. But it’d also be remiss to think that this was solely the coach’s wish to give his All Star point guard as many minutes as he could.

A disconsulate Dwight Howard shows his frustration after the Magic's loss to the Lakers in game 4 of the NBA Finals played at the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. With the win the 99-91 win the Lakers now take an advantageous 3-1 lead Finals. Picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Noah Graham

The fact of the matter is when called upon to provide leadership and stability in their moment of need . There was actually absolutely no one on this Magic team that was actually prepared to step to the role and assume that responsibility. Certainly not Dwight Howard or Rashard Lewis , Rafer Alston and most definitely not Jameer Nelson. Though it has to be said if there was any heroism being shown on the night. It may well have came from Hedo Turkoglu who led the team in scoring with 25 points.

 

Post Game Analysis: NBA FINALS Game 3

104-108

Even tough the Orlando Magic had set a Finals record by shooting 75%, they held just a 5-point lead at halftime. And although their overall shooting percentage also set a Finals record by finishing in the low 60s, as the clock hit the 2:45 mark in the 4th quarter, the Magic’s lead had evaporated. How could that be possible? The Magic were playing their best game and yet it looked like the Lakers would pull out game 3 and take a formidable 3-0 series lead. However, as they have done everytime  their backs are against the wall, Orlando conjured some more Magic and stopped the Lakers cold down the stretch to get back into the series.

Rafer Alston’s resurgence combined with the bench scoring from Mickael Pietrus and solid play from their “big 3,” the Orlando Magic held off a Laker comeback attempt to win game 3 of the NBA Finals 108-104. After shooting a combined 3-17 in the first two games of the Finals, including 0-8 from 3pt. range, Alston had 20 pts on 8-12 from the field while Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard led the way with 21 pts each. Kobe Bryant led LA with 31 pts and 4-3pt.s but made just 5 of 10 free throws. Pau Gasol continued his great play, scoring 23 pts on 9-11 shooting but was held to 3 measly rebounds.

Play of the Game: With about 35 seconds to go and with a chance to complete the comeback, Kobe Bryant got a screen from Pau Gasol and went left, past his defender (Pietrus) where he met Dwight Howard who was helping until Pietrus could recover (a term called hedging.) Kobe tried to cut back to his right and sqeeze by Howard. But the defensive player of the year stuck his hand out and deflected Kobe’s crossover attempt towards Gasol and Pietrus. Gasol dove to the floor and snatched the ball from Pietrus (who tried to pick up the ball and dribble downcourt) but fortunately for Orlando, Pau did not call time while on the ground and instead played hot potato. He flipped the ball behind him towards Bryant but Pietrus stepped in front to intercept the basketball and was immediately fouled by Bryant. Pietrus knocked down both free throws with 28 secs. left, giving Orlando a 106-102 lead it would not relinquish.

Player of the Game: This was a tough call because Orlando had 4 guys who played exceptionally well. But it was Mickael Pietrus who made the biggest impact, especially in the 4th quarter. He guarded Bryant for most of the game and after the black mamba went off for 21 pts in the first half, Pietrus slammed the snake back into its cage by holding Bryant to 10 2nd half pts on just 4-15 shooting. And on the offensive end Pietrus was brilliant in scoring 18 pts off the bench, 10 of which came in the final quarter. He hit a tough fadeaway from about 18 ft. early in the 4th and later slammed home a missed shot to give Orlando a 101-99 lead with 2:19 remaining. He did all this without doing what he does best; Pietrus did not hit a 3-pt. shot.

Key Stat: This has to be Orlando’s ridiculous shooting numbers. They hit on a Finals record 62.5% of their shots but interestingly took just 14 shots from deep and knocked just 5. It has been said that Orlando must hit 8-12 three a game to win or at least shoot around 40% from long-range. But in game 3, the Magic hit shots from inside the arc and got great play from point guard Rafer Alston and point-forward Hedo Turkoglu (18 pts, 7 ast-1 to, 6 reb).

Outlook for Game 4—Expect another tight, exciting game. I don’t understand those who think the Lakers are way better because its obviously not true.  LA didn’t sweep like some predicted after they took a 2-0 lead and LA won’t win the next two games either. Orlando was a Courtney Lee layup from winning game 2 in Los Angeles after leading for most of the 4th. The ball didn’t role the Magic’s way and it’s over with. LA did not have a lead the entire 2nd half in game 3, yet played well. Orlando was clearly the better team and I think they’ll do it again Thursday Night.