Marcin Gortat Headed to Houston Rockets

With Yao Ming likely to miss the entire 2009-2010 NBA season, Marcin Gortat looks to be the perfect candidate to replace him as the Houston Rocket's starting Center. Gortat has played phenomenally over the course of this last season, including the Playoffs.

He averaged 17.5 rpg and 3.4 bpg per 48 minutes in the 2008-2009 regular season. These averages placed him in elite status among big men in the NBA. This is almost unheard of, especially for a player backing up arguably the league's top Center, Dwight Howard. When finally given the chance to start in the 2009 NBA Playoffs, Gortat more than exceeded expectations. Dwight Howard was suspended in a crucial Game 6, which opened the door for the Polish Center. Nobody expected the Orlando Magic to win in the absence of Howard with the game being held in Philadelphia. In 40 minutes, Marcin Gortat managed to score 11 points, grab 15 rebounds, to go along with 4 steals and 2 assists. The Magic won and advanced to the next round without Dwight Howard. The victory can be attributed largely to Gortat who also went 5 of 8 from the field and manned the middle against a very talented 76ers team.

All this for a guy who just started playing basketball at the age of 17. Marcin Gortat's success in the NBA is mainly due to his distinct work ethic. You can ask anybody in the Orlando Magic locker room and they will tell you he is the hardest working player on the floor. He's an excellent one on one defender and Charles Barkley even stated that Gortat is more offensively polished than Dwight Howard. This kind of praise is exactly what you want to hear if you're a big man in the NBA. In fact, Gortat has played so well this past season that he has drawn attention to more than just his play. After a multi-year endorsement deal with Reebok, the company has just now realized that he has been playing with a Jordan jumpman tattoo on his calve. They asked him to conceal the tattoo, but Gorat refused. He stated that Reebok hasn't been paying him enough for him to do so. Perhaps, this is a strategic move for a Nike endorsement deal.

It's almost as if it all makes too much sense. Marcin Gortat would be an exceptional fit for the Houston Rockets. He could even serve as an upgrade over Yao Ming. Statistically, Gortat is a better rebounder and defender than Ming. He runs the floor very well and has outstanding shooting range. While the Orlando Magic would like to keep Gortat around, it will become increasingly dificult to do so. He will be eligible for the mid-level exception this season and could receive around $5 million a year during free agency.

When Does NBA Free Agency Start?

NBA Free Agency will begin July 1, 2009. However, there are two parts to the process. Teams will only begin negotiations with players at this time. July 8, 2009 will be the first day teams can sign players. The reason for this is that luxury-tax and salary-cap numbers must be announced for the 2009-2010 season before teams can sign players.

Expect several teams to make free agent acquisitions on or immediately after the signing date of July 8, 2009. The Detroit Pistons appear to have a particular interest in Hedo Turkoglu. Although Turkoglu has only opted out of his current deal with the Orlando Magic, he has made it pretty clear that he would like a worthwhile extension with the team, preferably long-term. In addition, Hedo is seeking a pay raise after his performance in the 2009 NBA Playoffs. The Magic have stated that they would be willing to go over their luxury tax to retain Turkoglu, however, that would mean the team would lose millions of dollars yearly with him on their roster to taxes. Unfortunately, this seems to be the only scenario that would work out for Orlando. It's not the best circumstances, but it would mean the Magic could at least hang on to a valuable centerpiece in their offense. The question remains, could Vince Carter and Hedo Turkoglu co-exist? Both have similar styles of play and share the same jersey number. After reaching the NBA Finals for the first time ever last season, the Orlando Magic are on the hot seat. What will they do next?

Other notable free agents include:

Carlos Boozer -

He will decide weather or not to opt out of his contract with the Utah Jazz by 5 p.m. ET on July 30, 2009.

Allen Iverson -

The Bobcats are showing interest. The Pistons? Not so much.

David Lee -

The Knicks might not be able to hold on to him and there's an open market for the big man.

Ramon Sessions -

With the Bucks drafting Brandon Jennings, it's tough to be optimistic.

Ben Gordon -

Detroit has offered him a reported 11 million dollars a year. How do you turn that kind of money down?

Shawn Marion -

He remains Toronto's number one priority. The Raptors also happen to be the best suitor for his needs.

Trevor Ariza -

Los Angeles would like to hold on to the young player, who has shown high upside in these Playoffs.

Lamar Odom -

The Lakers could potentially keep Odom and Ariza. I could see Odom taking a pay-cut to stay with the team.

Jason Kidd -

Suddenly, everybody wants the aging Point Guard. I say, why not? He's still playing at an All-Star level.

Rasheed Wallace -

The Pistons don't intend to keep Wallace and so far, the Magic are making a run for him.

2009 NBA Draft Grades

Atlanta Hawks -- B

Picks: Jeff Teague (Pick 19), Sergiy Gladyr (Pick 49)

Bibby most likely won't be returning to the Hawks next year, so the Hawks loaded up their backcourt with scoring guards. Jeff Teague will be a very good value for where Atlanta drafted him at 19. He'll develop into a better passer, but look for him to create some exciting plays with his quickness alone, especially in his first year as he learns to play Point in the NBA. Sergiy Gladyr was a bit unnecessary, even at 49, seeing how Atlanta doesn't need another undersized Guard. Besides, he won't be playing right away, as he'll spend some time in Europe first.

Boston Celtics -- B-

Picks: Lester Hudson (Pick 58)

The Celtics needed size and Jeff Adrien was still available. Though undersized, Adrien would have been a solid backup if there ever was a time again where they lost so many bigs come playoff time. Regardless, Hudson was a legitimate selection. If he makes the team, he'll be a seasoned rookie with four years of college ball under his belt, where he proved to be a prolific scorer. The only knock I have is that he wasn't facing the best of competition.

Charlotte Bobcats -- A-

Picks: Gerald Henderson (Pick 12), Derrick Brown (Pick 40)

As surprising as it was that Michael Jordan drafted a Duke player, Gerald Henderson will at least be playing professional basketball in the same state he played his last three years of collegiate basketball at. The culture shock can sometimes get to first-year players and Henderson shouldn't have to make any big adjustments on the court or off. This paired with Larry Brown's admiration for the Duke star makes for an excellent first round choice for the the Bobcats. Derrick Brown will give Charlotte another player like Gerald Wallace, who's versatility is unparalleled in the draft. You can always make room for players who can play multiple positions well. Another steal in the second round.

Chicago Bulls -- B+

Picks: James Johnson (Pick 16), Taj Gibson (Pick 26)

I think James Johnson has only one thing to prove in order to be a successful NBA player, his toughness. He's a former martial arts champion, so maybe the sport has taught him to reserve his inner physicality. Nonetheless, Chicago made a good pick here and found a good replacement for Andres Nocioni. Sooner or later, someone will tap into his brute nature. When that happens, Bulls fans will appreciate him that much more. Taj Gibson, on the other hand, complements Chicago's front court very well. He's an aggressive defender who, at 6-10, has the ability to step out all the way to the perimeter to guard smaller players. Wasn't that Chicago's problem in the playoffs against the Celtics? Do Ray Allen and Paul Pierce ring a bell?

Cleveland Cavaliers -- C-

Picks: Christian Eyenga (Pick 30), Danny Green (Pick 46)

Cleveland would have a much higher grade in my book if they had made better use of their 1st Round Pick. There's simply no excuse for picking Christian Eyenga with the 30th pick knowing very well that the team needs to win now. Had the Cavs not redeemed themselves with Danny Green, this would have been a complete and utter failure for the Cleveland selection committee. Green shouldn't have a problem finding a spot on the roster and could even prove to be a valuable role player, much like Luke Walton for the Lakers. As for Eyenga, I'm not quite sure what the Cavs were thinking. If anything, I'd flip the two picks and it'd make more sense.

Dallas Mavericks - C

Picks: Rodrigue Beaubois (Pick 25), Nick Calathes (Pick 45), Ahmad Nivins (Pick 56)

If you didn't know any better, you'd think the Mavs selected all foreign players with their draft picks. However, only one player is actually foreign born, Rodrique Beaubois. Nonetheless, they're all foreign in the sense of relevance to an NBA fan, much less the Mavericks. I'm still not sold on BJ Mullens, but he could have at least given Dallas fans some assurance. Beaubois is a project, so don't expect to hear from him any time soon. Calathes and Nivins were reasonable picks in the second round and could potentially be impact players if they make the cut. That's a pretty big if.

Denver Nuggets - B

Picks: Ty Lawson (Pick 18)

Lawson left one Point Guard-flooded team and joined another. The good news is he will have more opportunity in Denver. The bad news is he left Minnesota where he would have been competing against fellow rookies, Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn. Lawson won't take Billups' job, but he could take Anthony Carter's reserve role away from him. That sure beats being a third option. Hopefully, we'll get to see more of Lawson at the next level. He's far too talanted to simply be ignored.

Detroit Pistons - A-

Golden State Warriors - A

Houston Rockets - A-

Indiana Pacers - A

Los Angeles Clippers - A

Los Angeles Lakers - B

Memphis Grizzlies - A-

Miami Heat - B

Milwaukee Bucks - A

Minnesota Timberwolves - C

New Jersey Nets - B

New Orleans Hornets - C+

New York Knicks - B+

Oklahoma City Thunder - C-

Orlando Magic - N/A

Philadelphia 76ers - A

Phoenix Suns - B+

Portland Trail Blazers - B-

Sacramento Kings - C

San Antonio Spurs - A

Toronto Raptors - B

Utah Jazz - B

Washington Wizards -- B

Vince Carter Traded to Orlando Magic

Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson have been traded to the Orlando Magic for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie, and Courtney Lee. Carter will join fellow high flyer, Dwight Howard. The two could form one of the most athletic combo duos ever. Vince Carter, who averaged 20.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 4.7 apg, played in 80 games last season with the Nets. At 32, he will provide veteran leadership and will serve as a viable slasher for the Magic, something the team desperately needed to address. The New Jersey Nets and the Orlando Magic will officially announce the deal before the 2009 NBA Draft.

Carter, an 8-time All-Star, was once notorious for leading All-Star balloting. Vince Carter joined elite company as one of only three players (Michael Jordan and Julius Erving) to lead All-Star balloting 3 or more times. Dwight Howard has since taken over Vince's reign and has set a record for most All-Star votes received with 3,150,181 votes. Dwight became the first player ever to surpass the 3 million-vote mark.

In addition, Vince Carter and Dwight Howard are both NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champions. Carter has never played with a formidable big man of Howard's caliber. In fact, Vince never even had a supporting cast worthy of championship consideration. The Magic not only provide size for the athletic swingman, but a legitimate Point Guard in Jameer Nelson and solid shooters such as, Rashard Lewis.

The Orlando Magic will be losing two valuable pieces in this trade, rookie Courtney Lee and veteran Rafer Alston. Both were big contributors in the Magic's playoff run this season. Alston was acquired before the playoffs to fill in for Jameer Nelson. He expressed interest in staying with the Magic even with a healthy Jameer Nelson. Courtney Lee will be a vital piece for the Nets as a role player. In just one year, Lee has established himself as an excellent defender and perimeter shooter.

The New Jersey Nets will also be losing Ryan Anderson, their 21st pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Anderson is a 6-10 PF who can shoot the long ball effectively. He will most likely come off the bench for Orlando, unless the Magic are unable to bring back Hedo Turkoglu.

Notes:

It'll be interesting to see who gets the number 15 jersey number if Turkoglu does stick around. Vince Carter has sported 15 throughout his entire career, going back to his days at Mainland High School. Carter will also be returning to his home state of Florida. He was born in Daytona Beach, Florida. Orlando is only an hour away from his hometown.

2009 NBA Mock Draft (Picks 1-10)

Here at GURUilla.com, we don't need to take multiple stabs at it to get a mock draft right. We understand people want to see one clear-cut copy of a mock draft. Hence, there's no need for 2.0 versions, 3.0 versions, and so on. The dust has finally settled, so here is your 2009 NBA Mock Draft. Written by a true NBA Draft Guru.

LAC - 1. Blake Griffin PF

The consensus number 1 selection, Griffin is an absolute beast to be reckoned with at the next level. His athletic prowess is flat out scary for someone his size. Look for Blake Griffin to not only excel in the NBA for years to come, but also serve as an immediate presence regardless of the Clippers' overloaded front court. If Griffin can improve upon his defense and shooting, the Clips are a sure fire playoff team.

MEM - 2. Hasheem Thabeet C

Thabeet may oppose the idea of playing in Memphis, and I must say I do too. While highly unlikely, Rubio would be the most logical choice here. We all know that's not going to happen, so it makes some sense that the Grizzlies are looking to improve their rebounding and solidify the Center position. Memphis was dead last in rebounding last year, but they already have Marc Gasol in the middle.

OKC - 3. Ricky Rubio PG

A flashy Point Guard to go along with a flashy young team. We know Ricky Rubio can pass and dribble, but will his shot become problematic? What happens when he is left open outside? He has incredible gifts that could someday translate into something much bigger on the world's biggest basketball stage, the NBA.

SAC - 4. Tyreke Evans SG

As a Point Guard, Evans looks down too much when dribbling. He will need to learn to keep his head up, especially on the break. With his extraordinary wingspan, however, he will be an exceptional playmaker. The Kings will have one of the best scoring backcourts.

MIN - 5. Stephen Curry SG

Will Curry become the next Reggie Miller? Very possible. We know he can shoot, and I for one, am not questioning his athletic ability. He can move off the ball like Miller and can create his own shot better than anyone in this draft class. Stephen Curry has tremendous range and can jack up threes well beyond the NBA three-point arc. This is certainly an upgrade or Mike Miller for the Wolves. Look for Curry to share Point Guard duties with Sebastion Telfair.

MIN - 6. James Harden SG

Not too long ago experts were questioning his athleticism. Just a few days ago Jay Bilas called harden "an outstanding athlete." Which is it? Harden is a jack-of-all-trades who and is as NBA ready as they come. With a very young backcourt, Minnesota will rely on James Harden's leadership to keep this team in check.

GSW - 7. Jordan Hill PF

Very raw, but very physical. With time, Jordan Hill could become a dominant force in the paint someday. He needs to develop his offensive game further. Once that happens, look out, because this man will be dangerous. The Warriors will run every chance they get, so don't be surprised if Don Nelson let's him run wild as he learns the NBA game.

NYK - 8. Jonny Flynn PG

Rajon Rondo's long lost brother. Although Flynn is a better shooter and a lesser passer than is Rondo, the two are lightning quick and can certainly jump. Flynn is an excellent penetrator who should have no trouble adjusting to the NBA. A perfect fit for Mike D'Antoni's high-tempo offense.

TOR - 9. DeMar DeRozan SG

With Vince Carter now a distant memory in Toronto, what better way to give Raptors fans something to cheer for again? If DeRozan continues his upward trajectory following the NCAA tournament, only good things can come. There is plenty more DeMar DeRozan insight on it's way in a future article, so stay tuned.

MIL - 10. Jrue Holiday PG

Milwaukee will look to draft a Point Guard even though they're trying to keep Ramon Sessions around. With that said, they have a lot to choose from. Jeff Teague and Brandon Jennings will most likely be available here, but Holiday has a great deal of upside. He's a bigger Guard who is still very inexperienced and played behind Darren Collison at UCLA for most of his collegiate career, but could be another Russell Westbrook at the next level, who also happens to be a UCLA alum. His potential and high ceiling could ultimately be the deciding factor for the Bucks.

If there is a trade between Minnesota and Memphis for the number 2 pick, I reserve the right to pick Rucky Rubio at number 2.

BREAKING NEWS: Shaq Traded to the Cavs

Shaquille O'Neal, a 15-time All-Star, has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers by the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, and the Cleveland Cavaliers' 46th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. O'Neal will be 37 next season and is expected to earn $20 million.

The Suns, who were desperate to deal O'Neal before Draft Night, finally pulled the trigger on a deal that will now pair LeBron James with a legitimate big man sidekick. Shaq will once again have the privilege of playing alongside another one of the game's elite players. Other notable names include: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and Steve Nash.

Center, Ben Wallace, pondered the idea of retiring shortly after the Cavs were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals by the Orlando Magic, however, he was reluctant to simply walk away from the $14 million left on the final year of his contract. Wallace's agent stated that he would try to persuade Big Ben out retirement consideration.

With the absence of Shaquille O'Neal and Amare Stoudemire's temporary rehabilitation period from retinal surgery, the door will be open for sophomore, Robin Lopez, who will likely see increased playing time at the Center position. It is unclear what kind of minutes Ben Wallace will play, so Phoenix could potentially look to address their big man voids with the 46th pick in the draft, which they received from Cleveland via trade.

Buy Manny Ramirez's Isotopes Jersey Here

Manny Ramirez's Albuquerque Isotopes jersey is now available for sale. You can buy it here! This is the jersey Manny wore in his first minor league game with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. The Isotopes are the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor league team. The following is the description for Manny's Isotope Jersey:

Manny Ramirez Isotope Jersey Specs:

• Jersey Number: #99
• Front: Isotopes Team Name Embroidered
  
• Back: Ramirez Stitched
  
• Left Sleeve: Isotopes Logo
  
• Type: Button-Front Jersey
• Material: Quick-Drying Polyester
  

This jersey will only be available for a limited time Manny fans, so be sure to get yours now before they run out. As you well know, Manny Ramirez is only playing for the Albuquerque Isotopes temporarily. You don't want to miss this opportunity to own what is sure to be a valuable collector's item someday.

The link to buy the jersey is on the sidebar.

Evaluating the Richard Jefferson Trade

Let's talk a trade that actually happened. On the afternoon of June 23rd, the Milwaukee Bucks traded SF Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for SF Bruce Bowen, PF Kurt Thomas, and C Fabricio Oberto. While the Spurs dealt away three role players, it's safe to say they got the better end of the bargain. Jefferson clearly wanted out of Milwaukee's small market setting from the moment he arrived, in fact, he never even wanted to leave New Jersey in the first place. R.J. is probably content with the relocation to San Antonio, but he's most likely not too thrilled about becoming the NBA's newest rent-a-player. Once there's a knack, you never go back. This meaning, once a team entertains the idea of moving Jefferson...you get the picture.

"Now, it's Milwaukee's turn...They certainly one-upped the Nets."

The New Jersey Nets traded away Jefferson and received pocket change, a.k.a. Yi Jianlian, in return from the Bucks. Now, it's Milwaukee's turn to screw up that seemingly brilliant trade with New Jersey. They certainly one-upped the Nets. The Nets were fortunate enough to receive a player that appeals to the Chinese audience, as well as, a guy who could potentially grow into a relatively decent star, depending on his work ethic. The Bucks, well they lost their prized possession from the Nets in Jefferson and cleared some cap room. Oh yeah, and they got three players on the side. Three role players well past their prime. Ultimately, the Spurs were able to mutually satisfy Richard Jefferson's needs and the Bucks financial situation, not to mention that they're suddenly a contender again in the West. Drew Gooden is still a Spur right? I sure hope so because I don't know how I can vindicate that contender statement with Matt Bonner playing a starting role.

Everybody Hates Grizz

How unfortunate, yet at the same time slightly comical, that Hasheem Thabeet has refused to workout for the Memphis Grizzlies for the upcoming 2009 NBA Draft. I say comical because not too long ago, I wrote an entire article dedicated to praising the Grizzlies organization for what they could potentially be with a player like Rubio. This marks the second player to turn down Memphis as a potential draft day destination this year, Ricky Rubio being the first. And the third time a player has publicly rejected the Grizzlies, does anyone remember Steve Francis back in the 1999 NBA Draft? That was when they were still the Vancouver Grizzlies, by the way. Francis made it well known that he didn't intend to stay with the team for very long, as he literally balled his eyes out until he got his way. His excuse? He couldn't stand the fact that he'd have to be separated from his grandmother. Legitimate to some degree. But I'm not going to tear apart Stevie Franchise now because he's been on quite a roller coaster ride throughout the course of his career. He went from Stevie Wonder to Steve I Wonder in less than a decade.

"...We know neither player will be "Walking In Memphis" any time in the near future. Quite frankly, as of now, neither of them have even a remote interest of stepping foot on Memphis, much less walking on it."

So, if the Grizz weren't apprehensive to select Steve Francis back then, what makes us think they won't draft Hasheem Thabeet or Ricky Rubio now? After all, Thabeet could hookup with former UConn Alma Mater, Rudy Gay, and Rubio could reunite with fellow Spanish national, Marc Gasol. If only the world was like that. I'm sorry, let me rephrase that, if only the NBA was like that. The NBA is a business. And as a business, teams realize that if a player doesn't want to play for your team, then chances are fans won't want to watch that team. Rightfully so, who wants to see Hasheem Thabeet or Ricky Rubio dog it every home game while O.J. Mayo is trying to raise his stock as a future star? Which makes me think, could their teammates have a great enough influence on the players, to change their mind, or even make the two up and coming rookies want to play in Memphis with any kind of optimism? Is there any left in Memphis? That depends. We know Rubio is good friends with Pau Gasol, but what about Marc? We know Thabeet and Rudy Gay both played at UConn, but on separate occasions. And finally, we know neither player will be "Walking In Memphis" any time in the near future. Quite frankly, as of now, neither of them have even a remote interest of stepping foot on Memphis, much less walking on it.

Lakers Motto: "The Ring"

Phil Jackson turned to his disciples and said, "And to this team, what was our motto on this team?"

The Lakers players responded, "The Ring."

So went the dialogue between the Lakers All-Time Coaching Great, the Zen Master -- better known as Phil Jackson -- and his unwavering team at the Lakers Victory Parade on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Jackson referred to this motto as something greater than just one sole ring that slips on a finger. Instead, he called it a unifying bond that encompassed his entire team and brought it together as one single entity. He stated, "It's not just this band of gold, it's the circle that's made a bond between all of these players. A great love for one another. It's a great feeling."

"1...2...3...RING!"

Kobe Bryant, in typical fashion, closed out the Parade Ceremony with one final ring chant. Something the Lakers did religiously in the huddle before games and after practice. This time around, though on his usual Lakers parquet, which also happened to be stretched out across the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum ground level, Kobe got the entire football stadium, filled to capacity, mind you, chanting with him. 1...2...3...RING!

Congratulations to all the members of this 2009 Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals Team! In these difficult economic times, you made us all proud. You gave us hope and something to believe in. I Love L.A.

Question: When is the Lakers Parade?

Answer: The 2009 Los Angeles Lakers Victory Parade will air Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 11 a.m. PDT (2 p.m. ET) on the ESPNews channel.

The Lakers Parade will start at the Staples Center, the Lakers Stadium in Los Angeles, and it will end at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Lakers' Players and Coaches will speak and entertain at the Parade. Be on the lookout for a very special Celebrity Guest Appearance as the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate their 15th Championship! Rumor has it, One Member of the Lakers will put on an Unforgettable Show...

Get your Free Lakers Championship Gear now!

For a limited time only (until 1 p.m. PDT/4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 17 2009)

Phil Jackson X Hat - Where to Buy

You can purchase the Official Limited Edition Phil Jackson Championship Hat here.

This is the same hat Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach, Phil Jackson, wore after winning his tenth NBA Championship. Below is a description for the Phil Jackson X hat.

Official Commemorative Phil Jackson Championship Hat Specs:

• Price: $25.00 plus Shipping and Handling (with all proceeds going to the American Indian College Fund).

• Shipping: UPS Ground from Manufacturer
  

• On the Front: The Roman numeral 10 (for all the championships Phil Jackson has won).

• On the Back: An American Indian College Fund logo.
  

• On the Sides: All of Phil Jackson's championship years. ('91,'92,'93,'96,'97,'98,'00,'01,'02,'09)
  

• Stretch Fit

• One Size Fits Most
  

Originally, his family made it for him to commemorate this very memorable NBA Finals as a private gift, where Phil Jackson passed Red Auerbach as the Most Winningest Coach in NBA Finals history. And now, you can own it too!

The Phil Jackson Official NBA Finals Hat can be purchased at http://collegefund.org/news/News%2009/jackson_release.html . You may also call 1-303-426-8900 to reserve your hat.

NBA Finals 2009 - Game 3 Analysis: Magic's Record Night Barely Enough

Game 3 opened with Kobe Bryant scoring a dazzling 17 points in the first quarter, where he went 7 of 10 from the field. He also scored or assisted on 10 out of the 14 Laker first quarter plays. Jeff Van Gundy called it one of the best first quarter NBA Finals performances he had ever seen. I'd like to second that notion, but take it a step further and state that it even rivaled LeBron James' fourth quarter performance in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detriot Pistons. What Kobe did in the opening 12 minutes of play was 100% intentional. He went out there to set a tone that the Lakers would not let up, regardless of their 2-0 cushion. Had Bryant maintained his first quarter intensity, perhaps, we'd be seeing an entirely different Finals picture. Something that involves a broom, maybe.

"...what's most scary about this Lakers team is the fact that the Magic shot a record setting field goal percentage and still only beat the Lakers by four points!"

Initially, both teams committed an abundance of turnovers close to the basket when trying to force an extra pass on drives, some of which were completely unnecessary. I noticed that this was mostly the case with both teams' Guards. In 11 minutes of play, Jameer Nelson had only 1 less turnover than he had points and assists combined -- 2 points and 2 assists versus 3 turnovers. Rafer Alston's assist-to-turnover ratio wasn't any better, as his ratio was remarkably similar to that of Nelson's. Noticing a trend? Was this the players at fault or was it something the coach had an influence over? As quickly as Stan Van Gundy was to self proclaim himself a "motivational genius," we must also take into consideration whether his strategical genius coincides with that of latter.

It was blatantly unmistakable that something had changed with the Rafer Alston's demeanor right from the get-go. Alston, formally known by his street ball name, Skip to My Lou, was running and gunning on every possession, coast to coast, side to side, it didn't matter to him. He was looking to max the envelope on every play as if he knew he had to prove himself, otherwise he'd be replaced soon. This seemed to be the case, at least from what I gathered, because there simply was no other explanation for Rafer's sudden erratic play. Going back to Van Gundy's nickname, does this look like something a motivational genius would do? If anything, correct me if I'm wrong, this actually contradicts the very term motivation, itself. Rafer Alston was playing every possession with his starting job and major minutes on the line. He was in fear of losing his most precious career role in the largest of basketball stages. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm having some trouble justifying the Motivational Genius' intentions on this one. After all, this is just the scenario that played out strictly in my head alone. I don't know about the rest of you...

One change I welcomed with open arms, however, was Stan Van Gundy's improved usage of Dwight Howard. Dwight was utilizing a wide array of post moves -- spins, fakes and then pass outs, hooks, and pumps. He was a lot more patient when doubled and waited for the pass rather than hesitating and turning the ball over like in the two previous games. I know very well that Van Gundy was the man responsible for a great deal of all this. We were witnessing a renewed and revitalized Superman, one who would look to score from the instant the ball reached his hands. Howard would only dribble once or twice before making the decision to shoot or pass. This proved to be incredibly effective, as he went 5 for 6 from the field and 11 of 16 from the charity stripe. All this also went handy with only 1 turnover, mind you. And while we still saw Dwight arguing with the refs over questionable calls, he knew not to argue over Stan's coaching. When Dwight Howard senses a double team and knows to quickly dish it out, the Magic are at their best, as this was evidently the case in Game 3.

Orlando is an unparalleled shooting team. They managed to set an NBA Finals record by shooting 75% from field in the first half and went on to shoot 62.5% for the entire game, which happened to be another Finals record. Pair that with their effective passing and we have a series again. The Magic were playing as a single unit last night and it showed when they looked to pass around the horn on virtually every play until they got the open look they desired.

Defense was a different story. Bryant's ball fake was an absolute headache for defenders, Courtney Lee and Mickael Pietrus. Not only was he drawing the foul, but he was a nightmare to defend because the defense had to continually stay on their heels in fear of the drive. Pietrus was a much needed force off the bench, but made a few defensive blunders early on, like the three-point foul on Kobe. Nonetheless, he more than recompensed for all of this with his momentum changing tip-slam and later his strip on Bryant in the final minute or so of play. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mickael Pietrus is back and here to stay!...hopefully.

From a critical perspective, both teams had their fair share of errors. Kobe Bryant missed a number of crucial free throws, while Dwight Howard made a few illogical fouls or goaltends. I'd like to point out, however, Howard has been cheated of a good many blocked shots this post season due to bad calls. And that about wraps up this edition my NBA Finals coverage. I'm not going to lie, I did some heavy bashing today in my analysis, especially on the Magic, who happened to win their first NBA Finals game, ever. I may have seemed a bit nit picky, but it was all in good fun with the intention of improving Finals play. Read away Stan Van Gundy!

A few minor subtleties I'd like to end on: Aside from Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol might just be the second most athletic big in the league. He's already one of the best offensive rebounders in the league, so why not? Oh, and that spin move step back fadeaway, at 7 feet, that's pure athleticism. And finally, what's most scary about this Lakers team is the fact that the Magic shot a record setting field goal percentage and still only beat the Lakers by four points! Good night.

NBA Finals 2009 - Game 2 Analysis: How "He-do" That?

Well, the Orlando Magic mustered up the strength for one last push in the third quarter, which would eventually earn them a level playing field in Overtime. The only problem, however, is that the Magic could have put this game away before it even went to OT if a certain rookie would have converted on a fraction-of-a-second layup play. If it was Mickael Pietrus in that same situation, then I'm fairly confident this series would have been knotted up by night's end. Pietrus or 'Air France,' as they call him, is substantially more athletic than Courtney Lee and has a better inside game than the former Western Kentucky product.

"Hedo Turkoglu dispelled this myth and more. He has equaled Kobe Bryant's value in terms of his worth to the Orlando Magic in more ways than one."

For the average fan watching the NBA Finals, it's hard not to blame Lee because he could have potentially cost the Magic a close series. After Game 3 we'll know if this is going to be a competitive series, but Orlando will be sweating up until, and even through, the game. One thing I'd like to point out is that Courtney Lee missed one easy layup and one with a significantly greater degree of difficulty. The first layup, which he back-rimmed, could have been made by almost everyone on the Magic roster. So, this play was a simple fluke, at least in my mind. Either the pressure got to the rookie or he's not that great at converting layups to begin with. Now for the second layup, the final play of the 48 minute regulation period, was understandibly a missed field goal. There were only about two or three players on the court in these Finals that could have made that layup, Kobe Bryant being one of them. Not only was Turkoglu's pass too far behind the basket, Lee had to bring it back in front and then evade a clobbering 7-footer's hand directly in front of him. Had Courtney Lee tried to get creative with the shot and attempted to increase his likelihood to make the field goal, Pau Gasol would have probably stuffed the living daylight out of him.

Stan Van Gundy did nearly everything right as a coach in Game 2, with the exception of a few bad player management decisions. However, when it mattered most, he came through in the clutch as a coach. Especially on that last play in the fourth quarter, as Avery Johnson mentioned he would steal that play from Van Gundy if he ever returned to coaching in the NBA. Ultimately, it was Phil Jackson's balanced attack that succeeded in yet again handing the Magic their second loss in these Finals. This could be explained by Kobe Bryant, who has played a near flawless first two games in this series. He's managed to score about 30 points throughout the course of these Playoffs while still dishing it to his teammates enough to keep everyone around him happy. Sadly, we haven't seen Kobe smile once these Finals despite his champion-worthy play.

That's not to say Kobe Bryant has made the most logical play every possesion. Phil Jackson's smirk on the sidelines after he refused to pass out to three wide open Lakers players in the final seconds, which resulted in the now famous Turkoglu block, sums up some of his worst decisions in these Finals. The only criticism I have of Bryant is that he has taken far too many shots even though he still has converted on roughly half of them. He has three stars and a superb set of teammates to pass to if he's doubled or not getting open looks. For this reason alone, I feel like maybe Kobe Bryant isn't playing as unselfishly as all the good highlights make him out to be. Up until Turkoglu's amazing blocked shot, much of the public has had a preconceived notion that his gameplay has been selfless.

Hedo Turkoglu dispelled this myth and more. He has equaled Kobe Bryant's value in terms of his worth to the Orlando Magic in more ways than one. For starters, no one expected his seemingly sluggish defense to be able to keep up with Kobe at the end of the game. But it did. Nobody expected Stan Van Gundy to trust him taking the ball up as a Point Guard in the Playoffs, not to mention the biggest stage of the Playoffs. But he did. And perhaps most importantly, nobody expected him to bounce back from his previous two game slump the way he did. I'll let you form your conclusion about Hedo up until this point. All I ask is that you choose your thoughts carefully.

The Magic have addressed their scoring plight, but it's now up to their Guard play if they wish to bring this series within contention. Dwight Howard will come along offensively and his scoring will certainly increase on his home court. But, Rafer Alston, J.J. Redick, Courtney Lee, Jameer Nelson, and Mickael Pietrus will all have to step up to complete the puzzle. An immense number of pieces are missing in Orlando's roster from what we saw against Cleveland. Furthermore, one of those key pieces, Anthony Johnson, must be utilized if the Guard play remains unsettled. The Lakers front court is far to strong defensively for the Magic to continue to only focus on getting Dwight Howard more open looks. Stan Van Gundy must examine all aspects of his team's play, which I'm sure he's doing, and address his strengths further, as well as, his weaknesses. Just because Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza haven't had big games yet, doesn't mean he should remain complacent with his backcourt defense and overall backcourt coaching strategy. With a 2-0 lead in the series, Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers clearly have the upper hand and are just waiting to flip what the Magic anticipate their game plan to be.

NBA Finals 2009 - Game 1 Analysis: The Return for the Ring

As aforementioned in my previous NBA Finals article, I will be discussing the supporting casts of each Championship Contender. In Game 1, aside from Kobe Bryant's offensive explosion, the Lakers have used a very balanced attack from their bench and role players. Don't expect Kobe to drop 40 points every game of the series, and look for him to dish it out more these next few games, which will even further promote this team-oriented approach. Phil Jackson might be concealing his emotions very well, unlike another Finals coach we know, however, he wants to win this Championship more than we think. Reluctantly, he won't show it. That's okay, because we know that instead, Phil will turn his attention toward the drawing board and devise a game plan that will even shock the heck out of Lakers fans. After all, Jackson alluded to the fact that there is nothing Kobe can do that will surprise him anymore. In fact, the Zen Master probably expected and planned for Kobe to take 34 shot attempts just to keep the Magic on their heels for future games down the road. Not only did Phil Jackson escape with a win, while having Kobe Bryant take roughly forty percent of his team's shots, he now has Stan Van Gundy and the rest of the Orlando Magic scratching their heads as to what he'll do next for a strategy.

Enough about Kobe, both teams, yes the Magic too, had some stellar contributions from their supporting cast. The Lakers saw help from some of the usual starters. The Magic, on the other hand, relied heavily on their bench, as all five starters struggled mightily. Orlando's starting lineup shot a combined 24 percent from the field! On a lighter note, everyone knew that the two superstars would come out and play, but what we didn't know was that Marcin Gortat could play 20 minutes and block 4 shots, get 2 steals, and grab 8 boards. Yes, Howard converted on only one out of six shots he took, but I'm not going to dwell on it. Even the best of them have off nights, and I don't blame him since it's his first game on an NBA Finals stage. I'm positive Howard will rebound from this performance and pull down more rebounds as he learns to position himself better against the two opposing 7-footers, Bynum and Gasol.

Speaking of Bynum and Gasol, who would have thought that Bynum would have come out so strong in the opening minutes of play? Had he not gotten into foul trouble early on, he could have easily had a 20 point, 15 rebound night, or close to it. I'm amazed at the young Center's willingness to take it at Dwight Howard. He was absolutely fearless in the paint. I foresee him only getting better in these Finals as time wears on, especially after he got a chance to rest his knee this past week. Pau Gasol's numbers might not have showed it, but he played a fairly complete game. In addition, he did all the little things right and brought a great deal of intangibles to the table. His performances throughout these Finals should remain consistent with what we saw in Game 1. He could potentially have an off game, but other than that don't expect any drastic changes.

Luke Walton and Derek Fisher shot the ball very efficiently and more than played their role in the Laker offense, as neither player committed any turnovers. It just makes me wonder, was Kobe Bryant attempting 34 shot attempts because he had open looks all night or was L.A.'s energy level not up to par with the Black Mamba's liking? We've learned throughout the course of the 2009 NBA Playoffs that Kobe has a knack for taking over games with his scoring when the Lakers are slacking. Was this the case tonight? The game became a blowout mid-2nd quarter and that's about the time Kobe starting shooting the ball at a very feverish pace. He did so into the 3rd quarter, so was this just Kobe making his team look good by covering up for their lousy effort level? Maybe, maybe not. However, once Bynum hit three fouls, I think the Mamba's precognitive senses kicked in. He anticipated a pounding from Howard and Lewis after losing an able-bodied Bynum and sought to strike first, in typical serpent-like fashion. As any real black mamba would do, Mr. Bryant struck repeatedly until he was sure of one thing, the fatal blow. And while he didn't have to 'close' the game, per se, he did enough early on to make sure he didn't have to perform any late-game heroics.

The Magic hit a rough stretch after the first quarter. Jameer Nelson's surreal play in the first half quickly vanished come halftime. Maybe the mouthpiece magic wore off? Or maybe it was just Orlando's ridiculously poor overall shooting, 29.9 percent from the field. The Lakers were expected to take Game 1, but don't think the Magic will let them off the hook so easily in Game 2. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis will most likely put on a shooting clinic in one of these next few games. Orlando missed missed an unforgivable amount of open looks and like Dwight said, "That's not Magic basketball." I just don't want to be in that locker room after the game, especially when Stan Van Gundy stated he didn't like anything he saw in Game 1. If you learned only one thing tonight about these NBA Finals, you should, at the very least, fully understand now that the Magic do, in fact, live and die by the three. As for the Lakers, we have yet to see their flaws.