The Dwight Fight

 2009 NBA FINALS

 VS

Heading into the 2009 NBA Finals I thought this was a fairly good match up on paper. I did believe the Lakers had some overall advantage with experience on the floor and with Coaching. Well, as did most of the known universe.

It was also pretty clear that each team had similar height length to counter one another. Although I was not sure how Gasol, Bynum, and Odom would handle the physicality of Dwight Howard. So far they have done very well. Of course Phil Jackson has thrown as many big bodies at him as he can and given Howard a variety of double teams.

Ironically the 76ers decided to let Howard have relative freedom and made it their goal to stop the strength Orlando by putting extra defense on Turkoglu and Lewis respectively. It worked to some degree but in the end Howard hurt them and other Magic players, like Courtney Lee stepped up and hit some perimeter shots.

Against Cleveland, the Cavaliers did not have a good personnel to match Orlando. Their bigs got eaten alive by Howard and they could not slow down the perimeter game of Orlando. Which was also do to lack of length. With Turkoglu and Lewis so tall adn athletic playing away from the net, Cleveland had no answer for the Magic game plan.

Phil Jackson however subscribes to the old adage that perimeter shooting is streaky and usually does not win you a series. It is rare that a team can sustain a high shooting percentage over and over again. With that in mind put a bulls-eye on Dwight Howard and is daring the Magic to win from the air. He is calling the bluff of the Magic to rain 3 pointers for multiple nights. Especially is that unlikely on the road. Look at the Philadelphia series. The 76ers had more success with their strategy at home.

That may help Orlando against LA in the next 3 games, but they had game 2 in Courtney Lee's hands and that was huge. It is hard for any one to beat someone 3 times in a row, even at home.

One surprise for me is that the Magic do not seem to be cashing in on the advantage they have at point guard. Rafer Alston and Jameer Nelson are much better than the aging Derek Fisher or Jordan Farmar. They should have used this to go at the basket more and not be suckered into Phil Jacksons "go ahead and take jump shots" strategy. Had they attacked the paint, perhaps Howard would have been able to find a little space for himself. Either for a dump off or some offensive rebounds. OR maybe get Gasol and Odom some fouls.

Which is also a problem in the NBA. Although it is known and accepted, the home team is usually rewarded for being the home team. That said the Magic is not shooting very well from the foul line when they do get there.

If Orlando can win games 3 and 4 this series could make a turnabout. But if LA wins either 3 or 4, I think it's over.