Hail To The Champ (News Roundup)

The last news roundup of the NBA Finals — reaction to the Lakers victory

ESPN

• Hollinger: Lakers are early favourite for 2009-10 Title
• Adande: Kobe and Phil
• Video
  • Can Lakers Repeat? — some analysis on the Lakers chances of winning next season
  • 2009 Finals In The Books — a brief look at each game
  • Bryant’s Road To Fourth Title

Game Five: Orlando vs Los Angeles

Game Five

The Lakers can finish the Magic off tonight, and win the 2008-09 NBA Title.

The Magic are fighting for their lives.

First Quarter

• Good job by Rashard Lewis, fronting or 3/4ering Gasol in the post, and deflecting the pass … turnover. Courtney Lee drills a jump shot on the other end.
• Three or four shot attempts at the rim there for LA, Bynum missing, Gasol finishing inside. Great effort from Bynum to keep that alive.
• Rashard Lewis bangs in a long jump shot

NBA Finals News Roundup — Part Four

Fisher’s Game Tying Three Pointer

NBA Finals Game Four: Orlando vs Los Angeles

Game Four

Lakers lead the series 2-1.

I’d absolutely love to see the Magic win this game and tie up the series. It would set up some much needed tension over the remainder of this series. So, I’m pulling hard for the Magic tonight.

First Quarter

Lakers lead 2-0 after 90 seconds

NBA Finals News Roundup — Part Three

ESPN

• Daily Dimes
  • June 8th — Game Recap for Game Two — click here
  • June 9th — Pre Game Three News — click here
  • June 10th — Game Three Post Game Coverage — Rafer redeems himself — click here
  • June 11th — Warm up for Game Four — click here

Some highlights from those articles

The Fatigue Factor For Kobe

NBA Finals Game Three: Orlando vs Los Angeles

Game Three

Am I the only one who thinks there is a lack of buzz about this game?

I like the Magic to rebound and win the game tonight. They’re due for a good shooting night.

First Quarter

• Dwight Howard wins the tip … He posts up on the left block, draws a double, kicks it out, Hedo gets a great look from downtown on the left wing, miss

NBA Finals Game Two: Los Angeles vs Orlando

Game Two

I think this game is a must win for the Orlando Magic. I cannot seeing them win four out of five games against the Lakers, which is something they’d have to do should they fall back 0-2 tonight.

First Quarter

• Excellent defensive rotations from the Los Angeles Lakers to take away Orlando’s three point shooting opportunities despite having numbers on the weak side of the court, forced Alston to put the ball on the floor and to take a tough runner over Gasol, miss.

NBA Finals News Roundup – Part Two

More updates as Day continues

Dwight Howard says Game One was a one-off

Magic center Dwight Howard isn’t overly concerned about his team’s disappointing performance in Game 1 against the Lakers.”Tonight was just an off night,” Howard told the Associated Press after the loss. “We’ve never had a shooting night this bad. Even when we’re not making shots, we got to give a better effort. It just wasn’t there. We just weren’t fighting.”

The Magic were just 23-for-77 from the field, including 8-for-23 from three-point range.

NBA Finals: SVG Thought Nelson Played Well

Stan Van Gundy thought Jameer Nelson played well in Game One

“[Nelson] played well in the second quarter,” Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said after the Lakers’ 100-75 victory. “I was happy. I thought he was getting in the paint on his pick and rolls. He had four assists. I thought he was making really good plays. And in the second half I didn’t think he was very good at all.”

Orlando starting point guard Rafer Alston had 6 points on 2-of-9 shooting and one assist in 25 minutes. Reserve point guard Anthony Johnson did not play.

NBA Finals Game One: Los Angeles vs Orlando

Game One

I’m giddy about these NBA Finals.  This should be a terrific matchup and a very exciting series.

First Quarter

Orlando lead 7-6 after the first two plus minutes.

• Gasol pulls down the defensive rebound after Rafer’s missed floater. Lakers come up court, quick post up for Kobe, he pressures Lee, turns middle, kickout, runs out the right wing, gets the ball back, drives hard down the baseline, draws a foul.

Jameer Nelson Update

Update Below — Nelson not playing tonight in Game One, unlikely to play in series.

Update: Nelson will dress tonight but is unlikely to play

Update — Nelson is playing in Game One! So much for the updates!

A couple of very good quotes in the Orlando Sentinel

Doctors told Nelson to expect a six-month recovery. So far it has been a little over three.

“I’m ahead of schedule, but that doesn’t mean that I want to play,” Nelson said Monday after a short film session with his teammates. “I’ll have to see how I feel tomorrow. I have to wake up every day and see how I feel.

“Every day I do my rehab and every day I feel a little better about myself and my strength and everything.

Finals Schedule

All times Eastern

• Game 1: Thursday, June 4; Orlando at Los Angeles; 9 p.m.; ABC
• Game 2: Sunday, June 7; Orlando at Los Angeles; 8 p.m.; ABC
• Game 3: Tuesday, June 9; Los Angeles at Orlando; 9 p.m.; ABC
• Game 4: Thursday, June 11; Los Angeles at Orlando; 9 p.m.; ABC
• Game 5 (if necessary): Sunday, June 14; Los Angeles at Orlando; 8 p.m.; ABC
• Game 6 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 16; Orlando at Los Angeles; 9 p.m.; ABC
• Game 7 (if necessary): Thursday, June 18; Orlando at Los Angeles; 9 p.m.; ABC

NBA Finals Latest News + Articles Roundup

Sports Illustrated

• Ian Thomsen thinks that Dwight Howard could learn a thing or two from Kobe Bryant.
• The Jameer Nelson dilemma — disrupting chemistry?

Some interesting quotes from this next SI.com — “Lakers look to take advantage of homecourt”

On Dwight Howard

The Lakers’ immediate problem is how to contain Dwight Howard.

NBA Finals Preview: Los Angeles vs Orlando

Los Angeles Lakers vs Orland Magic

Regular Season Standings

• Los Angeles Lakers — 65 wins and 17 losses
• Orlando Magic — 59 wins and 23 losses

Regular Season Matchups

• Orlando won the season series 2-0