The Magic hand the Lakers their third straight loss (96-94), and avenge last seasons championship defeat.
You can tell the NBA Playoffs are around the corner – tempers flared, and technical fouls were handed out like presents.
The game within the game seemed to be Kobe Bryant vs. Matt Barnes, the two of them went back and forth all afternoon. We know Matt Barnes has no love for “The Lake Show” – years back while with Golden State he put a hammer shot on then Laker Ronny Turiaf.
I can’t imagine what would come about if these two teams met again in 7-Game Finals setting. Bryant and Barnes were the main event but; Gasol and Howard’s battle in the paint was a close preliminary bout. The two exchanged elbows, shirt pulling, flagrant fouls, and some heated words.
With that said, both these teams in their current state look like a shell of last years championship teams.
Suddenly, late in the season the Lakers look to be aging. Fisher’s 37 in August , Artest is 32 in November and looks like he’s playing with concrete shoes. Kobe is well into his 30’s and has more wear on the tires than Goodyear. The spark to this team last year was wiry swing-man Trevor Ariza who they lost in the off-season to the Houston Rockets.
On the flip side, the question is…Do the Magic miss Hedo Turkoglu more than he misses them? Hedo was their ball handler late in games on the pick and roll – and the clutch shot taker. He hit the border for Canada in the off-season and the larger check, but he’s had one of his worst seasons ever with the Raptors. The key to Orlando’s success is which Vince Carter shows up. Is is it the one who attacks the hoop and gets others involved – or the lazy one who hoists 26 foot 3-pointers like he’s anticipating a rule change.
With that said; I wouldn’t mind seeing 7 straight games with the tag team match up of Barnes & Howard Vs. Bryant & Gasol….That has pay per view written all over it!