Lord of the Ring

"I spit a story backwards...it starts at the ending..."

Nas - Rewind

I covered the NBA Finals this year, and with it being my first time and all, I not only interviewed the players from both teams, but I also filmed a lot of behind the scenes footage. I think the video turned out pretty well, and I'm already looking forward to the upcoming season. I'm thinking about flying out to LA for the ring ceremony in October...stay tuned.

Antidote

Champion

Unity

Beast of the East

"For me giving up is way harder than trying..."

Kanye West - Champion

The best two teams in the association will vie for league supremacy once the NBA Finals begin on Thursday. 

Blue Magic

I was watching Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals last week with my friend Madeleine, and I expressed to her that the it didn't matter who won the contest because either team would have to play against the Lakers and their ultimate weapon Kobe Bryant.

She's not too high on Kobe, and I tried to explain that anytime your nickname is the Black Mamba, which interestingly enough is Africa's most dangerous and feared snake...then opposing teams had better pack a lunch, because its going to be a long day.

I often refer to her as a "tough crowd", because she doesn't go for the popular vote or opinion...and she calmly turned to me and said that Dwight Howard is the antidote to the Mamba's poison. 

Touche'...point well taken.

If Orlando is in fact a remedy to what the Lake Show can do, then it would rely on the factors below:

• Dwight Howard is the most dominant center in the NBA. With a name like Superman...he can do it all. In this era of power forwards that moonlight at the center position, Howard is young, nonetheless proven as he anchored the Magic to the championship round. He had 40 points, and 14 rebounds in the deciding game against the Cavaliers.
• Rashard Lewis has played well this season as an All-Star, and he has continued to raise the level of his game throughout the playoffs. His height allows him play various positions on the court, making him difficult to defend.
• Hedo Turkoglu proves to be just as difficult to guard as he uses his size, ball handling skills, and sharp shooting to carry his team in victory.
• Standout Rookie Courtney Lee has been playing like a savvy veteran, on both ends of the floor, with hustle, offense, and defense.
• Jameer Nelson was an All-Star this year as the Magic had three players for the Eastern squad, however he did not play in the mid season classic because of a shoulder injury, which has also hindered him from playing for the entire second half of the year. He has proven to give the Los Angeles Laker serious trouble with averages over 20 points per game, and if he can contribute on a high level then his "X" factor could pay great dividends for Orlando.

Photos: Nathaniel S. Butler, Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Blue Magic

Showmanship

Power

"Slick like a gato..."

Jay-Z - Can't Knock the Hustle (Featuring Mary J. Blige)

Cleveland had yet to be tested in these 2009 NBA Playoffs, and as Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals began, it looked as if nothing had changed but the faces on the visiting team.

Statement

This game was a tale of two halves, as LeBron James and the Cavaliers jumped out to a 15-point lead at halftime, out playing the Magic during the first 24 minutes. The most amazing thing of the first half however was a Magic moment, as Dwight Howard threw down a serious dunk...breaking the shot clock clean off the backboard. 

In the 3rd and 4th quarters Orlando seemed to wear down the home team in a basketball battle of attrition. Cleveland mirrored Denver's Game 1, in that LeBron James carried his team with 49 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds in a loss...like Carmelo Anthony's 39 in a futile effort.

The Magic used all of their weapons to get the 107-106 victory, handing the Cavs their 3rd home loss of the year.

Dwight Howard had 30 points, and 13 boards...Rashard Lewis added 22 points with his biggest shot...a 3-pointer with 31.6 seconds to go, pulling his team ahead 104-103. Hedo Turkoglu rounded out the balanced attack with 15 points, and 14 assists.

Game 2 is Friday night in Cleveland.