NBA Finals Predictions, Lakers in Six

So the NBA finals are happening Thursday. Everyone has their predictions and rightly so the Lakers have been dubbed as the favorites. Kobe made it through to the finals, and Adidas is about to make a Dwight Howard puppet for a commercial. Impossible is Nothing vs. Just Do It.

The Lakers run the famous and productive triangle offense. Its an offense that uses mainly three players to score. Pau Gasol on the high post on the triangle is going to be the key for the Lakers (If you don't know where I'm talking about, then I'm sorry). Thats the key to their victory. The Orlando Magic do not have an answer for that. Dwight Howard is not used to playing outside waiting for a jumper, or even if Turkoglu guards him, he can attack the inside. Lamar Odom is an X-factor for the team. He can lift them with his dominant left hand play.

The Magic are unstoppable when they hit their 3's. Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu hurt the Caveliers while Dwight Howard shut the door. Trevor Ariza stepped up in the Denver series and played descent defense on Carmelo Anthony. Now Carmelo did get the best of him, but Carmelo is not on the Magic. So Ariza's productivity is going to be key. Rafer Alston should have a field day against Derek Fisher.

The Magic are a grind it out team. The Lakers have gotten better. Some say they have toughened up, however, I won't give them that label. the Magic are the definition of tough in the NBA. In some of the games against the Caveliers, they were getting blown out early, and still managed to come back mid-way through the third quarters. They fight back. So Kobe Bryant will have to work harder to close out his games.

Credit be given to Stan Van Gundy, he's a smart basketball coach. Personally, I think he over reacts too much. Phil is my kind of coach.

So my prediction is that the Lakers will win the finals in 6 games. If the Magic win, I think it can happen in the same span of games. If the series goes to seven games, Kobe will show up, and he should be expected to bring home the title, then. These finals should be exciting close games from start to finish.