NBA Finals Predictions + New vitaminwater Commercial!
What’s up, everybody! Told ya’ll I wouldn’t forget you.
Tonight’s the beginning of the NBA Finals. And before I talk about anything else, let me remind everyone I’m still a voice for vitaminwater’s Great Debate ad campaign. Sorry! Don’t expect me to talk about LeBron vs. Kobe that much anymore. LeBron’s been sent home for the Summer. He’s ticked off about it, too, which means there will be plenty of fodder to touch on the subject in the weeks and months to come. For now, the best big man in the game, Dwight Howard, has taken his place. He should be an absolute beast in the Finals, abusing Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum at will, quite honestly. But I’ll tell you somewhere else he has everyone beat: His new vitaminwater commercial.
Howard is flat-out hilarious in it, ya’ll. I would know. I’m in the commercial…albeit just a one-liner with my voice on it. But it is me, with Howard appropriately dominating the commercial. Wait until you see it on ABC during the game tonight. You’ll love it. Remember, I never lie to ya’ll. Trust me on this.
Now let’s get to my NBA Finals breakdown:
POINT GUARDS:
Derek Fisher vs. Rafer Alston/Jameer Nelson: This wouldn’t be much of a comparison if Nelson were healthy because he’s much better at attacking defenses than Alston is. But Nelson’s been out for the second half of the season. Alston has filled in admirably, but has been inconsistent on the road. Meanwhile, although Fisher has shot horrifically, for the most part, he hits shots when they count most. His experience is a definite advantage. If he can hit perimeter shots, it’ll free things up for Kobe and Ariza on the perimeter and Gasol inside. But it’s too tight to call.
Edge: Even
SHOOTING GUARDS:
Kobe Bryant vs. J.J. Redick/Courtney Lee: Redick started all seven games in the conference semifinals; Lee started all six in the Conference Finals. Either way, it really doesn’t matter. I won’t even dignify the rest of this with a response. If I did, Kobe would want to slap me. And he’d be justified.
Edge: Lakers
CENTERS:
Andrew Bynum vs. Dwight Howard: Bynum has been impotent throughout these playoffs. Let’s just call it like we see it. When you’re 7-feet tall and you’re averaging just 6.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in the entire postseason, he’s lucky someone didn’t confuse him with KWA-ME BROWN!!! Somewhere along the way, this kid lost his confidence. And let’s face it: This isn’t the time for him to get it back. Howard is a beast, plain and simple. Watching this kid’s development, I can’t believe I ever thought the Orlando Magic were foolish for taking him No. 1-overall ahead of Emeka Okafor, even if the Magic had entered the draft the league’s worse defense in points-per-game allowed (101) My bad!
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, who led the league in rebounds and blocked shots, is averaging 21.7 points and 15.4 rebounds per game. He dropped 40 points on Cleveland in the series-clinching Game 6 last Saturday. He mandates double teams. He’s the guy who gets Turkoglu and the others open perimeter shots. And I’m suppose to believe that Bynum is going to stop him. Please.
Edge: Orlando
SMALL FORWARD:
Trevor Ariza vs. Hedo Turkoglu: Love Ariza’s energy, defense, athleticism and new-found perimeter shooting. But Hedo’s the guy who’s shown up in pressure situations throughout these playoffs….vs. Philadelphia, Boston and Cleveland. Plus, he’s playing for a new contract.
Edge: Orlando
POWER FORWARD:
Pau Gasol vs. Rashard Lewis: Actually, this is a tough one. Lewis is no match for Gasol inside. Gasol is bigger, stronger, a touch taller and at home in the low post. The thing is, he can’t possibly expect to have a field day offensively down low with Howard in the post watching him. Defensively, Lewis will be a headache because his 19.4 points per game average in the postseason proves he’s nothing to sneeze at scoring wise. He can score inside or out. Although he doesn’t have a post game, he can drive to the basket and hit three’s with the best of them. Believe it or not, this is a pick’em.
Edge: Even.
BENCH:
Orlando has Mickael Pietrus and, in all probability, Courtney Lee, coming off the bench. That makes for a strong lineup of seven, no matter how you slice it. In the NBA Finals, assuming everyone shows up to play, that’s all you need. Except, these are the Lakers.
You’ve got Lamar Odom and Luke Walton coming off the bench. That’s height, size and experience, although both fall asleep from time-to-time. Odom is key, especially defensively while trying to fend off Orlando’s perimeter blitz. Add Jordan Farmar to the equation, along with Sasha Vujajic’s outside shooting, and the Lakers are an offensive juggernaut I believe will be entirely too much for the Orlando Magic to handle. I don’t expect Jameer Nelson’s rust to wear off that quickly. Nor do I expect Alston to hit pivotal shots on the road.
As a result, I see the Lakers taking both Games 1 and 2, losing Game’s 3 and 5, with Game 3 sandwiched in between being an absolute thriller that Kobe pulls out. In the end, Game 6 of the NBA Finals should be Kobe’s coronation. A championship accomplished without Shaquille O’Neal.
The haters will officially be shrugged off his shoulders. He’ll host the championship trophy, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest who ever lived.
24 Responses to “NBA Finals Predictions + New vitaminwater Commercial!”
Lakers in 6………..GO LAKERS!!
I truly enjoyed the read Mr. Smith (yes, that’s respect right there). But I am going with the Magic in 6 games. You can check out my article on Allhiphop.com for my views: http://www.allhiphop.com/stories/lifestylesports/default.aspx
You are an inspiration of mine. Stay strong and motivated
The Lakers just put a trashing on he Magic to say the least. If the Lakers play this way through the whole finals there will be a sweep. The Black Mamba aka king Kobe is about to be on his throne with his fourth championship ring. I am so glad too so all those haters would shut up and stop saying if it wasnt for Shaq and Kobe cant win without Shaq. He had that look in his eyes that said he is ready to get his ring ring now and nobody is going to stop me from achieving my mission. He will not be denied this ring this time he will make sure of that. That Dwight Howard commercial is hilarious. I have no idea why some people say Dwight isnt marketable that commercial proves those people wrong. Once again Stephen A another great article you’re the man.
I know it’s just one game, But Dwight isn’t facing the Celtics w/o Garnett or Big Z or Ben Wallace of the Cavs. While Bynum hasn’t been inspiring in most of the the playoffs, he has played his best ball the past three games. Which were also the best three the Lakers have played in the playoffs. And by the way, Gasol vs Lewis favors the Lakers, especially when it forces Lewis off of the three point line where he does he best work. How often do you blog? It’s not playoff basketball w/o your interviewing players and offering your insight!
Yes,Dwight Howard definitely has a career in entertainment after basketball. His impersonations of Stan VanGundy are hilarious as well. However….I did not know that he was magician….for him and his teammates certainly dissapeared last night!
The commercial was FUNNY!!!
where u been r u wit espn stt i aint seen u
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From SAS: Last day at ESPN was May 1st.
First of all the Dwight Howard commercial was definitely funny. Lastnights game was just a sign of things to come for the Magic. I’m not sure how much adjustments the Magic can really make outside of just simply making open shots. Unfortunately for the Magic the Black Mamba is on a mission and won’t be able to stop that freight train known as the LA Lakers! Lakers in 6 assuming the Magic somehow pull out a win in game 2 or else its over in 5.
Stephen A! My favorite sports analyist! I want to see what else you have to say about the Rafer Alston and Jameer Nelson situation. Although Nelson is not 100% I can imagine he would still be more consistant and will gradually get better through the series. I mean like you said he has the ability to attack defenses and the Lakers are most vulnerable when their defense has problems, not to mention another scorer since Hedo is obviously having trouble. Rafer Alston would be a lot stronger off the bench. It is just my opinion.
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From SAS: I agree, but Jameer needs to work off that rust a helluva lot quicker than he has. The Championship is on the line and Kobe is not playing at all.
Stephen A,
This commercial may be one for the ages. Dwight Howard’s commercial has to be the most hilarious of the few commercials he’s done thus far and should the Magic defeat the Lakers, there’s no doubt he’ll do another one for DisneyWorld too. I believe that Howard’s swagger on and off the court makes him one of the top NBA players in the league and probably one of the hottest marketing players today as well. Granted, Kobe and LeBron’s MVP commercials are funny as well, but Dwight’s time with Dwayne and Charles Barkley and now with Vitaminwater should make him top dog in the marketing world industry. Watch out MJ, who’s to say if Dwight Howard’s smile won’t earn him more in endorsements.
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From SAS: He’ll easily get more endorsements, trentd. That’s a given. But don’t expect him to win the NBA title this year. Kobe’s not losing this time around, my man. Dwight’s time will come. But it’s not here yet.
Did you see the look in Kobe’s eyes at Gasol when Gasol hit that shot when he got fouled it was either in the 4th quarter or overtime. That look tells me that the Magic are in trouble and that Kobe is about to get his 4th ring. I dont think i have ever seen an athlete so focused like Kobe is at this moment. I know I mentioned to you earlier about Kobe not having that killer instinct like Jordan had, I admit i was wrong im eating my words right now when I saw the look in his eyes last night i said to myself he has that ultimate killer instinct.
It’s two games Laker fans…and if Lee hits the gimme off a great set play by Van Gundy the Magic are right there….Odom won’t play on the road the way Lewis played in LA and Lee & Alston will play much better in Orlando as well.
Won’t spend a lot of breath either since they were really bad both ways but c’mon….with Javie in the house I think I heard the refs singing a rendition of the Lakers/Randy Newman theme song as they left the floor…..”I love LA!”
Stephen A.
Can you please go on one of your tangents about how sorry Rafer Alston is! I miss those on ESPN when a player or team needed exposure. You were always right on time with it. lol After the crap that came out of his mouth concerning his playing time in game 1, he needed to BALL in game 2! He is lucky Otis Smith gave him a ride home after that performance in game 2. Turk and Lewis showed some heart and Howard showed some effort but also showed that he is at least 3 years away from being what he is supposed to be. He’s hitting the free throws now but his post game is suspect. Hats off to Phil Jackson for neutering another center like he used to do Alonzo and Ewing every year.
Yo, Stephen,
Don’t take it the wrong way, but i need more NBA finals articles Baby!!! I am not sure if your still writing in Philly but man like i said before. Since you left the mothership. Basketball has not been the same and i would love to get your thought on the first two games.
Holla at us Fam!!! we love your stuff.
Peace
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From SAS: Appreciate the love, JB. Tell it to ESPN; they’d love to hear it. Also, I’ll write a blog before Game 3, plus I’ll USTREAM…just to make sure I can talk to folks twittering me. And I also play on doing a daily podcast right here on my website in the coming days. So you’ll hear me. Take care.
Mr.Smith,
This is what I miss…the TRUTH! I guess it helps because I often agree with you totally! I was just asking my father about you yesterday and am happy that I stumbled upon your website today. When I read your comments it is as if you can read my mind; for I can summarize the paragraph before completing the reading.
So happy to see you are still commenting. Must share your website with my father. Look forward to hearing you on Steve Harvey more. Love ya! Miss ya!
Go Lakers!!!!!!!!!!!
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From SAS: Thanks for the love. I’ll be doing the Strawberry Letter for Steve Harvey next week on the 16th, then filling in for him the entire show on the 26th of this month. I’m also adding my own daily Podcast to this website, effective TOMORROW. Thanks for checking on me.
Wasup Stephen A,
Son, I hate to admit it but the Lakers are looking good. I favor th Magic between the two, however Kobe looks like he’s on a Desert Storm mission! I got the Lakers sweeping the Magic. On another note, I was debating about the Iverson drama in Detroit with a buddy, What’s your thoughts on Iverson and his next move in the NBA?
Peax
Big ISH
Keep shining brother, ESPN is missing out!
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From SAS: Appreciate the love, Ish. Kobe does look on a mission, but the Magic are storming back. Like I said, Game 3 will decide to me whether the Lakers win this series in 4 or 6 games. As for Iverson, I’m extremely disappointed. I love the brotha. He’s real as they come. My problem, though, is that he spoke out when he was with the Pistons and that was a mistake. Once Joe D pushed him out the door, I know the NBA well enough to know that will be held against him. It’ll be nearly impossible for him to make even half of the $20.8 million he pocketed last season, and that’s really pushing it. His stock has plummeted that much. I’m praying someone in championship contention will grab him because that’s what he wants more than anything. The thing is, who’ll take a chance on him if they’re that close to a title. That’s what concerns me.
Hey Stephen A. will your podcast be available to download? Also, what time will you be Ustreaming? Oh, btw, my BDay is tommorrow…: )
Ya gurl
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From SAS: Happy Birthday, Girl! Wishing you many more. Not going to start my Podcast until tomorrow. But I’ll be on USTREAM tonight at half time during the game, then immediately following the game.
if you ever read this stephen i believe dwight isnt a problem. just cuz both bynum and gosal put pressure on him. the real problem is, is the double team worth it. having the perimeter people constantly shooting the threes and giving ariza, kobe, and d-fish a constant hard time gaurding. i really think kobe will shine. of course i already saw game 3 and he missed a shit laod of freethrow shots. shots taht wulda and culda got the game 3. guess the entire laker team was a bit sleezy. and i repeat this to all my freinds, the problem with lakers is that they need a solid center. gasol doesnt stay in the key, he moves out. tahts why they need bynum. bynum aint no kwame brown. hes being taught by the best. jabar so lakers sees this as an investment. hopefully it will turn out liek another shaq
As you always do when necessary, I must admit that Rafer Alston showed up last night. The boy BALLED!!! He played his game and controlled the tempo. He knocked down shots which made his penetration effective. The man was superb last night. I must tip my cap to Mr. Alston. I give credit where credit is due and Mr. Alston is due. He was still awful in games 1 & 2, but awesome in game 3. Just think, if the rookie hits the layup, it’s Magic up 2-1. But you know how the saying goes, if if was a spliff, we’d be all f@%$*d up. Kobe looked like he was going to have one of those nights and he turned out to have one of THOSE nights. He just didn’t have it down the stretch. He gave it all he had in true Kobe fashion. The alarming thing is with the great shooting night the Magic had, they had to play with the bus running and barely got out of the building.
David Ortiz. The man couldn’t hit, thought he couldn’t see, and was on his way out of Boston. My beloved Yankees go to Fenway last night and what happens? The man goes yard to the deepest part of the park! I’ve been completely unthreatened by Boston since they let Manny leave town. They, IMO, are a thoroughbred horse that is now a gelding, a mere shell of themselves, but Papi is still a problem. Do you see this as a rebirth or just the sun shinin on a dog’s ass?
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From SAS: The sun is shining on a Dog’s ass, Paul. Love Papi. But he was better off with Manny, much more so. Manny’s absence has hurt him in a way I don’t think he can recover from. Just my thoughts.
my wife and I really miss your work on espn. don’t know what the heck happened but you were a breath of fresh air. Love your humor and your rants. It is Haarrable.
Hey, Steve:
Hopefully, you left ESPN on your own. As big a fan as I am of the network, I just can’t fathom the ivory tower execs being so STOOPID as to let you go without beggin’ & pleadin’. I’m L.A. born & raised, so I got no choice. Believe me, life in Sacramento is not easy for a Laker fan. Being a Laker fan is the only thing that makes life bearable in this town. Anyway . . . this series is over. The Lakers gon’ do it laid back. They kick it on cruise mode, get punked by the young squad in game 3, and everybody panics. TJ Simers in L.A. starts talkin’ idiotic, and people believe him. (Maybe it’s not ‘people’ after all . . . I mean, who’s reading the paper besides you & me?)
When Kupchak brought in Pau Gasol 2 years ago, I called it right then… the ring is a lock for Kobe. Yeah, they weren’t flowin’ last year. But this is the year. You can tell; everybody has that look this year. Kobe’s not the only one. Oh…except Bynum. He needs counselin’, Steve. Talk to your boy, please! He has to get it together for the repeat to have a chance.
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From SAS: What up, Kevin. Nah! It was ESPN’s call. They did offer several contracts months earlier that I didn’t except, but it was their decision not to renew my contract. I wanted to stay; just wanted to be allowed to do other things outside of sports and they weren’t having that. Oh well! Such is life. I called the Lakers in 6 for this series and, game-by-game, I’ve been right on the money. I can’t see them repeating, though, unless they get Ron Artest. Lamar Odom probably won’t be back and he doesn’t need to be, considering the way he disappears so often. And Yes! Bynum needs counseling.
hey STEPHAN A. just wanted to show some love,you really have IT! i like the way you anylized the finals you hit the nail on the head. kobe is not the greatest ever but you have to recognize that he his great if that makes any sense. i am a huge lakers fan and i want nothing more than to be on fig. st. when we win it all,but it seems that we need something in l.a. other than 24 he is going to start his decline after next year i belive his body will start to break down yet i dont see drew or gasol leading the team to another ring. what do you think the lakers should do to look to the future? by no means am i pushin 24 out of the picture,but kobe is not that young and as huge of a kobe fan that i am im a bigger LAKERS fan!
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From SAS: Personally, I think Kobe should do one or two things: Help the Lakers get Ron Artest OR…EVEN BIGGER…leave for New York and pair with LeBron James to close out his career. I doubt that will happen, but you never know with Kobe. Trust me on this: He’s very unpredictable.
Stephen A., you are missed my brother. I praise you for taking the high road with ESPN. You must be connected as a lot of us are with a higher power (and I am sure you know what I mean:)). I hope that down the road you will find a media venue (broadcast, cable, radio, internet — I guess Internet’s taken care of with this site) that will properly treat your style (reporting, commentary, and conversation/interview/discussion — Man, I miss Quite Frankly) with respect and restraint by corporate execs. Keep us posted on your next projects. Good luck to WSSU in 09-10 — but not that much
— from a fellow MEAC fans (Hampton U.). God bless you and yours!
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From SAS: Yep! But it may not come to that. Don’t rule out LeBron and D-Wade. You heard it here first
Stephen A., I thought I was the only one that thought the Lakers needed to get Artest. I am surprised they did not get him at the end os last year’s run against the Celtics. Kobe needs to put his ego away and play with Artest. They would be great together: Defensively and Offensively…
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From SAS: Artest would be best on the court. Off the court? Not so sure. And if you’re the Lakers, there’s nothing wrong with saying: “Let us come back and defend our title.” Can’t knock them if they keep Odom. They damn sure need to keep Ariza.