Although I did predict the winner of game 1 of the NBA Finals Series, I did not expect such a lopsided outcome.

As I stated in the previous post, I feel that Lamar Odom will be the determining factor in whether the Lakers would ultimately win the championship, although his contributions in Game 1 on the offensive end of the floor were less than impressive.

Odom's presence on the court alone contributes greatly to the overall confidence of the Laker's second unit - and that is why his versatility is such an asset to the team. He may not provide alot of scoring punch on any given night, but he still brings rebounding, defense, and assists to the table.

Other than Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom is the most important piece to the Laker's championship puzzle.

The referees need to adjust their game calling style according to the team's matchups. I personally wanted to see how a Dwight Howard/Andrew Bynum matchup would pan out. But due to the ref's not allowing aggressive play - which has been a tradition in the NBA since I began watching the sport in the early 80's - some of the marquee matchups that hard-core basketball fans have been anticipating watching will hopefully be seen in upcoming games.

Needless to say, the Lakers did need a ton of scoring punch from their second unit because Kobe Bryant carried the bulk of the scoring load from buzzer to buzzer.

Key Notes For the Lakers:

• Pau Gasol visibly more aggressive than I've ever seen him which is frightening for the opposition.
  
• Phil Jackson, aka "The White Wizard", does not seem phased by Van Gundy's Magic.
• Bynum's foul trouble was not an issue in this game, but he needs to figure out how to stay on the court.
  
• Kobe Bryant can't be stopped.

Key Notes For the Magic:

• They looked defeated as a team midway through the 3rd quarter. The Magic's energy and body language gave all indications that they felt defeated before the game had entered into the 4th quarter of play.
  
• Rafer Alston should have played the bulk of the minutes due to the fact that from the lead guard position, he led a team that he has only been with for half of a season into the NBA finals.
  
• If Jameer Nelson can get his game stamina up in a short period of time, then that greatly increases their chance of winning two games in the series.
• Stan Van Gundy conducted himself like a consummate professional by continuing to inspire his team during every timeout even when there was all indication that the game was over. Very refreshing to see.

Peace, Love, and Hoops!
~JEDI