I’m pretty pumped up for the Lakers/Magic series to kick off Thursday night. I know David Stern and the rest of the world are probably pouting because the Puppet Marketing Machine that is Lebron and Kobe won’t be meeting in the Finals, but whatever, the Magic are a WAY better all-around team. Lebron is amazing (check his and other playoff stats here), but the Cavs had to lose because the Magic are so much more fun to watch.
Also, Magic players are murmuring that All-Star Jameer Nelson may return - “I expect to see him out there at some point in the series,” backup point guard Anthony Johnson said. This would be pretty impressive given Nelson had what was then called season-ending surgery Feb. 19 and his rehab was supposed to take at least another two months. I’m hoping he gets a chance to play, because it’s lose-lose for him psychologically if he doesn’t. If the Magic end up winning the ‘chip, then Jameer feels like the team didn’t need him. If the Magic lose, Jameer feels bad because he didn’t have a chance to help his team out. Here’s to Jameer getting a chance to play…cheers.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:19 am
I hear you Scotty. I thought the marketing campaign was a terrible idea to begin with.
I mean a) you disrespect the other two teams playing in the conference finals and b) as a league already branded for “scripting” its playoffs to get the desired matchups, if the Lakers/Cavs were to both make the Finals, you only affirm that notion.
Although I would have liked to see Kobe/Lebron as well, I’m equally as happy to see the wrench in the plan as well.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Not to mention that Jameer Nelson was the leading scorer for the Magic both times they owned the Lake Show this year.
…and another cheers, here is to LeBron as a New York Knick
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Yeah, but how much of that campaign was Nike. It isn’t like it was an NBA marketing campaign.
The rumor is that Nelson will be back for the finals.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Nelson out of Game 1.
June 9th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Scratch that, Nelson in for the entire series, however deece he is. I’m with BPizzy on this one, this is a Nike campaign, not an NBA campaign.
And i can’t understand why people are happy we get to watch Dwight Howard(the dunk is all I have) and the Magic versus the Lakers rather than Lebron. Who beside Skip Bayless doesn’t like Lebron?
June 12th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Hindsight is 20/20 and looks like a Cavs/Lakers series would have been better (can’t be much worse than Lakers up 3-1), but the Magic have been absolutely BLOWING it. If Howard makes ONE STINKING FREE THROW last night, game over, we’re back to a 2-2 series. But he craps out, misses both and Jameer Nelson’s momentary coma on defense lets Derek Fisher wind up and drain a three. Sixth grade girls can figure out that if they’re up by three with six seconds left, don’t let Suzy get an open three. That was just bad basketball last night - I’m embarrassed for them. Plus, if Courtney Lee makes that bunny alley-oop in Game 2, this series is 3-1 Magic and they close it out at home this Sunday. What an un-freaking-believable meltdown.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I definitely think Stern was nervous about Lebron not reaching the finals. This video is probably what his nightmares look like http://bit.ly/17QPPF