NBA Finals Preview: Lakers vs. Cavs

This article might be about six weeks too early, but with Kevin Garnett possibly not playing in the entire Playoffs and Orlando's starting forwards (Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis) not at full strength, it's clear to me that the Hawks in the second round will have best chance of any East team to beat the Cavs.

At least they have the length to compete with LeBron, and Joe Johnson should have have a field day against Delonte West.

Out West, the Lakers start off by playing the Jazz, who are already down with a hobbling Mehmet Okur and a Carlos Boozer that isn't at 100 percent yet. L.A. has already taken care of the Rockets multiple times this season, and the winner of the Mavs-Nuggets series (both Dallas and Denver will win their first round matchups against the Spurs and Hornets, respectively) won't give the Lakers any problems in the Western Conference Finals.

Honestly, it's the Blazers that have the greatest likelihood any team out West of beating the Lakers; they match up well against L.A. from the one through eight positions.

In fact, I would argue that Brandon Roy/Rudy Fernandez is a better starting/backup scenario than Kobe/Sasha. That pairing is the reason the Lakers lost in the Finals last year, not because of Pau Gasol's so-called softness. Kobe had to guard Rondo, Pierce, and Allen at the same time.

Still, I expect the Lakers to come out of the West and face the Cavs in the Finals.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. I know most people believe that the Lakers are more talented. And in a way, that's true, as the Lakers on paper do have more skilled players than the Cavs do.

However, the Cavs' whole is so much better-built in terms of their offense and individual abilities, I believe they do have a better overall team than the Lakers do.

If you are telling me that Trevor Ariza is a better player than Wally Szczerbiak, then you are sadly mistaken. Wally is one of the most underrated scorers in the league and has averaged at least 18 and five in three different seasons; he should easily be able to handle Ariza and Odom during stretches of a game.

"Scissors" and Mo Williams (who averaged 18 PPG this season) spread the floor beautifully so that LeBron can do his work. Meanwhile, Zydrunas Ilgauskas holds the middle down very well and should be able to play Bynum to a draw.

Yes, Gasol will win the matchup with whoever is guarding him, but Mo will easily win his matchups against any Lakers PG.

It will come down to the best players on each team. The Lakers won both their games this regular season against the Cavs (one without Bynum), and the main reason they were able to do so was Kobe's defense against James. If anyone has watched the Lakers play this season, they know Kobe is the best on-ball and one-on-one defender in the league (with Kirk Hinrich coming in second).

Yes, he doesn't block as many shots as LBJ or Dwyane Wade, but he stops the opposing player on defense more regularly than either of those do, and I feel that he will take his D to a whole 'nother level against Cleveland.

That will allow Gasol and Bynum to handle majority of the offensive work for the Lakers, who will win the Championship in six games.

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