NBA Finals: Lakers Take Game One Over Magic

A team that has been described by their own coach Phil Jackson as having a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality, the Los Angeles Lakers did not disappoint their fans by bringing their A-game to Game One of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic. 

The final score 100-75 of Thursday night‘s game, had the Lakers winning by 25 points over the Magic, clenching Game One and the 1-0 lead in the series.

The star player of the night was no one other than Black Mamba himself—Kobe Bryant.  He has expressed his main goal this season is to finish what they couldn’t last year and win another championship for Los Angeles. 

With his stunning performance in Game One, Kobe and the Lakers are well on their way to achieving this goal. Kobe Bryant finished the game with an impressive 40 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. 

It is only the fourth time in NBA Finals history that a player has put up those numbers in a single game. Kobe is in good company with the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, and Jerry West being the three other players. 

In the third quarter of the game against the Magic, Kobe scored 18 points, opening up the Lakers lead and solidifying their win.

Though Kobe was the biggest factor in the Lakers win over the Magic, the supporting cast also came out to play with much success. Pau Gasol finished the game with 16 points, Lamar Odom had 11 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double and Andrew Bynum had 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Dubbed Superman, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, was anything but super in Thursday night’s game. Howard scored only 12 points, 10 of which were free throws and only 1 of 6 shooting. 

Howard’s horrible shooting is thanks to the Lakers cast, as he was constantly double and triple teamed every time he had his hand on the ball.

The performance by the Magic proved living on the three-point line is never the answer.  A team that depends on their three-point shooters to support Howard, did not quite come out blazing in Game One.

They were just 8 of 23 in three-point shooting with Rashard Lewis scoring 8 points, Mickael Pietrus with 14 points and Hedo Turkoglu finishing with 13 points. 

Even with the return of Magic player Jameer Nelson who scored 6 points and 4 assists, the Magic were unable to overcome Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. 

Overall the Magic shot only 30 percent even with excellent open looks they were not able to make their shots and convert.

While Game One proved victorious for the Lakers Game Two is another day and another game. 

Lakers will have to play at the same caliber or better in Sunday’s game to take a 2-0 lead over the Magic.

All eyes will be on Kobe Bryant and whether he will again impress with a dominating performance or will Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic learn from their mistakes and overcome their Game One loss to take Game Two.