Lakers Defense Will Win a Championship

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If I told you Orlando’s big three outplayed the Lakers big three in the Staples Center in Game Two, one, you probably wouldn’t believe me, and two, you probably figured the Magic pulled out a "W."

Right?

Not exactly. 99 percent of the time you would be right. Yet, the Lakers escaped. We all saw it. We all know it. More importantly, we are all okay with it.

Everyone is talking about how the game was there for the taking for the Magic, and I agree, it was. However, give the Lakers credit for taking the win by force. Give the Lakers credit for playing great defense in seven out of eight quarters, so far. Give the Lakers credit for making their own breaks (forcing 20 turnovers in a pivotal Game Two victory) and making more plays, which helped win a game they probably should have lost.

How did the Lakers survive a game in which they were out-rebounded by nine, gave up 10 offensive rebounds to four, and were outscored at the three-point line by 15?

Defense.

Not to mention Dwight Howard did something only Hakeem Olajuwon has ever done in the playoffs—15 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks in a single game (17/16/4, and four steals and four blocks to be exact).

Oh yeah, and Rashard Lewis lived up to his $119 million contract with a career playoff high, seven assists, to go along with 34 points (including 18 of the teams 20 in the second quarter). He also pulled down 11 rebounds and knocked down six three's.

Hedo Turkoglu finally found his form going for 22 points, grabbing six boards, dishing out  four assists and hitting three triples. He also played surprisingly good defense on Kobe Bryant to end the game, forcing him into a number of tough shots and turnovers (Kobe had seven for the game).

It seemed like everything was going against us.

The Magic’s big three gave it their all, accounting for 83 points, 33 rebounds, 15 assists, five steals and five blocks. They were 25-for-48 from the field, and 9-of-18 from the three-point line. The Lakers big three, in comparison, amassed 72 points, 22 rebounds, 13 assists, five steals and four blocks. They shot 25-for-45 from the field and were only one out of four from beyond the arc.

But the Lakers got the job done, not through their offense, but with their defense.

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