In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant took over and scored 40 points and added 8 rebounds and 8 assists, and the Lakers pounded the Magic 100-75.
Pau Gasol had 16 points and 8 rebounds and Lamar Odom the Candyman had 11 points and 14 rebounds. They also got some pretty good bench help from Luke Walton and Josh Powell.
Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis both struggled for Orlando, and the team only shot 29.9% from the field. Ouch. Howard had 12 points {10 on free throws} and 15 rebounds, but only shot 1 for 6, and Lewis had 8 points on 2-10 shooting, and had ! 4 fouls. They had some good help off the bench from Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, and Jameer Nelson, but it wasn't enough, obviously.
Bryant looked like he was just tired of everything that was getting in his way and just wants to throw the Magic aside so he can get hold of the NBA title he has been drooling for. So he dropped 40 points on them and blew them out. Sounds good for me.
Here is another thing that sounds good for me: Phil Jackson is 43-0 in series in which his team wins Game 1. That is a beautiful sentence.
But I know that the Magic will be back and alert for Game 2 on Sunday night. Dwight Howard will be ready. Lewis will be ready. Turkoglu- ready. I know all their guys will be very cautious on Sunday. The Lakers just need to come pumped up, and not cocky. And they have this Championship in the bag. The Magic are still capable of winning the title this year though, if LA doesn't bring their game.
