Lakers vs. Magic Finals – Tale of the Tape

Tonight, the 2009 NBA Finals tip off with the Orlando Magic visiting the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1. The game will be shown on ABC and will begin at 9 PM EST. Who is going to win the NBA championship? Here is the tale of the tape:

Point Guards
Derek Fisher is a solid veteran and Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar are good backups but the Magic have the edge due not only to Rafer Alston and Anthony Johnson, but also because Jameer Nelson may return.
ADVANTAGE: MAGIC

Shooting Guards
When Kobe Bryant is on one side of the equation, you know which team will have the advantage.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS

Small Forwards
While Trevor Ariza has played great this year in the postseason, Hedo Turkoglu is a better player. Add in Mickael Pietrus and it’s no contest.
ADVANTAGE: MAGIC

Power Forward
Rashard Lewis is a very good player but there’s no way he’s as good as the combination of Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom that the Lakers can throw at him.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS

Center
Dwight Howard is now the best center in basketball. Andrew Bynum may one day be a great player but he’s not close to Howard at this point.
ADVANTAGE: MAGIC

Coach
Phil Jackson has won an ungodly number of NBA championship rings. Stan Van Gundy is probably best known to his uncanny resemblance to Ron Jeremy.
ADVANTAGE: LAKERS

With the tale of the tape in the 2009 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic tied at 3-3, we’ll use the homecourt advantage as the tie-breaker. That means that the Lakers will be your 2009 NBA champions by the time these finals are over.

Congrats, Kobe, on your 2009 NBA championship (Image: Zuma Press)