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The Lakers are BIG:
Yes, Dwight Howard averaged 21.5 points against L.A. But the best way to neutralize his impact (or at least minimize it), is to have Pau Gasol step out 15-feet away from the basket and shoot jumpers. Gasol doesn’t have the weight to outmuscle Howard down low, so the Lakers need to let their enigmatic center, Andrew Bynum, deal with Howard defensively. Bynum’s bigger than both Gasol and Howard and could prove useful if he just makes competent use of his bigger frame. And the Lakers still have D.J. Mbenga waiting at the end of the bench to provide fouls if nothing else.
Versatility
The Magic have not faced a team with as many players that can do as many different things as the Lakers. The Lakers have a plethora of (streaky) shooters, and versatile big men, and players that know how to defend the perimeter. Trevor Ariza, Luke Walton and Lamar Odom will make the likes of Hedo Turkeglu and Rashard Lewis work on the defensive end and collectively could make it hard to knock down threes on offense. Odom in particular holds the key for the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant
It may seem like a cop-out, but having the game’s best closer counts for a LOT. The Lakers have a lot of weapons, the best coach in the series, and experience — but if ALL of that fails them, they still have the one guy in the league capable of consistently willing them to victory. Unlike last year’s Celtics, the Magic aren’t a team of experience, Hall of Fame-bound veterans anchored by the indomitable will of Kevin Garnett, and they don’t have the greatest defensive mind in basketball drawing up schemes for them (that would be Boston’s Tom Thibodeau.) Bryant knows this is probably his last best chance for a fourth ring, and he’s not going home empty-handed.
Oh, and an unofficial fourth reason:
President Barack Obama picked them in six. How’s that for an endorsement?
