What: 2009 NBA Finals - Game 1
Teams: Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Series: Magic 0 - Lakers 0
When: Thursday, June 4, 9:00 PM
Where: Staples Center
TV: ABC
Local Radio: 580 AM


SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1 - Thu Jun 4 - Orlando @ Los Angeles, 9:00 PM (ABC)
Game 2 - Sun Jun 7 - Orlando @ Los Angeles, 8:00 PM (ABC)
Game 3 - Tue Jun 9 - Los Angeles @ Orlando, 9:00 PM (ABC)
Game 4 - Thu Jun 11 - Los Angeles @ Orlando, 9:00 PM (ABC)
Game 5 - Sun Jun 14 - Los Angeles @ Orlando, 8:00 PM (ABC) if necessary
Game 6 - Tue Jun 16 - Orlando @ Los Angeles, 9:00 PM (ABC) if necessary
Game 7 - Thu Jun 18 - Orlando @ Los Angeles, 9:00 PM (ABC) if necessary

And before anyone asks, I didn't make that awesome Magic picture above. I found it in a game thread over at RealCavsFans.com.

All I did was resize it, add the Finals graphic above it, and put a border around it. :r

Cool game thread MM!

A must win game. I'm a firm believer that whoever wins game one has a higher percentage of winning the series. Go Magic!

Dwight Howard - ESPN's Sunday Conversation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAhxr6EF5x0...player_embedded

Go for a split in LA, then hold your ground at home.

Trevor Ariza is going to be a handful - he is going to be their key to breaking down our defense. We might have a JJ sighting in this series!

Game 1 baby, let's jump on them right away like we did Cleveland and Boston!!!

If Orlando wins game one and two, does their percentage increase again? ;)
J/K

It would just mean the Lakers are in deep, deep, trouble. Good thing we did not host game one first.

I know what you are trying to say. But at this stage we need to have a winner mentality. We need to take home court advantage away from the Lakers.

i expect JJ to play this series whenever vujacic comes in. i think he'll be able to keep up w/ him not to mention vujacic has shot the ball horribly all year.

As long as he is making his 3's, he will see some action in the Finals.

Just like in the Cavs series, I would be thrilled with a split in the first two games. Getting a split in the Finals is actually even bigger than any other series because of the 2-3-2 format.

It's a huge plus for us, but we and our team have to take this series much seriously and make wise decisions on how it's going to work out. Like I said, I really don't care of taking Game one and two on our home floor, let the Lakers have it and our pressure is not existent because now we play on the Laker's home floor and if we get a split, we're good to go.

i will say we cant come out on the road w/ these bad starts. kobe isnt lebron, i think he will make sure to get on his team and bury us if we get down big early like we did in cleveland.

I don't like the 2-3-2 because I think it's really hard to win the 3 straight at home, it's hard to beat any team 3 straight at any point. I like it split up how it is in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

we already no that no lead is safe....gotta put on the hard hats and fight to keep these leads.....this is kobe not lebron

Yeah I hate the 2-3-2 as well because it is a huge advantage for the home team. We basically have to win in Staples twice, but I think we can do it.

But if we win this in four or five and win this NBA championship, would it be the greatest upset in NBA history??? :r

we swept the regular season series with the lakers, would that really be an upset?

The biggest upset was when Orlando eliminated the Cavs :rolleyes:

I think we lose both in LA, win all 3 in Orlando, and then win the first game back in LA. I know it's not a conventional prediction, but I have a strong gut feeling. It could be from Taco Bell, though.

I disagree. I think the 2-3-2 format favors the away team more. If we steal one of the first two games, we can finish the series without going back to LA. The point of the 2-2-1-1-1 format is to allow the team with the home court advantage to always be tied or ahead in the series. With the Finals format, if home court plays out, the team with home court advantage will be down 3-2 going into game 6. I don't agree with a format that puts the team with the better record in a 3-2 hole. I don't know about you guys, but I would love our chances if we had two games to finish off the series.

I understand why they use this format for the Finals, but I don't agree with it at all. These players fly on world class planes. It's really not that draining to sit on a private plane for several hours. Just give the teams two days off after flying and everything would be fine.

Game 1- W
Game 2- L
Game 3- W
Game 4- L
Game 5- W
Game 6- W

If we take one in L.A. we got this...but that will be SUPER hard.

I'm so happy with this team.

The Magic have opened a store at the Altamonte Mall for the finals.

I might have to go there honestly...

Yes that could happen, but beating a team 3 times in a row is extremely hard to do in the Finals. Yes we've been swept before and winning in 5 is possible, but I just feel that beating a Conference Champion 3 times in a row is extremely difficult.

If we were playing Cleveland, I would love the 2-3-2, but unfortunately we're playing a much better team. I fully expect us to win, but the Lakers are a definite step up.

I'll gladly sign up for that!

Of course it is an advantage for the home team. That's what you call "Homecourt Advantage". In all seriousness, I think our chances are really good no matter what format the Finals are. Keep the faith, homey! We got this. ;)

I hope Pietrus steps up against Kobe. MP probably played him a lot out west.

See, this is why I hate the Red Sox. Rafer is from Queens and has never played in Boston. Why would he be a Red Sox fan?

My respect went down about half a notch.

Yeah I think the Magic are a good enough road team to steal one in LA. Maybe 2

You're telling me? A kid Queens kid walking around with that! Makes me want to puke.

Doesn't look like a Red Sox hat to me.

I don't think it's a big deal. Some people just like team logos and colors.

IDK about this one because when fans of a particular team roots for an athlete, an athlete roots for another team that perceives as their rival to the team he/she is playing. Doesn't LeBron's Yankee hat remind you of?

I'll bet you he doesn't wear that hat when he goes home to Queens.

or a jersey for that matter. X.

If he was from Boston I could deal with it, even though I hate the Red Sox more then any other professional sports team. However he's a Queens cat, come on Skip!

Some people just wear all different teams, I guess for the style or the look. I've seen Skip interviewed with a Yankee hat on before if I'm not mistaken. I had a friend who owned a Red Sox and a Yankee hat, I just don't get it. The only teams I rep are mine....Jets, Yankees and Magic. You would NEVER catch me with any other team on a hat or jersey.