Potpuno zaslužena pobjeda Orlanda. Zaslužili su da uzmu seriju potpuno, pogotovo da dobiju ovu utakmicu večeras, fantastična igra. Boston se jednostavno previše oslanjao na Allena i Piercea, dok ni Perkins ni Davis ne mogu ništa značajno u reketu protiv Howarda.

Fantastična igra Turkoglua, šta je čovjek sve pogodio, nisam mogao vjerovati, kao i Lewis. Sve u svemu, Orlando bi mogao dostojno parirati Clevelandu, sasvim sigurno bolje nego što bi to Boston uradio, tačno ne vidim načina kako bi ovakav Boston uspio pobjediti Cleveland barem jednu utakmicu.

Iako sam navijao za Boston mislim da Orlando može pružiti još veći otpor Cavsima osim toga imaju 2-1 pozitivan omjer iz sezone, demolirali ih totalno u jednoj utakmici vodili i +40 što se na kraju otopilo, evo nešto o toj utakmici:

Never in LeBron James' entire basketball life could he recall being down by more than 40 points. Not in the NBA. Not in high school. Not even playing pickup basketball as a kid. The Orlando Magic gave him a first. Dwight Howard had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the Magic rode a strong second-half start to go ahead by 41 points and hand the Cleveland Cavaliers their most lopsided loss of the season with a 116-87 blowout Friday night. "It's embarrassing," James said.

Orlando pokazao da je bolja momčad i zasluženo su prošli, jako je bitno da Turkoglu odigra kao jučer ili nemora baš tako dobro ali da bude na nivou iz sezone on je u playoffu toplo-hladno, Alston odlično zamijeno Nelsona jučer on im isto treba, Lee je bolji od Reddicka ne znam šta on radi u petorci bolje da ulazi sa klupe i lansira trice.

Cavsi su favoriti mislim da će biti jako uzbudljiva serija tj. obje serije, Kobe i dalje pamti poniženje od strane Čonsija kada su ih Pistonsi demolirali u pet utakmica u finalu (njega i Paytona, Malona, Shaqa), Čonsi mvp finala of kors.

Mislim da se nameće finale Lakersi i Cavaliersi što je po mom mišljenju i najrealnije. No s druge strane nisam mogao ni sanjat da će ovaj trade Billupsa za Iversona toliko pozitivno donijeti Denveru. Jer ako se malo pogleda od toga trade-a Nuggetsi igraju vjerojatno kao nikad u povijesti svoje franšize, a Pistonsi su drastično oslabili. U Billupsu su Nuggetsi dobili upravo ono što im je kronično nedostajalo, a to je vrlo dobar košarkaš i nadasve odličan radnik koji će uvijek staviti momčad ispred svih svojih individualnih ciljeva. Tako da ne bi bilo nepravedno da i oni zaigraju u velikom finalu, ali nekako ne vjerujem da će uspjet proć Jezerčane. Ako ne ništa čeka nas jako uzbudljiva završnica NBA-a lige jer i Denver i Orlando su pokazali da nisu momčadi koje će tek tako okrenut guzicu protivniku, nego će izginit na terenu. 

moje prognoze su 4-3 za lakerse u ultra zanimljivoj seriji i 4-2 za cavse u malo manje zanimljivoj seriji

da makar denver može protiv cavsa igrati,pa da ih prođu

a čonsi će izyebat i fishera i farmara i browna,jer ako im je brooks radi problema,a i nije poseban šuter šta će im tek čonsi raditi...no lakersi imaju snagu u bynumu,gasolu i odomu...kobea naravno,ne računam

Lakersi-Nuggetsi domaćinska serija....na Lakerse u Staplesu čista jedinica, doma izvrsni, u gostima katastrofa......Denver doma izvrstan, u gostima nedovoljno dobar za Bryanta i ekipu

4-2-prolaz LA-a

puno zanimljivije u Clevelandu, nekako mi previsoka kvota na Magic-4.00 ...Orlando igra sve bolje i bolje, a nekako mi se čini da i Howard diže formu, u Bostonu su u gostima odigrali izvrsno, a i imaju pozitivan score protiv Cavsa ove sezone.... čisto sumnjam da će Cleveland tako lako pobijediti kako kaže kladionica 1.25

...ona mini svađica i nesporazum između Howarda i Van Gundya je donijela nekakakv pozitivan naboj u ekipi, vidjelo se to sinoć

...nekako sam skeptičan što se tiče Cavsa, znam da imaju rezultate i najbolji omjer lige, ali nekako mi se čini da u slučaju da im Lebron zakaže jednostavno ne mogu parirati ekipama ranga Orlanda, Lakersa, pa čak i Denvera...problem za protivnike Cavsa šta L.J. jednostavno briljira kroz sezonu, posebno playoff i definitivno je broj jedan u ligi ove godine, zasluženo MVP, ali opet...ako zakaže mislim da će imat velikih problema, nekako mi to djeluje presavršeno zasad, bumo vidili

These two teams are remarkably similar: Both feature several quick and supremely athletic players who can light up the scoreboard. Both ball clubs like to play up-tempo basketball. Both rely heavily on contributions from their respective benches. And the defenses of both teams are significantly overrated.

Why the Lakers should win

Knowing that the Nuggets are armed and dangerous, the Lakers will avoid sleepwalking through ball games. No more 20-point deficits in the first quarter. No more late lapses of concentration that will dissipate hard-won double-digit leads. No more questions about L.A.'s killer instinct.

Denver's defense received unmerited praise for so easily unsaddling the Mavericks. In truth, however, too many of the Mavs were slow, predictable and insufficiently athletic — like Erick Dampier, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry. So Denver's unexpected wing double-teams plagued the Mavs and created plenty of turnovers and poor shots.

But the Lakers' overall team speed, well-rehearsed trap-releases and savvy ball-reversals should trump the Nuggets' overloaded defenses and produce open shots and layups. Just remember how Phil Jackson's Bulls sliced up the same kind of defensive tactics employed by George Karl's Sonics in the 1996 NBA Finals.

Not that the current Lakers are nearly as good as the Jordanesque Bulls, but L.A. will certainly have answers for what still is Karl's favorite defensive tweak.

With Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom, the Lakers should be able to control their defensive glass and deny the put-backs and extra shots that Denver managed against Dallas. L.A. will also apply more pressure on their offensive glass than Denver has seen so far in the playoffs.

Chris Andersen's shot-menacing whereabouts will always be on L.A.'s radar. In fact, Andersen's propensity to track the ball will be used to the Lakers' advantage by suckering him out of position and then passing the ball to an open big behind him.

Odom and Gasol can successfully attack Kenyon Martin's overly-aggressive defense, especially in L.A. Expect K-Mart to continually be in early foul trouble on the road.

Chauncey Billups' excellent man-to-man defense shouldn't bother Derek Fisher since the Lakers' point guards usually get their shots within the context of the triangle offense and are hardly ever put into iso situations.

Dahntay Jones will try to pressure Kobe Bryant but will also be tagged with early fouls. Too bad for Denver that Jones is their only player who has any chance of making life difficult for Kobe. (Kobe will utterly destroy Melo's improved but still inadequate speed-defense!) Indeed, watch Kobe repeatedly get into the paint and make good things happen for the Lakers.

Kobe's been there, done that and until proven otherwise, remains on a level of excellence that 'Melo has yet to reach.

Gasol and Bynum can both run with Nene, who will nevertheless stubbornly force at least five shots per game.

The Lakers will avoid quick shots and work the triangle for at least 20 seconds whenever they're forced to play half-court basketball. Since Denver plays defense in the starting blocks, they'll be much too eager to get out and go for them to hunker down and defend for that long.

Trevor Ariza's quickness should limit Carmelo Anthony's catches and also challenge his every dribble. For a different look, Odom's length will force 'Melo to pull in his game and also to force some shots.

The Lakers' defensive transition will likely limit the damage Denver can inflict on the run. Plus, the Lakers will undoubtedly tag the Nuggets' most proficient perimeter shooters in early offense situations.

Look for L.A.'s defenders to aggressively close out Denver's long-range bombers, to discourage 3-point shots and force them to drive the ball into the bosom of the Lakers' long-armed defense.

The Lakers' defensive scheme is much more coordinated than Denver's.

Overall, the Lakers' most significant advantage is their pressure and playoff experience.

THE LAKERS SHOULD WIN IN 7.

Why the Nuggets could win

'Melo will be able to post Ariza for profit. When their roles are switched, pressuring Ariza's handle will create turnovers galore.

On both ends of the game, Nene can out-trick Bynum and overpower Gasol. On defense, look for Nene to root Gasol out of his favorite low-post spot near the left box. Also, Gasol can be effectively two-timed once he puts the ball on the floor.

Billups is too strong for Fisher to contain — either on the drive or in the low post.

High brush-screens in early offense will free up Denver's prime-time shooters.

The Nuggets will take full advantage of the Lakers' weak screen-and-roll defense. Since Fisher's thick body makes it difficult for him to navigate solid screens, the Nuggets will employ high screen-and-rolls and screen-and-fades that involve Billups and Anthony.

Doubling Kobe with a big like Martin will cut down his vision. And if Kobe's release passes to Gasol can be anticipated, the Lakers' offense will be totally jammed up.

By banging his defender and then executing a quick reverse-spin, Nene will have a field day against either Gasol or Bynum.

Since the Lakers' defense is best against isolations, the Nuggets will emphasize rapid ball- and player-movement and limit their one-on-one play.

Because Denver's offense is slightly more explosive, they can run off a dozen points in a heartbeat while Jackson sits on his hands. In fact, the kinetic dynamism of Denver's offense could force the Lakers to slow the game down to a pace that really doesn't suit them.

Denver's bench — J.R. Smith, Anthony Carter and Chris Andersen — will wreak much more destruction than the likes of Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown and Sasha Vujacic.

Indeed, Vujacic's itchy defense is incredibly susceptible to his being back-doored.

And Walton's floor-bound defense can be relentlessly attacked as well.

To prevent the Lakers from jumping off to a good start, Denver must take only good shots, make careful passes and play solid defense.

But here's the main reason why Denver has a legitimate shot at winning the series: In the past, Kobe has tended to abandon any semblance of discipline when playing against Denver. Even though they may not be routinely matched up against each other, Kobe has a history of getting into a personalized tit-for-tat and shot-for-shot competition with 'Melo. The more points Anthony scores, the more Kobe wants to score and the more he aborts the delicate timing of the triangle offense.

If Dahntay Jones' body-up defensive tactics can aggravate Kobe to any degree, then this history is more likely to be repeated. The same for wing-doublings and an occasional confrontation by K-Mart's belligerent defense.

When/if Kobe does go off, he's certainly capable of scoring 40-plus points and winning a game single-handedly. Far more likely, however, is the probability of his teammates getting disgusted and losing their desire to bust their butts on offense and on defense.

On the court as well as off the court, discipline, patience and hard work are the elements that Denver will need to advance.

The only way they can gain and maintain this necessary focus is to totally avoid being caught up in the seductive Hollywood hoopla.

THE NUGGETS COULD WIN IN 7.

...ne vjerujem da Denver može dobiti sedmu utakmicu, oni ako dobe ovu seriju može biti jedino u 6, nikako u 7...