3. 2008 WEST CHAMP LA LAKERS v. 14. 2009 NW CHAMP DENVER NUGGETS
Lakers: 57-25, 1st Pac Div, 3rd Off/5th Def
d. Nuggets West 1st Rnd 4-0
d. Jazz West Semis 4-2
d. Spurs West Finals 4-1
Lost NBA Finals Celtics 4-2
#47 overall seed
Coach: Phil Jackson, Asst Kurt Rambis, Brian Shaw, GM Mitch Kupchak
Starters
C Andrew Bynum 20 13.1 PPG 22.6 PER 4.8 WS
F Pau Gasol 27 18.8 24 4.6
F Lamar Odom 28-R Island 14.2 16.9 9.7
G Derek Fisher 33-L Rock 11.7 13.8 5.7
G Kobe Bryant 29 28.3 24.2 13.8
Rotation Reserves
C Ronny Turiaf 25-Gonzaga 6.6 15 4.2
F Vladimir Radmanovic 27 8.4 12.6 3.5
F Luke Walton 27-Arizona 7.2 12.3 3.2
G Jordan Farmar 21-UCLA 9.1 15.4 3.9
G Sasha Vujacic 23 8.8 15.1 3.6
Leaders Kobe 2nd PPG, 5th Stls, 4th WS, 3rd VORP
Odom 5th Def Reb
The 2008 Lakers are top 5 in offense and defense and are the 3rd seeds in the region; Kobe's 29, over 20 in PER and Win Shares; 20 year old Bynum, 27 year old Gasol also cross 20 PER. Lakers going big - with those two and Odom all in the starting lineup.
Nuggets: 54-28, 1st NW Div, 7th Off/8th Def
d. Hornets West 1st Rnd 4-1
d. Mavs West Semis 4-1
Lost Lakers West Finals 4-2
#210 overall seed
Coach: George Karl, Asst: Stacey Augmon, Adrian Dantley
Starters
C Nene 26 14.6 PPG 18.8 PER 9.3 WS
F Chris Andersen 30-Blinn 6.4 18.1 5.4
F Carmello Anthony 24-Syracuse 22.8 19 5
G Chauncey Billups 32-Colorado 17.9 18.8 9.9
G JR Smith 23 15.2 16.8 5.8
Rotation Reserves
C Kenyon Martin 31-Cincinnati 11.7 13.6 4
F Renaldo Balkman 24-S Carolina 5 16.8 2.6
F Linas Kleiza 24-Missouri 9.9 13.2 3.6
G Allen Iverson 33-Georgetown 18.7 15.2 .2
G Dahntay Jones 28-Duke 5.4 9 2
Leaders: Andersen 2nd Blocks, 2nd Blocks/Gm
Nene 2nd FG%, 2nd Eff FG%, 1st TS%
Billups 4th FT%
Denver's top 8 in both offense and defense; they're a year ahead of LA and would lose in the playoffs to that future Lakers team. No one hits either 20 PER or double digit WS; 33 year old Iverson played in just a few games, but he's Allen Iverson, so he makes the rotation for a handful of minutes.
Matchup
C Push
F Gasol (Lakers)
F Anthony (Nuggets)
G Billups (Nuggets)
G Kobe (Lakers)
Bench: Nuggets
Game 1
1 Qtr
9 Lakers 4 Nuggets 3
Lakers Gasol, Gasol
Nuggets Nene(1) Andersen
6 Lakers 12 Nuggets 12
Lakers Fisher, Kobe, Bynum, Kobe
Nuggets Anthony, Nene, Smith(3) Anthony
Lakers/Nuggets underway.
3 Lakers 19 Nuggets 17
Lakers Bynum, Gasol, Farmar(3)
Nuggets Billups, Smith(3)
1 q Score Nuggets 24 Lakers 23
Lakers Kobe(3) Turiaf(1)
Nuggets Iverson, Kleiza, Nene
Good start to this series, Kobe's got 7.
2 Qtr
9 Nuggets 30 Lakers 28
Lakers Radmanovic(3) Farmar
Nuggets Billups(3) Jones(3)
6 Nuggets 41 Lakers 39
Lakers Kobe, Fisher, Bynum(3) Farmar, Bynum
Nuggets Nene, Billups, Martin, Andersen, Anthony(3)
Buckets, buckets, buckets.
3 Lakers 46 Nuggets 45
Lakers Kobe(3) Odom, Kobe
Nuggets Anthony, Martin
Half Score Lakers 58 Nuggets 47
Lakers Farmar, Odom, Odom, Kobe(3) Kobe(3)
Nuggets Nene
Kobe scores 11 in the last 8 minutes of the half.
3 Qtr
9 Lakers 66 Nuggets 56
Lakers Gasol, Bynum, Bynum, Kobe
Nuggets Anthony, Andersen, Nene(3) Nene
6 Lakers 66 Nuggets 60
Lakers
Nuggets Balkman, Balkman
Gasol picks up his 4th, Nuggets close the gap.
3 Lakers 76 Nuggets 64
Lakers Fisher(3) Gasol, Kobe, Fisher(3)
Nuggets Andersen(3) Nene(1)
3 q Score Lakers 84 Nuggets 69
Lakers Gasol, Odom, Gasol, Bynum
Nuggets Andersen, Billups(3)
Couple of 3s by DFish probably ends this one.
4 Qtr
9 Lakers 91 Nuggets 77
Lakers Kobe, Odom(3) Odom
Nuggets Martin, Martin, Anthony, Andersen
6 Lakers 99 Nuggets 80
Lakers Odom, Vujacic, Vujacic, Fisher
Nuggets Iverson, Anthony(1)
3 Lakers 106 Nuggets 86
Lakers Odom(3) Vujacic, Newble
Nuggets Andersen, Nene, Andersen
Final Score Lakers 118 Nuggets 87
Lakers Ariza, Ariza, Mihm, Evans(3) Newble(3)
Nuggets Andersen(1)
Lakers outscore Denver by 16 in the 4th and pull away.
Kobe: 26 pts/6 boards-Player of the Game
Odom: 18 pts/6 boards/6 assists
Gasol: 14 pts/9 boards
Bynum: 15 pts/7 boards
Fisher 12 pts
Andersen: 18 pts/6 boards/4 blocks
Nene: 17 pts/8 boards
Anthony: 14 pts/5 boards
Billips: 10 pts/7 assists
Game 2
1 Qtr
9 Nuggets 7 Lakers 6
Lakers Fisher, Odom, Gasol
Nuggets Nene(3) Smith, Anthony
6 Lakers 10 Nuggets 7
Lakers Fisher, Bynum
Nuggets
Defense first in game 2.
3 Lakers 18 Nuggets 12
Lakers Gasol, Kobe(3) Radmanovic(3)
Nuggets Andersen(3) Smith
1 q Score Lakers 19 Nuggets 16
Lakers Radmanovic(1)
Nuggets Jones, Balkman
Strong defensive effort continues.
2 Qtr
9 Lakers 23 Nuggets 19
Lakers Gasol, Farmar
Nuggets Martin(3)
6 Lakers 29 Nuggets 22
Lakers Fisher(3) Fisher(3)
Nuggets Smith(3)
DFish hits a couple triples and this might be about to get away.
3 Lakers 34 Nuggets 32
Lakers Farmar(3) Walton
Nuggets Billups(3) Billups, Smith(3) Martin
Half Score Nuggets 43 Lakers 43
Lakers Kobe
Nuggets Smith, Smith, Nene, Anthony, Andersen(3)
It's Denver that goes on the run; 7 for JR Smith to close the half; still a defensive game.
3 Qtr
9 Nuggets 51 Lakers 43
Lakers Kobe, Kobe(3) Farmar
Nuggets Anthony(3) Iverson(1) Iverson, Iverson
6 Nuggets 59 Lakers 50
Lakers Bryant(3) Fisher, Farmar
Nuggets Martin(1) Nene, Martin, Andersen(3)
AI scores 5 straight for Denver and they lead by 9.
3 Nuggets 66 Lakers 60
Lakers Turiaf, Farmar(3) Turiaf, Odom(3)
Nuggets Andersen, Smith(3) Billups
3 q Score Nuggets 76 Lakers 69
Lakers Kobe(3) Kobe, Walton, Bynum
Nuggets Anthony, Balkman, Martin, Anthony, Balkman
12 mintues left - Nuggets trying to force game 3.
4 Qtr
9 Nuggets 82 Lakers 73
Lakers Odom, Gasol
Nuggets Billups, Anthony, Nene
6 Nuggets 91 Lakers 77
Lakers Gasol, Bynum
Nuggets Smith(3) Billups, Billups, Billups
Game 2 is Denver's, Billups with 8 to start the 4th.
3 Nuggets 98 Lakers 81
Lakers Odom, Bynum
Nuggets Nene, Balkman(1) Nene, Smith
Final Score Nuggets 107 Lakers 86
Lakers Kobe, Cook(3)
Nuggets Smith, Samb(3) Carter, Weems
Denver matches LAs game one blowout with one of its own and we head to the showdown.
Smith: 24 pts/5 boards-Player of the Game
Anthony: 13 pts/11 boards/5 assists
Andersen: 11 pts/12 boards/5 blocks
Nene: 13 pts/6 boards
Billups: 15 pts/8 assists
Martin: 10 pts/7 boards
Kobe: 20 pts/10 assists/5 boards
Gasol: 10 pts/6 boards/5 assists
Fisher: 12 pts
Odom: 9 pts/14 boards
Farmar: 12 pts/5 assists
Game 3
1 Qtr
9 Lakers 6 Nuggets 2
Lakers Odom, Bynum, Kobe
Nuggets Andersen
6 Lakers 16 Nuggets 4
Lakers Kobe, Fisher, Bryant, Bynum, Gasol
Nuggets Smith
Not the start Denver wanted as the LA defense locks them down.
3 Lakers 23 Nuggets 13
Lakers Fisher, Farmar, Farmar(3)
Nuggets Anthony, Balkman, Billups, Balkman(3)
1 q Score Lakers 25 Nuggets 17
Lakers Radmanovic
Nuggets Kleiza, Kleiza
Denver gets a little closer as the first wraps.
2 Qtr
9 Lakers 31 Nuggets 19
Lakers Turiaf, Turiaf, Farmar
Nuggets Martin
6 Lakers 34 Nuggets 23
Lakers Fisher(3)
Nuggets Nene, Anthony
Defense, defense, defense here in game 3. Winner advances..
3 Lakers 43 Nuggets 29
Lakers Odom(3) Kobe, Bynum, Kobe
Nuggets Anthony(3) Martin(3)
Half Score Lakers 52 Nuggets 40
Lakers Kobe(3) Odom, Kobe, Bynum
Nuggets Anthony, Billups, Iverson, Iverson, Anthony(3)
Carmello goes for 8 as the half ends, Lakers still up a dozen.
3 Qtr
9 Lakers 61 Nuggets 46
Lakers Fisher, Odom, Gasol, Farmar(3)
Nuggets Smith, Smith, Martin
6 Lakers 64 Nuggets 53
Lakers Farmar, Bynum(1)
Nuggets Andersen, Iverson(3) Nene
Denver warming up a little, still a double digit deficit.
3 Lakers 69 Nuggets 63
Lakers Gasol, Odom(3)
Nuggets Anthony(3) Iverson, Smith(1) Smith, Billups
3 q Score Lakers 74 Nuggets 66
Lakers Kobe, Bynum(3)
Nuggets Smith, Nene(1)
Denver gets as close as 5 - they're within shouting distance.
4 Qtr
9 Lakers 84 Nuggets 70
Lakers Gasol(1) Bynum, Gasol(3) Gasol, Gasol
Nuggets Billups, Andersen
6 Lakers 87 Nuggets 76
Lakers Fisher, Gasol(1)
Nuggets Nene, Andersen, Martin
10 for Pau as the 4th opens.
3 Lakers 91 Nuggets 81
Lakers Odom, Odom
Nuggets Balkman, Anthony, Anthony
Final Score Lakers 99 Nuggets 94
Lakers Kobe(3) Kobe(1) Kobe, Kobe
Nuggets Anthony, Smith(3) Billups, Smith, Billups
Denver got as close as 4 - but Kobe hits foul shots down the stretch and it's over. 21/10 for Carmello in the loss.
Kobe: 25 pts/5 boards/4 steals- Player of the Game
Odom: 16 pts/17 boards/5 assists/4 steals
Gasol: 15 pts/6 boards
Bynum: 14 pts/16 boards/4 blocks
Fisher: 11 pts
Farmar: 12 pts
ALL REGION TEAM
C Robinson ('98 Spurs-1 PotG)
F Bird ('82 Celtics-2 PotG
F Issel ('72 Colonels-1 PotG)
G Kobe ('08 Lakers-2 PotG)
G Magic ('87 Lakers-1 PotG)
6. 2009 EAST CHAMP ORLANDO MAGIC v. 11. 2000 SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Magic: 59-23, 1st SE Div, 11th Off/1st Def
d. Sixers East 1st Rnd 4-2
d. Celtics East Semis 4-3
d. Cavs East Finals 4-2
Lost Lakers NBA Finals 4-1
#82 overall seed
Coach: Stan Van Gundy, Asst Patrick Ewing
Starters
C Dwight Howard 23 20.6 PPG 25.4 PER 13.8 WS
F Marcin Gortat 24 3.8 17 3.3
F Rashard Lewis 29 17.7 16.8 9.5
G Jameer Nelson 26-St Joes 16.7 20.6 6
G Hedo Turkoglu 29 16.8 14.8 7.3
Rotation Reserves
C Tony Battie 32-T Tech 4.8 11.9 2.8
F Mickael Pietrus 26 9.4 11.6 3
F Courtney Lee 23-W Kentucky 8.4 10.4 4.4
G Anthony Johnson 34-Charleston 5.3 10.3 2.8
G Rafer Alston 32-Fresno St 12 15.6 2.4
Leaders Howard 1st Reb, 1st Reb/Gm, 1st Blocks, 1st Blocks/Gm, 4th FG%, 4th PER, 5th WS, 3rd WS/48, 5th Def +/-, 1st Def Rtng, 2nd Reb%, 2nd Block %
Nelson 2nd 3 Pt %
The best defense in 2009 belonged to the Magic, led by 23 year old Dwight Howard, top 5 in the league in Win Shares, WS/48 and PER. 26 year old Jameer Nelson also hits 20 PER
Spurs: 53-29, 2nd MW Div, 12th Off/2nd Def
Lost Suns West 1st Rnd 3-1
#175 overall seed
Coach: Gregg Popovich, Asst Mike Budenholzer
Starters
C David Robinson 34-Navy 17.8 PPG 24.6 PER 12.7 WS
F Tim Duncan 23-Wake 23.2 24.8 13
F Antonio Daniels 24-BGSU 6.2 15.2 3.6
G Terry Porter 36-UW Stevens Pt 9.4 16.6 5.6
G Avery Johnson 34-Southern 11.2 14.8 6.3
Rotation Reserves
C Samaki Walker 23-Louisville 5.1 13.1 2
F Malik Rose 25-Drexel 6.7 13.2 3.4
F Sean Elliott 31-Arizona 6 8.8 .5
G Steve Kerr 34-Arizona 2.8 10.6 .6
G Mario Elie 36-AIC 7.5 10.4 4.6
Leaders Duncan 4th Reb, 3rd Reb/Gm, 4th PER, 4th WS, 3rd Def Rtng
Robinson 5th Blocks, 5th PER, 2nd Def WS, 3rd WS/48, 3rd Def+/-, 1st Def Rtng
Porter 5th TS%
Similar profiles for these clubs; middling offense, high level defense, the Spurs were #2 in defense in 2000. You know who leads them - Duncan's 23 and Robinson's 34.
Matchup:
C Howard (Magic)
F Duncan (Spurs)
F Lewis (Magic)
G Nelson (Magic)
G Turkoglu (Magic)
Bench: Magic
Game 1
1 Qtr
9 Magic 6 Spurs 6
Magic Gortat, Nelson, Howard
Spurs Robinson, Duncan, Daniels
6 Magic 15 Spurs 10
Magic Howard, Turkoglu, Nelson(3) Lewis
Spurs Johnson, Daniels
You'd expect a defense first series; winner meets LA.
3 Magic 21 Spurs 14
Magic Howard, Turkoglu, Gortat
Spurs Spencer, Duncan
1 q Score Magic 28 Spurs 18
Magic Nelson(3) Nelson, Battie
Spurs Kersey, Spencer
10 for Jameer Nelson, Magic up.
2 Qtr
9 Magic 30 Spurs 21
Magic Johnson
Spurs Johnson(1) Rose
6 Magic 35 Spurs 25
Magic Johnson(3) Battie
Spurs Daniels, Robinson
You want defense? Welcome to this series.
3 Magic 42 Spurs 34
Magic Battie, Alson, Lee(3)
Spurs Porter(3) Robinson, Elie, Rose
Half Score Magic 46 Spurs 41
Magic Howard, Alston
Spurs Elie(3) Robinson, Johnson
Duncan doesn't score in the second quarter, but the Spurs cut the deficit in half.
3 Qtr
9 Magic 55 Spurs 45
Magic Howard, Howard, Nelson(3) Howard
Spurs Robinson, Daniels
6 Magic 61 Spurs 45
Magic Nelson, Howard, Lewis
Spurs
8 for Dwight Howard to open the half as the Magic pull away.
3 Magic 70 Spurs 53
Magic Howard, Lewis(3) Nelson, Nelson
Spurs Johnson, Duncan, Duncan, Robinson
3 q Score Magic 77 Spurs 58
Magic Nelson, Nelson(3) Nelson
Spurs Robinson, Elliott
Jameer Nelson scores the last 11 Magic points; the Spurs getting blown out.
4 Qtr
9 Magic 82 Spurs 60
Magic Howard(3) Howard
Spurs Porter(3)
6 Magic 87 Spurs 65
Magic Gortat, Lewis(3)
Spurs Robinson, Kerr(3)
3 Magic 92 Spurs 74
Magic Turkoglu, Pietrus(3)
Spurs Duncan, Elie, Dial, Jackson(3)
Final Score Magic 96 Spurs 86
Magic Cook(3) Foyle(1)
Spurs Jackson(3) Jackson(3) Kersey(3) Jackson(3)
Easy one for the Magic, just this close with the Jaren Jackson garbage time triples.
Howard: 23 pts/12 boards - Player of the Game
Nelson: 26 pts/6 assists
Lewis: 10 pts
Gortat: 6 pts/17 boards
Robinson: 16 pts/11 boards
Duncan: 10 pts/12 boards
Jackson: 12 pts
Game 2
1 Qtr
9 Magic 10 Spurs 4
Magic Lewis, Gortat, Turkoglu, Howard, Lewis
Spurs Porter, Johnson
6 Magic 15 Spurs 10
Magic Nelson, Turkoglu(3)
Spurs Robinson, Duncan(3)
The Spurs couldn't solve Orlando's defense in game one; same early here.
3 Magic 20 Spurs 13
Magic Gortat, Turkoglu, Howard(1)
Spurs Robinson(1) Daniels
1 q Score Magic 26 Spurs 19
Magic Pietrus, Pietrus, Alston
Spurs Elie, Duncan, Elliott
Sure looks like it's happening again; Orlando defense the story here.
2 Qtr
9 Magic 33 Spurs 27
Magic Johnson(3) Howard, Battie
Spurs Walker, Porter(3) Elie(3)
6 Magic 38 Spurs 29
Magic Howard(3) Turkoglu
Spurs Duncan
If the Spurs have the ability to make a run, they haven't shown it yet.
3 Magic 48 Spurs 32
Magic Lewis, Howard, Gortat(3) Howard(3)
Spurs Johnson, Robinson(1)
Half Score Magic 52 Spurs 35
Magic Lee, Nelson
Spurs Porter(1) Rose
This series is over; Orlando will face LA.
3 Qtr
9 Magic 63 Spurs 49
Magic Turkoglu(3) Lewis, Alston, Lewis, Howard
Spurs Kerr(3), Kerr(3) Rose, Robinson, Duncan, Duncan
6 Magic 67 Spurs 56
Magic Howard, Turkoglu
Spurs Robinson, Duncan, Duncan(3)
Duncan has his best stretch, 9 pts to open the quarter.
3 Magic 74 Spurs 63
Magic Lewis, Lewis, Nelson(3)
Spurs Robinson(3) Robinson, Robinson
3 q Score Spurs 77 Magic 74
Magic
Spurs Daniels (3) Elie, Porter, Johnson(1) Robinson, Duncan
There's the run - 12-0 Spurs sprint to finish the quarter and San Antonio takes the lead.
4 Qtr
9 Magic 82 Spurs 81
Magic Howard, Howard, Howard, Battie
Spurs Daniels, Johnson
6 Magic 88 Spurs 81
Magic Lewis, Turkoglu, Howard
Spurs
8 for Howard to open the 4th as Orlando re-asserts.
3 Magic 92 Spurs 85
Magic Howard, Nelson
Spurs Duncan, Duncan
Final Score Magic 99 Spurs 88
Magic Lewis(1) Turkoglu, Johnson, Howard
Spurs Duncan(1) Daniels
Orlando locks down the 4th quarter and they move on. 23/10 for Duncan
Howard: 29 pts/12 boards/4 blocks - Player of the Game
Lewis: 17 pts/10 boards/6 assists
Turkoglu: 18 pts/5 assists
ALL REGION TEAM
C Howard ('09 Magic-2 PotG)
F Bird ('82 Celtics-2 PotG
F Issel ('72 Colonels-1 PotG)
G Kobe ('08 Lakers-2 PotG)
G Magic ('87 Lakers-1 PotG)
