Former NBA All-Star Otis Birdsong, talks Finals

Game three of the NBA Finals will take place tonight in Orlando with the Magic down 0-2 to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Fortunately for the magic, they're home where they were 32-9 during the regular season. Unfortunately for the Magic, the Lakers have history on their side...when the home team wins the first two games of an NBA Finals, that team goes on to win the series over 90% of the time. The Magic could throw a wrench in the percentages. However, they will need to go into their bag of tricks and work a little MAGIC!

There will be several stars in attendance tonight at the game and one of those will be a former NBA All-Star guard, Otis Birdsong, who played 12 years with 3 teams in the league and shot over 50% from the field for his career. He was a consensus All-American at the University of Houston and the second player taken in the 1977 NBA draft. BTW...Otis is also a Florida native.

My first question to Otis was---who is he picking to win it (the NBA Championsip)? His response was---"Chuckle"---"The Magic"! And then he gets serious and says "the L.A. Lakers in six games." I wanted to know why he picked 6. "Because I think the Magic will win 2 games at home."

The Magic had every opportunity to win the game at the end especially with the play call for Courtney Lee. It was a designed lob with several screens set for him to get to the basket. I asked Otis if he thought the rookie Lee was the right guy and was that the wrong play call? "

"That was a great call---he just missed the layup. You know, when he caught the ball---it's a great example for young kids---if he had tried to lay the ball in, (the basket), with his left hand it probably would have been an easier shot. He was on the left side. He was up in the air. He probably could have used his left hand. But, he just missed the layup. He, (Lee), probably got too excited---caught up in the moment and just layed it up a tad too hard."

"He, (Lee), missed a golden opportunity because Kobe---even though he had 29 points, he wasn't "Kobe". He had 7 or 8 turnovers and I don't think the Lakers played that well. They gave up too many wide open shots. Rashard Lewis had too many open looks. Turkulou had too many open looks. J.J. Reddick was 1 for 9. But, he had a lot of wide open looks. So, the Lakers are very fortunate to have won that game."

Birdsong added more. "If the Magic think that by just going home is gonna be the answer to all their problems, they are sadly mistaken because Denver thought the same thing. When the series was 3-2. I guess they figured that just by going home, they would win that game and the Lakers went out and handed it to 'em. So, this won't be an easy game for Orlando Tuesday. Kobe is two games from a title and you'd better believe he's gonna bring it Tuesday night."

I asked Birdsong if he thought this is the same team that beat Cleveland. "They're the same team. But, it's about matchups. They had the advantage on several fronts."

Birdsong talked in depth about the mis-matches between Cleveland and Orlando. But, those were pretty obvious. So, we won't mention them all in this article since that series is over. However, Birdsong did lend this view about that series.

"They just had too many matchup problems. They didn't get anything inside. LaBron was the only force inside for Cleveland. So, now that has changed. L.A. gets a lot of points in the paint. Kobe gets points in the paint. Gasol gets points in the paint. Odom gets points in the paint. Even Bynam, when he's in there, he gets a few points in the paint. So, the roles have reversed. It's tough now. L.A. has all the matchup advantages."

Those are the reasons why the Lakers were picked by the pundits at the start of the season to win the NBA Championship---matchup advantages! Birdsong agrees.

"No doubt. And even though Cleveland had the best record in the league, L.A. clearly has the best talent---and with those three bigs and Kobe Bryant, you have to be favored---and of course, with Phil Jackson---the legendary coach."

I asked Otis if he thought Orlando had been considered a possible contender for the title at the start of the season. "Not at the beginning of the season. But, the way they played throughout the season. I mean, I kept telling people Orlando has a good team---those kids can play. Even though Rafer Austin and Johnson have done great jobs it would have been interesting to see with Jameer Nelson at 100%. But, there were no guarantee with Jameer Nelson in there that they, (the Magic), would have gotten this far because he is a scoring point guard. Rafer basically looks to shoot but he's wide open. Jameer would try and create his own shot and that's why he led the Magic in scoring. He was their leader in scoring when he got hurt." (Back in February)

Rafer Ausin in my mind is a better fit for the Magic team than Nelson. I sought Birdsong's opinion. "The way they had played in the playoffs---for that particular style---they were a better team. But, when Jameer Nelson is 100 % healthy, the Magic are a tougher to defend because he creates too many problems. He's so quick---he can shoot the "3"---put it on the floor. But, his problem is he has to learn to get everybody else involved first." Birdsong went on to explain that when Jameer is getting his, no one else is getting theirs.

That response led me to ask Birdsong if he thought Van Gundy should have started Nelson versus Austin at the point for the first game of the finals. "No! He did the right thing in going with Rafer. I think he played Jameer too many minutes the first game. I mean, the kid played the whole second quarter.

"When, (L.A.'s Andrew), Bynum came back, Phil Jackson was "spoon-feeding" him. He played him 5 or 6 minutes and sat him down---he played 5 or 6 minutes (more) and sat him down. You can't just throw a kid to the fire and let him play the whole quarter. Rarely do starters who've been playing all year play the whole quarter."

Now---to the really big question---what about the chemistry? Doesn't the switch at point guard, Rafer and Jameer), hurt the chemistry of the team? Ahhh, no doubt. The way Rafer was playing, and Johnson off the bench, who's a veteran very good defensive player---provided toughness. I don't care what they say---that affects the chemistry."

Birdsong experienced the same situation as the 2-guard while with the Kansas City Kings facing the Rockets in the '81 Western Conference Finals. Phil Ford had eye surgery at the end of the regular seaon and missed the first two series of the playoffs---Phoenix and Portland. Ernie Grunfeld, who Otis describes as slow was the backup point and the Kings were winning because their style was "possession" basketball which was the style that got them to the Western Conference finals. Grunfeld got the Kings past the first two rounds.

However, the late, (Head Coach), Cotton Fitzsimmons decided to insert Phil Ford back in the starting lineup, who was not 100%, which Birdsong stated disrupted their rotation, and their confidence. The Rockets would defeat Birdsong and the Kings 4 games to 1. The Rockets would go on to face Boston in the NBA Finals.

Hence, Birdsong has some idea of what Rafer is feeling. "The way he's shooting, to me, whether he admits it or not, I think he has put pressure on himself to play well because he doesn't know how long he's going to be in there and if he's not performing at a high level he' looking over his shoulder thinking the coach is gonna pull me and put in Jameer."

"But, as far as a "team", I don't think their confidence is shaken at all. Like they, (the Magic) said, the Lakers just held serve."

It'll be up to the Magic to hold serve beginning Tuesday night. If the Magic win Tuesday, we have a series. If not, Kobe and the Lakers will add another championship banner to the rafters.

The Orlando Magic Will Want This One Back!

If Courtney Lee makes the layup, the series is tied at a game apiece. He had just missed a point-blank layup earlier with a little more than 20 ticks left in regulation. First of all, one would have expected Turkoglu or Lewis to have the ball in the last few seconds of what could have been a series deciding game.

But once the shot clock dipped to 8 seconds and ticking, Courtney Lee's options ran thin since every teammate was defended by a Laker. Lee attempted a high percentage shot by creating a path to the basket for a layup. But, he missed...time out Lakers. There's still about 9 seconds remaining and the game tied at 88.

Of course, the play to win game two is for Kobe who had every intention of going straight to the basket for a layup or attempt to draw the foul. But, the Magic made a great defensive play...specifically Hedo Turkoglu who Kobe flat out beat down the lane on his way to the basket.

But, Turkoglu stayed with the play and blocked Kobe's shot from behind. The ball trickled out of bounds off Kobe's leg and it was initially believed that time had run out with the game going into overtime tied at 88. However, after a check of the clock by the refs, .06 of a second was awarded, so to speak, to the Magic for an attempt to tie the series at a game a piece.

The Magic called a time out and Van Gundy gave his guys a play. The Magic had .06 of a second to win this game and head back to Orlando having won a split. After great defense by the Lakers prevented the Magic from an inbounds pass on the first try, the Magic used a second time out. Van Gundy reset the play and it's now or never for Orlando. The play they call is a lob for Courtney Lee...a play he says he runs all the time in practice with total precision.

The Magic run the play to perfection setting perfect screens, getting a perfect pass to Lee at the basket........................and he misses the layup...a hard bounce off the glass......much too hard. Closest defender to him is Pao Gasol who actually might have disrupted the shot.

Regardless, the Magic and Lakers go into overtime and the rest is history. The final in overtime, 101-96. The Lakers now have a 2-0 lead in this best of seven finals and now the series heads to Orlando for three.

Say what you want about Kobe Bryant. He's a winner who refuses to let his team to lose. And that's what seems to drive him despite the criticism he gets about his somewhat gruff atttitude. Kobe finished with 29 points. But, the x-factor for the Lakers Sunday night was Lamar Odom who torched the Magic for 19 points...off the bench. He did a lot of the dirty work. But, he was also that third long body on the boards, had 8 big rebounds, and defending and knocking down jumpers and getting to the basket for layups at critical points in the game. Pao Gasol was nothing short of brilliant as he would dominate in OT scoring 7 points, finishing with 29 total and 10 boards. The Lakers would have 4 players in double figures including Derrick Fisher with 12.

The Magic, on the other hand, played well. But, could not finish the job in regulation which might have led to their less than enthusiastic play in overtime. Rashard Lewis led Orlando with 34 points, followed by Turkoglu with 22. Dwight Howard finished with 17 points, 16 boards.

For many stretches in the game, particularly in the 4th quarter, the Magic played with a point guard...Jameer Nelson or Rafer Austin. Could be because they both were ineffective or Coach Van Gundy is not willing to deal with the controversy brewing about who should be playing.

Nelson was hurt in late January and was not able to return until the finals. Rafer, on the other hand, has been the leader of this team since that time and was a huge contributor during the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers...one of the reasons they won.

I don't understand why Van Gundy would disrupt the chemistry of what he had going for some unknown quantity. But, he's the coach.

The two will play again on Tuesday night in Orlando and this will be the best opportunity for the Magic to win a game. While they are not out of it yet, Sunday night would have been a nice "W" to have going back to Orlando.

Watch the highlights from Sunday night's game below.

Lakers Roll in Game One!

There was no doubt going into the second quarter that the Lakers were pretty much in control. The Magic had a 33-28 lead with Jameer Nelson running the show. But, the Lakers would go on a 7-0 run and erase the lead.

That pretty much meant that Orlando was ineffective offensively and couldn't keep the Lakers away from the glass and maybe---just maybe---and since I'm not a coach, I won't question Stan Van Gundy because I think he's a good coach---but---how do you sub Nelson, who hadn't played since January-February for Rafer Austin who got the team to the finals in the first place? You think Shaq texted SVG and told him to remember he's facing Kobe?

OK...Rafer missed several good-look short and long range jumpers...his shot was not there. But, players like Rafer have to get their touches and need TIME to find their shot. Maybe the "panic ghost" showed up on Van Gundy's shoulder again and whispered little words in his ear...play Nelson---play Nelson---he'll win the game for you. Nope...that wasn't it. Nelson scored 6 and played well during that 6-point spurt. But, he was clearly out of his element. How do you expect any athlete to find a rhythm in a game after not having played at game speed in 4 to 5 months---especially a finals game? I'll ask some former NBA guys if that is possible.

Meanwhile, Kobe was simply "GAS"! 40 points...his first career 40-point finals game. Took over 30 shots...but so what? The Magic could not stop him. He deserves the "moment' he's receiving.
Pao Gasol, Lamar Odom...both very good in game 1. Odom played the way a good complimentary player should and had some pretty good post comments.

Conversely...Dwight Howard...harassed all night long. Only had one field goal. Was 10 of 16 from the charity stripe...total ? 12 points and a loss! Could not find a rhythm due to Orlando's inability to hit shots from the outside. Lakers pounded the middle with the bigs and took away the inside game. No consistent mid-range or 3-point shots from Turkoglu, Pietrus, Austin, or Lewis...made for a low percentage shooting night, (29.9%-FG), for the Magic, (34.8%-3-ball), and no real inside game from Howard equals a loss. The Magic scored 22 points in the paint while the Lakers scored 56. Worse, the big three of Turkoglu, Lewis and Howard scored a total of 33 points. Some of that credit goes to the Laker's defense.

Question: I thought the Magic dominated the Cavs in the paint during the Eastern Conference Finals. What did you see?

The Lakers have slightly more length than the Magic and have multiple-diverse players who can score and defend. To a great extent, so do the Magic. But, the difference showed tonight and the Lakers also showed themselves to be much more aggressive going into the paint area looking to make blocks, get the strip, and generate turnovers.

Van Gundy has to develop a game plan that includes getting the ball down low to Howard for high percentage shots, (dunks), in Sunday's matchup or the Magic will be looking at 0-2 before going back to Orlando for 3.

The two-day layoff should be good for them and give them ample time to prepare.

Let me know what you're thinking? First, check out the below clip.