2009 NBA Finals - Game 3 Preview: Los Angeles Lakers Vs. Orlando Magic

The outcome of this championship series indeed rests upon the critical Game 3. Obviously, a Lakers victory would put Los Angeles up 3-0, with the Black Mamba going for blood and the sweep in Game 4. Never mind the fact that Orlando would then be forced to win two close out games on the road beneath the glare of die hard Staples Centers fanatics. That is, if the Magic were even able to take Games 4 and 5 at home per the NBA Finals 2-3-2 format.

Conversely, an Orlando victory would shift the series to a 2-1 score and intensify the already electric NBA Finals drama.

Orlando's resilience will be put to the test, yet again, in the aftermath of snatching Game 2 defeat away from the jaws of victory. The Magic, blitzed 100-75 in Game 1, actually showed signs of Life, proved the ability to compete against the Glamour Lakers and rallied to a slim 86-84 lead with one minute left to play in the ball game, behind the superior 34-11-7 end to end play of Rashard Lewis.

Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, complete non-factors in Game 1, finally showed up to perform and caught fire. The duo appeared energized by Coach Stan Van Gundy's gamesmanship and wacky lineups that instigated curious mismatches for the L.A. sidelines.

Van Gundy went big with Dwight Howard and Gortat on the floor at once, slid Turkoglu down to the 2, and even logged extensive minutes without the services of any traditional point guard running the Magic show. Hedo Turkoglu, actually facilitated the offense down the stretch as a funny looking, yet effective, point forward. Turkoglu deftly set the table for his teammates, while filling up his own stat sheet for 22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 dimes, and one timely block of Mr. Bryant's game-winning attempt.

Turkoglu's masterpiece was capped by the Magic small forward delivering the perfect lob pass to Courtney Lee directly from Van Gudy's in-bounds play. The directives called for Lee to back cut towards the basket behind the seal and pick of Rashard Lewis against Kobe Bryant.

Perfect execution.

Perfect execution, except for the actual shot. Courtney Lee, thwarted by the length of Pau Gasol simply put too much mustard on the ball and clanged the lay-in off the front of the rim from point - blank range. The gaffe of such a routine score at the final tick of regulation threw the game into overtime, in which the game's momentum swung solidly to the advantage of the Los Angeles Lakers column.

The Lake Show escaped and prevailed with a 101-96 overtime victory to hold serve and protect home court.

Courtney Lee's miss will go down in Orlando Magic lore as a Goat moment that is on par with Nick Anderson's 1995 Finals free throw disaster. Anderson missed four consecutive shots from the charity stripe in the final moments of Game 1 versus the Rockets that would have sealed the ball game. Instead, Kenny "The Jet" Smith, of TNT fame, hit a dagger three ball for Houston to send the game into overtime. The Clutch City Rockets went on to sweep Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, and the Orlando Magic out of the championship round.

Indeed, the Orlando Magic franchise is a winless 0-6 per the NBA Finals.

Game 3 will be a dog fight for Orlando to get off the schneid.

This article will now present the three key match ups that are set to determine the Game 3 outcome of this 2009 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic NBA Finals.

#3 2009 NBA Finals - Game 3, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Key Match up: Kobe Bryant, Black Mamba versus Kobe Bryant, Teammate

Kobe Bryant will get his points.

Bryant is automatic to go off for 30-40 per night in the NBA Finals. However, it is the actual composition and floor game behind these scores that is all important to success at Laker Land.

Will Mr. Bryant resort to his Black Mamba antics, freeze out teammates, and start gunning from all angles down the stretch? Or will Kobe pick his spots as an offensive assassin, while trusting his teammates and actively involving the L.A. supporting cast?

Los Angeles is a much tougher ball club to defend with Kobe Bryant facilitating the offense and effectively creating open looks for the likes of Trevor Ariza, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, and Derek Fisher. Bryant is a threat to fill up the basket from any point of the floor and the Lakers have the distinct advantage of executing the triangle offense with Kobe at the top of the key, or on the block, drawing double-teams and creating space for cutters to slash into the paint for easy buckets.

Role players thrive upon these scores and often transform into viable offensive contributors following lay-ins and rim-rocking jams. Of course, the field goal productivity also sparks a lock down mentality from these emotional athletes at the other end of the floor. Certainly, involving substitutes, journeymen, and lifetime bench warmers on the road beneath the media glare is easier said than done.

Kobe Bryant is already showing signs of frustration. In the closing moments of Game 2 regulation, the Black Mamba refused to pass the ball to an open Lamar Odom on the wing. Bryant assumed command, drove the basketball, and was unceremoniously rejected by Hedo Turkoglu at the point of attack.

#3 2009 NBA Finals - Game 3, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Key Match up: Kobe Bryant, Black Mamba versus Kobe Bryant, Teammate

Advantage: Orlando Magic

#2 2009 NBA Finals - Game 3, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Key Match up: Lamar Odom vs. Hedo Turkoglu

Hedo Turkoglu did all that was asked of him in Game 2.

Turkoglu manned the 1, 2, and 3, and ran the Magic offense during the second half and into overtime. The 6'10 small forward executed the half court sets by using picks and putting the rock on the deck to work the motion offense with smart ball movement.

The playmaker torched the Lakers for 22 points, going 3-6 from downtown largely upon the strength of his patented step-back jump shot move. The relatively slow-footed Turkoglu proved to be a match-up nightmare for the Lakers backcourt due to his size and proverbial game of "keep away" to protect clutch possessions.

Although Finals counterpart Lamar Odom is listed as a power forward on the Los Angeles roster, Odom is capable of filling the small forward 3 role when the Lakers do decide to go big. Irrespective of Odom's formal position, the versatile star is virtually automatic from mid-range, posts up, and is always beating his man directly to the front of the rim via his explosive first step. Lamar Odom is one of the most talented basketball players in the NBA and has parlayed these skills into 15 - 11 double-double 2009 Finals averages.

Still, Odom is notorious for his up and down play, off-court candy addiction, and befuddling mental lapses. The ultimate Lakers X-factor must keep his head in the game, work the triangle, refuse to settle for deep jumpers, and aggressively attack the lane. Of course, this mandate will be easier said than done in front of 20,000 rabid Magic fans at Amway Arena.

Lamar Odom is due to lay an egg in Game 3.

#2 2009 NBA Finals - Game 3, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Key Match up: Lamar Odom vs. Hedo Turkoglu

Advantage: Hedo Turkoglu and his Orlando Magic

#1 2009 NBA Finals - Game 3, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Key Match up: Orlando Magic Role Players vs. L.A. Lakers Role Players

Where is Courtney Lee's head at right now?

The Magic shooting guard blew the aforementioned game-winning lay-up and back rimmed a chip shot floater moments prior to that goat moment.

Will Lee step up with clutch buckets to rally his mates behind him, or degenerate further into maddeningly cold shooting that will sabotage Orlando's title run, with extended minutes? Remember, Nick "The Brick" Anderson's game fell prey to a career long slump after his 1995 NBA Finals free-throw line debacle. In fact, Anderson's free throw accuracy collapsed to an unfathomable 40% the following season.

Of course, basketball is a team sport and the blame should not fall squarely upon Courtney Lee's shoulders. The Orlando Magic role players have contributed nothing to the 2009 NBA Finals. Game 1, was indeed, a total disaster for Central Florida. However, Game 2 was a very winnable game that could have swung either way. Certainly, Orlando would have triumphed if any one player not referred to as "Turkoglu," "Howard," or "Lewis" actually stepped up and did something for Coach Stan Van Gundy.

Rafer Alston "led" Orlado's phalanx of role players with 4 points and 5 assists over 26 minutes of action. Frankly, this is not getting it done.

Despite these trials, role players are always sparked by the home court electricity. The Magic only require one substitute to score the basketball, get hot in spurts, defend, and play a solid floor game to win. The NBA Playoffs, particularly the Finals, always remake clutch ballers of the faceless supporting cast into household names and integral components of the ongoing O'Brien Trophy run.

Which Magic role player will earn his money during winning time at Orlando? Which Magic role player will be hailed as a savior and parlay these efforts into a bloated contract with the hapless L.A. Clippers next season?

Will Jameer Nelson return to his All-Star form? Will J.J. Redick get hot from deep and bury the Lakers with three - balls? Will Courtney Lee emerge at the fore with renewed vigor, intent upon erasing the brutal memories of his Game 2 tribulations?

#1 2009 NBA Finals - Game 3, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Key Match up: Orlando Magic Role Players vs. L.A. Lakers Role Players

Advantage: Orlando Magic

2009 NBA Finals: Los Angles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic - Game 3 Prediction:

Orlando Magic - 107

Los Angeles Lakers - 98

This is a MUST WIN game for the Orlando Magic. The inconsistent Lakers will run into a buzz saw at Orlando.

2009 NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic - Game 3 Preview, Sources:

Kofi Bofah, 2009 NBA Finals Preview: Los Angeles Lakers Vs. Orlando Magic, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1801446/2009_nba_finals_preview_los_angeles.html?cat=14

The Official Web Site of the NBA, http://www.nba.com/finals2009/

The Official Web Site of the Los Angeles Lakers, http://www.nba.com/lakers/

The Official Web Site of the Orlando Magic, http://www.nba.com/magic/playoffs/Magic_Playoff_Page-306324-1664.html