2009 NBA Finals - Game 4 Preview: Los Angeles Lakers Vs. Orlando Magic

Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals is set for Thursday, June 11 at 9 p.m. EST from Orlando's Amway Arena. I am designating myself as the Internet's official guide to the NBA Finals. But why stop there? I am designating myself as the Internet's official guide to all of sports.

Why?

I find sports journalism, well, all of Big Media to stop somewhere just short of completely atrocious. It seems as if the sports media is controlled by balding, fat, middle aged white men that never picked up any type of ball ever in life. Yes, I recognize that I am stating the obvious.

On the other hand, I am not a fan of journalists such as Scoop Jackson that try to be "down," and pen articles that I can barely read because of all the slang and text message - like verbiage.

Whatever. The downfall of Big Media requires a full fledged dissertation, which is beyond the scope of this article. Let's just get to Game 4. I will address both organizations before presenting the critical match ups that shall swing the outcome of Game 4.

Dear Los Angeles Lakers:

Why do you people get faked out of your shorts on every single clutch possession by Hedo Turkoglu? Hedo is NOT driving to the front of the rim! Hedo Turkoglu WILL put the ball on the floor for one to two dribbles, dip his shoulders, and step back for a three ball or long jump shot, every single time! Hedo Turkoglu = step back jump shot!

Your team is getting all the calls.

I mean, how many times can Kobe throw his body into Courtney Lee, Dwight Howard, or Pietrus and get the whistle? Trevor Ariza is mauling Hedo every time he touches the rock and Derek Fisher is running full speed down the court with no intention of scoring. Fish is on a mission to flail his arms in the general direction of any blue jersey, draw fouls, and shoot free throws. Orlando can't even get the benefit of the doubt at Amway Arena!

This is why nobody outside of the L.A. Basin likes you people.

C'mon. You play in Los Angeles. You get all the calls. You catch all the breaks.

I wonder if anybody else has noticed that suiting up for the L.A. Lakers is enough to make anybody seem cool. Magic, Shaq, Wilt the Stilt, Jerry "The Logo" West, Riles, Kobe, and Rick Fox all emerged as Glamour boys after affiliating themselves with the Showtime Lakers. Even Kurt Rambus looks pimped out over there.

And you all can talk tough and macho and say that the Lakers didn't make you. But, I mean really? What person outside of Toronto, Chapel Hill, or Boston, had ever even heard of Pretty Ricky Fox before he laced 'em up for L.A.?

Magic would never have been Magic playing for the Utah Jazz.

Kobe, I do respect your work ethic. I think that you are the best player in the Game right now. Still, these Jordan comparisons must end. The "Next M.J." debate is really not fair to anybody. I must add that you have gone into full fledged "Black Mamba" mode too many times this series. These antics and resulting freeze out shakes the confidence of your ball club.

I mean, it's past the point of being described as routine for you to demand the pill, dribble 90 feet, and launch wild shots without ever looking in the direction of any one Lake Show teammate.

Kobe, we recognize that you are going for 30 - 40 points per night.

Yawn.

I know that this sentiment eats away at you. Are you bothered by the fact that basketball heads are more so concerned with Lamar Odom as the real X-Factor, than your clutch play?

It's just that, we already know what to expect out of you. We know you are the best.

Besides, Phil Jackson and Lamar Odom seem to be the coolest members of the Los Angeles franchise. Phil is dating the boss' daughter and acts as if he smoked two blunts before showing up for work every day. Meanwhile, we know that Lamar has felt real world pain and is just one of those guys that we can all pull for.

No disrespect, but we still want you guys to lose.

This is America. Our entire culture is built upon the uprising of the perpetual underdog.

Dear Orlando Magic:

Yes, I want you to win, but I just don't think that victory is in the cards for Central Florida.

I don't relish fitting the bill as the ultimate party pooper in light of the Big Game 3 Win, but let's be realistic here. Check it out:

You guys played perfect basketball and won by four points, 108-104. You shot a record 75% from the field in the first half. You shot a record 63% for the game. You shot field goals with greater accuracy than L.A. shot from the free throw line. Yes, everybody else is gushing over this record shooting.

However, Big Media fails to present the fact that the 1991 Chicago Bulls and previous record holder destroyed the L.A. Lakers 107-86 at Chicago Stadium on the strength of 61.7% shooting.

Rafer Alston played out of his mind and looked like Isiah Thomas out there. Mickael Pietrus scored 18 points.

Your team plays perfect basketball and wins by 4 points. Your team plays perfect basketball and the Lakers still were in position to tie and win at the final possession.

Kobe was held in check during the second half. The Black Mamba exhibited signs of humanity and was placed on the shelf, benched for 5 minutes of the fourth quarter. Your franchise was unable to extend the lead with a weary Kobe Bryant catching a breather, tucked away on the sidelines next to Adam Morrison.

Never mind the fact that the Lakers got nothing from Lamar Odom. Yes, Farmar provided a spark with 11 points in 16 minutes, but he is a defensive liability at the other end of the floor.

Basically, the Magic must play perfect ball, while the Lakers collapse and Kobe disappears, in order for Orlando to scrape by with a 4-point win.

This does not look good.

I don't think that L.A. will celebrate the Larry O'Brien trophy on your floor. But, I will grant your club one more victory in this series. Adrenaline can only carry you all so far.

Sorry, but Orlando just doesn't get much respect. Shaq is out of pocket on Twitter, and besides Disney World, we really don't care about what is going down in Central Florida. I have been to Orlando several times before and no citizen was out there grandstanding, talking smack about a "Magic." This would be your typical Sun Belt town. The place is too overrun by transplants to build an integrated, solid fan base.

These Orlando people are on the bandwagon.

I know all about the Magic. I remember the days with Shaquille O'Neal tearing down basket supports, Penny executing the Robin role, and Dennis Scott launching bombs from the outside. The Magic were the next Sports Dynasty. That is, of course, before Nick Anderson clanged four free throws, Penny blew out his knees, and Shaq was shipped out of town to Los Angeles in exchange for a poo poo platter.

Never mind that.

I just want to see Rafer do his whole "Skip to my Lou" thing before this series is done.

I know I have that And-1 Mix Tape laying around here somewhere.

I am rambling. Let's get to the three match ups that will determine the outcome of Game 4:

#3 2009 NBA Finals - Game 4, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Key Match up: Rashard Lewis vs. Lamar Odom

The 2009 NBA Playoffs have been a coming out party for Rashard Lewis.

Lewis, the Big Money free agent that descended upon Orlando in 2007, with the intent of winning a championship has put his talents on full display during this postseason run. The 6-year, $118 million man posts up, runs the floor, beats his man off the dribble, and is the most prolific 3-point scorer in the NBA.

Rashard Lewis is averaging 28 - 8 - 6, in the aftermath of the Game 1 debacle.

This player has hit clutch shot after clutch shot throughout the 2009 NBA Playoffs. Although Lewis' talent level has never been denied, critics remain polarized in regards to this man's psyche. This is the very same Rashard Lewis that disappeared for maddening stretches of key ball games at Seattle, behind Jesus Shuttlesworth. This is the very same Rashard Lewis that cried his eyes out backstage at the Green Room after making the leap from High School to the NBA.

Certainly, Lamar Odom can relate.

Odom is also praised for possessing limitless reserves of talent, yet degraded for his curious up and down play and mental lapses. Lamar Odom will sky for tough defensive boards, dribble the ball from coast to coast, and diligently thread the needle for a pretty assist to a streaking big man. Of course, he will then promptly regress to getting burned defensively at the other end of the floor and return the favor by clanging a long jumper out of bounds with 20 seconds left in the shot clock.

Can Lamar Odom keep his head in the game?

Lewis is surging with confidence behind the home crowd. Meanwhile, Odom was a complete non factor in Game 3. Expect Odom to vanish as a top-shelf contributor on the road, yet again.

#3 2009 NBA Finals - Game 4 Key Match up: Lamar Odom vs. Rashard Lewis

Advantage: Rashard Lewis and his Orlando Magic

#2 2009 NBA Finals - Game 4, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Key Match up: Kobe Bryant and NBA Officiating vs. Orlando Magic

The rule book has been geared towards improving perimeter play and scoring in response to the Bad Boy Pistons and Pat Riley thug ball that destroyed the artistry of the game. Of course, the on-court officiating has always been quietly geared towards protecting the star athlete.

Orlando will never win this match up.

Courtney Lee and Mickeal Pietrus cannot expect to be saved by the bell defending Bryant, the best perimeter player in the NBA, who also happens to be enjoying his current reign affixed to the mountaintop of international celebrity.

Smart basketball actually requires that Kobe Bean Bryant goes O.C., trips over his own feet, gets the call, and drains two from the free throw line.

Sorry, Orlando.

#2 2009 NBA Finals - Game 4 Key Match up: Kobe Bryant and NBA Officiating vs. Orlando Magic

Advantage: Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers

#1 2009 NBA Finals - Game 4, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Key Match up: L.A. Wings vs. Orlando 3-point shooters

I am granting the Orlando Magic one more game to pull off these on fire NBA Jam antics.

At this point, the 80's Michael Cooper could put himself through space travel, show up at Orlando, clone himself to defend the perimeter, and still get lit up.

Advantage: Orlando Magic

2009 NBA Finals - Game 4, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Prediction:

Orlando - 105

Los Angeles - 99

Orlando will win one more game at home before being closed out in 6 at Los Angeles.

2009 NBA Finals - Game 4 Preview: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic, 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/Eastern_Conference_Finals_Spla-313492-1664.html