NBA Finals Parlay: Magic vs. Lakers Game 2

Game-day: 6/7/2009

Tip-off: 8:00 pm est.

Kobe Bryant is awesome. That’s pretty much the only way to describe what he did to the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.

He dominated in almost every way imaginable when racking up 40 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.

But the real reason that the Lakers won by such a huge margin, they beat Orlando 100 to 75, might have more to do with how the Magic played then how brilliant Kobe performed.

Let’s take a look at the parlay for Game 2.

NBA Finals: Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Point Spread: Orlando +6 ½

BetOnline Total: 203

Analysis: The butt whipping that the Orlando Magic suffered in Game 1 of the NBA Finals was exactly that – - a butt whipping. When you shoot 29.9% from the field, 34.8% from behind the arc, and 72.4% from the free throw line, you’re not going to win many games.

Contrary to what some NBA betting fans are saying, the loss doesn’t really fall onto the shoulders of Dwight Howard. Howard was terrible, yes, but Hedo Turkoglu went 3 for 11 and Rashard Lewis went 2 for 10.

Both Turkoglu and Lewis must hit between 40% to 50% from the field for the Magic to have any shot at winning this series. If Howard raises his own percentage, and Howard should, then the Magic will be okay as far as the point spread is concerned.

Kobe is going to get his points. The Magic must find a way to counter Kobe’s points with points of their own.

How do they do that? The first thing they need to do is start to push the ball. Howard has to play with much more energy on the offensive end. That means running as fast as he can towards the basket while Rafer Alston and Jameer Nelson throw the ball to him.

How many fast break points did the Magic have in Game 1? Zero.

The Magic need to push the ball. If they do that, then they can start getting open looks behind the 3 point line. The law of averages say that the Magic play much better in Game 2.

I have to take Orlando and the points because of that.

The law of averages also says that the Magic and Lakers score more than the BetOnline Sportsbook Total of 203. In the first two games between these two teams, Orlando and L.A. combined for 209 and 212 points.

I have to believe that 203 is not only possible but probable in Game 2. As a gambler, and L.A. native, my heart is telling me that the Lakers win four in a row because the Magic are emotionally destroyed after Game 1.

But as a gambler, my brain tells me that they bounce back and that Game 2 is played in a much more probable way. The parlay is Orlando to the over.

Pick: Orlando Magic at +6 ½ to over the BetOnline Total of 203.