Lakers-Magic Game 1: Lulling Them Into A Real Sense Of Security

Just when I thought the Magic were pulling their usual trick of not looking good, but staying close and then turning it on for late drama... um, not so much. A 29-15 third quarter, paced by Kobe Bryant's 18 points, and an utterly discombobulated Magic team -- seriously, Dwight Howard was 1 for 6 in his first 26 minutes -- created an utter blowout. It was over so fast, I posted this before there was a final score.

Your story will be Bryant, who will finish with the most points that he's ever had in a Finals game, and it should be. But as good as the Mamba was tonight, the most striking thing was just how bad the Magic looked. It's difficult for any team to look good when they can't put it in the ocean, and there will be closer games in this series... but the way (really, the only way) to beat a Phil Jackson team in a playoff is to get up on them early and make them quit.

When the Lakers get early equilibrium, that means the series is going to go long enough for Jackson to not worry about motivation, and to have enough time to outsmart his opposite number. With Stan Van Gundy getting on his team for defense (um, ok, I guess, but you might want to look at that shooting percentage again, Mr. Genius), I'm not seeing it.

The Magic also managed to:

1) Undermine their back court by force-feeding a rusty Jameer Nelson over Rafer Alston for "important" minutes; Nelson gave them effort, a chewed mouthpiece, and Alston being very, very fresh for his miss and miss again night

2) Watch Dwight Howard become utterly meaningless on offense for anything but free throw attempts, which is, well, what the Lakers want him to have

3) Get absolutely nothing from Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, both of whom looked helpless with Trevor Ariza and and Bryant erasing them on defense

4) Even gave Andrew Bynum some hope, because it's not like Howard did anything against him, or anyone else

5) Watched Key Laker Lamar Odom throw down a double-double

and, basically, looked incapable of winning a half, let alone a game.

I think they'll get a game in this series, and maybe even two if the Lakers don't watch to clinch on the road. And that sound you heard was the Lemur and ABC smacking themselves in the forehead as they saw all of their worst Finals fears come true, ratings-wise.

But make no mistake. The Lakers are going home with the trophy. Bryant will be the MVP. And midnight has struck for the Cinderella team from the Magic Kingdom.