ORL had 23 assists and the Lakers had 3 blocks. LAL is usually close to double digits in blocks — but not last night. The ball movement that you talked about was impeccable as was the dribble penetration by Alston, Hedo, Petrius and the like. Even Rashard put it on the floor and knocked down a floater or two.

Fun stuff all around.

The Magic were good last night. However, they scored all of 108 points. Not so long ago, there was a team that routinely dropped 130 or 140 and most of those points were scored on layups, dunks and sky hooks. Remember?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1987_games.html

This series is going to be about adjustments. From the standpoint of an effective rotation, Van Gundy worked Phil Jackson over last night. Phil Jackson never honored the fact that Rafer was hot. If he had, he could have shut his water off with Shannon Brown. That option is ALWAYS there. He choose not to use it — perhaps because he wanted Fisher on the court after his stellar performance in Game 2.

Kobe is not going to win this series with his scoring. This should have been obvious after Game 2. The Magic have used Hedo, Pietrus and others to body him up on his drives to the rim and he’s unable to elevate over Dwight Howard to finish at the rim. LeBron could do it because he is bigger and stronger — but LBJ doesn’t shoot from the perimeter as well as Kobe. Kobe is going to have to continue to find Gasol and Odom if the Lakers are going to win this series. He’s exhausted though and if Patrick and I can see it, I am SURE the Magic can see it.

Game 2: 10-22
Game 3: 11-25

This is starting to look like a trend.

With that said, the Lakers did well on the offensive glass last night — if for no other reason than there were so few rebounds to be had because everything went in. Orlando can’t shoot that well 3 more times in this series. Can they? They have to find another way to win.

For all that Orlando did well last night, the game boiled down to uncharacteristically poor free throw shooting. To me, that’s a function of fatigue. I suspect that the Lakers may get their legs and actually have a scorching hot shooting game of their own. If I’m Orlando, I’m still worried — and for a day, I’m glad that Stan Van Gundy outcoached Phil Jackson for one game.

Tom Izzo was probably bouncing off the walls at home wondering when Phil would put his guy Shannon in the game. Never happened.

If it’s gonna take the Magic to shoot this well to win, they are in trouble…..”

The Lakers had a chance to step on the Magic, and sweep the series, but it could be a total role reversal and a wave of momentum may push the Magic into a sweep of their own… in six games… ESPN/ABC all but courted Kobe and the superior ‘size’ of the Lakers, much like Lebron when he hit that last second shot…

I believe we wll see a more relaxed Dwight Howard for the rest of the series, a more focused, productive Hedu and the X-factors are Michael Pietrus and Rashard Lewis providing timely, impact jumpers …

In Los Angeles, Orlando may have been overwhelmed (star-strucked) by the Hollywood stars(Jack, Denzel) and were ‘witnessing’ just like in the Cavs series (for a little while)… now maybe the Magic can duplicate what the Miami heat did three years ago…

During the (ABC) on-court interviews and (ESPN) post-interviews Skip to My Lou seemed much happier with the ‘revised’ application of playing time, and he definitely made an impact early in the game…

Orlando doesn’t have a Bruce Bowen-type bench player to guard Kobe, so the Magic will likely play more Russian Roulette by putting Lee out on the floor–especially earlier in the game…

Courtney did make one impact play with a baseline dunk, but Kobe and Luke Walton’s eyes light up when Lee comes into the game–EVERY TIME. The Magic shot a Finals’ record 75 percent from the field and 62 percent for the game, and the only reason the game was relatively close– the shooting of Kobe Bryant (who had 20+ points at halftime)–courtesy of Lee’s being the primary Kobe stopper. I really felt Kobe was trying to take over that game with Courtney in the game much like Game 1…. the difference was Orlando’s improved shooting. The Magic covered for Lee and it worked out for Game 3…

And it seemed Kobe spent a lot of energy trying to exploit that match-up, and then Michael Pietrus was able to take a toll on him in the second half. Did you see Kobe at the press conference? He looked REALLY TIRED… I mean worn out..

And after an apparent (heart to heart) talk from Orlando GM Otis Smith and Stan Van Gundy with the temperamental Rafer Alston, it seemed ‘Skip to my Lou’ got the reassurance that he was the man..and Jameer will take a ‘back-seat’…

>>>>>”Stan and I have a great relationship,” Alston said of Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. “He’s trying to coach and win games. Never once did I take it personal.”

Before the game, as always sipping on his pregame cup of coffee, Alston vowed to mix up his game. “That’s what I do best,” he said, “instead of standing out by the three-point line like I’m (Boston Celtics guard) Ray Allen or somebody.”

With tongue in cheek, Van Gundy called himself a motivational genius for getting Alston back on track. “I said, ‘Play your game,’ ” Van Gundy said. “It took me two days to come up with it.”>>>>>