Kobe vs. Lebron Finals may soon be a reality

Posted Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at 2:52 PM

Kobe Bryant goes in for a lay up over the Rocket's Shane Battier

The NBA Conference Finals are underway. The Lakers struck first blood with their two point win over the upstart Denver Nuggets last night and Lebron and the Cavs open the East Finals tonight against "Superman" Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.

Of all the final four teams, the most surprising team of all is the Denver Nuggets, a team who was in on the outside looking in trades a perennial hall of famer in Allen Iverson, brings back a home grown baller Chauncey Billups and now finds themselves in the Western Finals, a place the Nuggets have not been since 1985.

The Nuggets who came off impressive series victories over the New Orleans Hornets and Dallas Mavericks, but will be tested against Kobe and the Lake Show.

This series should definitely go seven games, and even though Chauncey and Carmelo have played "lights out" throughout the playoffs, I don't see them having enough to knock off the Lakers. Prediction-Lakers win West in seven games.

On the East side, the hottest team in the playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers square off against the Orlando Magic, a team who impressively knocked off the defending champion Boston Celtics in seven games.

Who has led Cleveland to these Finals, of course number 23, Lebron James. James, the 2009 NBA MVP, has played this year with a hunger unlike any other. James's play has proven to the world that now is his time, now is his time to win a championship.

Unlike last year, James come with a stronger supporting cast, including point guards Delonte West and Mo Williams, center Ben Wallace and forwards Joe Smith and Wally Sczerbiak.

Orlando, fresh off their miraculous victory capped off by a 20 point blowout of the Celtics in Boston, will bring top competition for the Cavaliers. The last time they faced each other, was in Orlando and Orlando blew Cleveland out by 29 points (106-87).

Howard, the league's Defensive Player of the Year, leads a charge of talent joined by Rashard Lewis, Hidayet Turkoglu and Rafer Alston.

I see Howard having another solid series of double digit points and rebounds, because although Cleveland has the bodies to guard Howard, Howard is clearly unlike any center in the NBA.

But in the end, King James and the Cavs will close the curtain on Orlando's Magic show.