NBA Could Be Pleasantly Surprised With Magic-Lakers Finals
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Media Personalities Excited About
Unanticipated Finals Matchup |
Tonight's Magic-Lakers NBA Finals Game One was "supposed to be David Stern's marketing fantasy" -- Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James -- but instead the NBA "may get something better on the court," according to Marc Berman of the N.Y. POST. Bryant vs. Howard represents "superstar vs. budding superstar," and "La-La land vs. Disney World." Berman: "This still could turn out to be a fantasy matchup" (N.Y. POST, 6/4). ESPN.com's Bill Simmons, in a faux letter posing as David Stern, wrote Magic-Lakers is "actually a terrific Finals." Simmons: "We have the No. 2 TV market (L.A.), the most popular, polarizing and fascinating superstar since Wilt (Kobe); and a potential superstar who we can hype to another level (Dwight Howard). And it should be a high-scoring and unpredictable Finals. How is this bad?" (ESPN.com, 6/3). In Orlando, Kyle Hightower writes while a "TV-driven audience might have swooned over the possible Kobe-LeBron James pairing in the Finals," having Bryant and Howard "on the court for the next two weeks isn't a bad consolation prize" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/4).
TWO FOR THE MONEY: In Toronto, Frank Zicarelli writes Hollywood "would have preferred the marquee matchup of larger-than-life figures LeBron James and Kobe Bryant going up against each other, but any script writer worth his salt would salivate at a Lakers-Magic scenario." The pairing is an "intriguing championship dotted with fascinating matchups between two teams that clearly deserve to be on basketball's grandest stage" (TORONTO SUN, 6/4). FOXSPORTS.com's Charley Rosen wrote Magic-Lakers is an "incredibly intriguing battle of titans," even if it "isn't the one we thought we'd get when the postseason started" (FOXSPORTS.com, 6/3). In Cincinnati, Paul Daugherty writes, "The veteran Lakers and the upstart Magic of Orlando. Best-of-seven. Sports as heaven. The most compelling matchup since MJ put away his tongue for all time" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/4).
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Many Feel That Fans Wanted
LeBron-Kobe Matchup In Finals |
WITHOUT THE KING: In Oakland, Gary Peterson wrote the James-Bryant matchup "would have rivaled just about any tete-a-tete you could cull from the NBA archives." The NBA "lost more than the sweet anticipation of what might have been," and there is "no joy in Sternville" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 6/1). In Detroit, Tony Augusty wrote, "The NBA Finals are ruined. ... Nobody cares about the Magic." But if "nothing else, Orlando saved us" from Nike's "LeBron-Kobe puppet commercials" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/3). Bryant said the Lakers-Cavaliers Finals was "something that I think the public wanted to see." Bryant: "It was a lot of hype being put around that potential series. But Dwight Howard ain't no joke" ("The Jim Rome Show," 6/3). Bryant added of playing the Magic instead of the Cavs, "I really don't give a damn" (USA TODAY, 6/4). More Bryant: "I'm not disappointed at all. ... I'm sad for LeBron because he's a good friend" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/4).
MASTERS OF THE HARDWOOD: In Ft. Worth, Randy Galloway writes under the header, "NBA Proves Its Worth As Excellent Entertainment." In recent years, there have been indications that the NBA's "national fan base was shrinking into NHL territory," and the "NBA-loving numbers had plunged." But now, the league is "back, baybee. Trending up. Way up." The NBA this postseason has "provided great entertainment," and the league is "on a new roll." Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban said of the NBA's resurgence, "It started building a year ago. Then, this year, not only was the regular season close, but the playoffs kicked off with an amazing Celts-Bulls series. ... I think we will continue to do well" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/4).
MAGIC TOUCH: In Orlando, Brian Schmitz reports thanks to an "increased demand, the Magic have expanded their retail operations and opened a one-stop shop for fans at Amway Arena." The retailer will carry a "vast selection of NBA Finals, Eastern Conference Champion and Blue & White Ignite gear, including T-shirts, hats, jerseys and more" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/4).
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