Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic – Game 5
Free Pick: Orlando Magic -3.0 (-110) – Sun Jun 14 ’09 8:00p
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The Lakers have been handed this series on a silver platter by an Orlando team that has been marred by mistakes at the worst possible times. To their credit, LA has been very opportunistic in the Finals taking full advantage of the young Magic. Lakers G Kobe Bryant scored 32 points adding eight assists and seven rebounds in Game 4. However, his biggest contribution came as a decoy for G Derek Fisher to hit the game-tying three that sent the contest into OT. While the Lakers hold a commanding lead in the series they are also 3-1 ATS in these Finals.

The Magic have shown in Games 2, 3, and 5 of this series that they are the better team, but blown leads in each of these games while pulling out a victory in just one of these contests hurt them. Orlando held a three-point lead late in Game 4 but blew it with two chances when G Jameer Nelson passed up a wide-open layup, then C Dwight Howard missed two foul shots to set up Fisher’s shot. Magic F Hedo Turkoglu turned in another solid performance scoring 25 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out seven assists. Unfortunately for “Turk” he shot just 8-of-13 at the foul-line including just 1-of-4 in the fourth quarter.

This pick may go against all common logic by saying the Magic will cover the ‘spread’ in this contest, but that’s exactly what I see happening in Game 5. Here’s why, the Magic have responded every time they could have just rolled over and died in the 2009 NBA Playoffs. Winning on the road in Game 6 to close out the Philadelphia 76ers without Howard, winning at home in Game 6 over the Boston Celtics then blowing them out in Game 7 at the Garden. Look for the Magic to respond tonight and don’t be surprised if there is another Game 7 in their future.

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