The NBA wanted the matchup of Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James, but it was not to be. Instead, we have Kobe vs. Dwight Howard, and the Lakers are pursuing their 15th championship (10th in Los Angeles), while the Orlando Magic have never won a game in the Finals.
OF course, everyone's betting on the LA Lakers, but don't tell that to Orlando's superstar, Dwight Howard. In fact, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy made sure his players remembered the Dan Marino story. You know, Dan Marino went to the big (NFL) show early in his career, and never went back.
The Orlando Magic went to the big (NBA) show early it its life (after six years of existence) and this is their first chance back. That significance hasn't been lost on Dwight Howard. Unlike franchises like the LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics, most teams don't make it back that often.
In reference to the Dan Marino story, not lost on Howard because it's his first shot, Dwight Howard said:
"Coach talked about Dan Marino, how he said the first time he got to the Super Bowl, he was happy, he got caught up in being in the Super Bowl and the limelight and all that, and in the game he wasn't as focused," Howard recalled. "And Dan said the next time he gets to the Super Bowl, he's going to be more focused. But he never got back.
"So we really want to go into the Finals with the mindset that you never know what could happen. We could never go back again. There's no need to be happy or satisfied with just going to the Finals. We're going there to win."
Smart money is on the LA Lakers, but smart money was also figuring the Cavaliers to show up, too.
Here is the NBA finals schedule, all times PDT:
Tonight: at Los Angeles, 6 p.m.
Sunday: at Los Angeles, 5 p.m.
Tuesday: at Orlando, 6 p.m.
June 11: at Orlando, 6 p.m.
June 14: at Orlando 5 p.m.*
June 16: at Los Angeles, 6 p.m.*
June 18: at Los Angeles, 6 p.m.*
*if necessary
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