Suns, Magic plan to play spoiler

Basketball Betting Lines

05/16/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When you talk rivalries, the Lakers- Celtics is right up there with Yankees-Red Sox and Ohio State-Michigan as the best in all of sports.

The NBA's two marquee teams have met in the Finals 11 different times, dating back to the 1958-59 season when the Lakers nickname actually made some sense and they still called Minneapolis home.

Boston and the game's ultimate winner, Bill Russell, dominated the early years of the rivalry and it was as lopsided as Pete Carroll's USC Trojans vs. Charlie Weis' Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Red Auerbach's Celtics took the Lakers all seven times they met in the Finals, although the Jerry West, Elgin Baylor fueled LA clubs did manage to take Boston to seven games on three different occasions.

The rivalry laid dormant for 15 years until Larry Bird and Magic Johnson "saved" the NBA by bringing their storied college rivalry to the pros. Bird avenged his loss at Indiana State to Magic's Michigan State Spartans in the 1979 NCAA Finals when the Celtics got past the Lakers in seven games to win the 1983-84 NBA title.

Johnson and his Lakers responded the next season as LA finally beat Boston in the Finals for the first time. Magic also won the rubber match two years later before the rivalry went dormant again, this time for 20 years as the Celtics struggled mightily in the post-Bird era.

Danny Ainge re-ignited things by acquiring both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen before the 2007-08 season. The two All-Stars teamed with Paul Pierce to create the "Boston Three Party" and the Celtics were relevant again. A 17th Boston championship was the result as Garnett and his Celtics got the best of Kobe Bryant's Lakers.

A rematch could have been in the offing last season but a knee injury to Garnett derailed any hopes of a Celtics repeat. Instead, LA earned its 15th championship by taking Orlando in five games.

If Hollywood, or ESPN for that matter, was writing the script for this year's Finals, clearly the Lakers and Celtics would be battling for league supremacy again.

Of course, the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic care little about rivalries, history or potential television ratings.

It's all about winning in the NBA's final four -- storylines be damned.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS:

(2) ORLANDO vs. (4) BOSTON

The Magic are the more rested, younger and deeper team. They are also almost impossible to match up with when they stretch the floor and the threes are falling.

Boston is aging but proved they have a lot left in the tank when they dismantled top-seeded Cleveland and LeBron James. The Celtics' Tony Allen is the wild card for me. He spent the last series chasing James all over the floor. Now, he will have to close out Magic shooters consistently from game to game for Boston to have a shot.

In the end, the Orlando snipers will get it done.

"The thing that is unique about Orlando is that they have so many players that can shoot threes," Former Celtic-great Kevin McHale said. "If one or two guys go through a tough period in a game or in a series, it doesn't matter because they can come in with another guy and find someone that is hot from the three point line."

MAGIC in 6.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS:

(1) LA LAKERS vs. (3) PHOENIX

The Suns are far more athletic and deeper than Los Angeles but it's hard to bet against Kobe and the Lakers' length with Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. Phoenix obviously wants to run and force Phil Jackson away from major minutes for Odom and Bynum.

The series should be a classic clash of styles with the Suns trying to push it at every opportunity and the Lakers attempting to slow things down and turn it into a half-court game. The team that dictates the pace and forces the opposing coach to stray from his usual rotation should come out on top.

At some point, playoff basketball always seems to come down to who executes in their respective set offense better. If that's the case, this series is a no- brainer.

LAKERS in 6

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JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

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