2009 NBA Finals – L.A. Lakers v.s. Orlando Magic

Magic center Dwight Howard challenges the shot of Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. NBA Finals starts tomorrow (local time). So there's no Kobe-Lebron in the finals but Nike will continue to run commercials of the Kobe Bryant and LeBron James puppets despite the fact that James, unlike Bryant, isn't playing in the Finals after his team was eliminated by the Magic.

more Nike MVPs commercial here.

Interesting facts:
#Kobe says he can play at a high level for at least another six years, but he might never get an opportunity like this again. Now he has the best supporting cast than Lebron.
#The Dwight Howard-Andrew Bynum matchup features Superman versus a player trying to discover his identity. Bynum's defense on Dwight Howard is one of the keys to victory for the Lakers.
#Magic's Michael Pietrus to ditch Kobe-endorsed shoes for Finals. He has been wearing Nike Hyperdunk sneakers endorsed by Kobe the whole season. In the finals, he will gear up with Jordans.
#Jameer Nelson is coming out from a shoulder injury. We'll see more high pick & rolls this time again.
#Magic has the best outside shooters in the league in Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu and JJ Riddick. Spreading the floor, giving more room for Howard inside but the Lakers has the versatility of Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza (a castoff from the Magic) guarding the perimeter shooters.
#Magic's coach Stan Van Gundy doesn't believe in coach match-ups. He's never been in the Finals before as a head coach or an assistant compared to Phil's 10 rings, 9 as a coach and 1 as player.

(image: Reinhold Matay / Associated Press via Los Angeles Times)