Deep, Talented Magic: Are they Destined to Reach NBA Finals Again?

Last year was last year. Admit it. I'm not sure if the Orlando Magic behind Dwight Howard actually made the NBA Finals last year was a fluke. Turns out this year may be a whole different story. And animal. The Magic retooled their bench and they have a deeper and versatile bench group of players that can sub in for their starters day in and day out. If the NBA Finals turn out to be Lakers-Magic Part II, don't be surprised if the Magic bench subs steal the show. The Lakers' star-studded cast of players who are helping Kobe Bryant out are Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. The rest, nahhh, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, are all right, I guess. Not much playing time for Sasha Vujacic or Luke Walton, the used-to-be regular Lakers starters. On the Magic side, you have, ahhhh, Dwight Howard, dominanting the paint like before. Other than that, you have perimeter threats in Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and Matt Barnes. Mickael Pietrus, who has proved that he can score and make three-point shots, can start for the Magic in place of Barnes. Pietrus can come off the bench. There isn't a more talented shooting bunch of three-pointers than the likes of Orlando's J.J. Redick, Jason Williams, Ryan Anderson, and Brandon Bass. I think Marcin Gortat can throw in a three-pointer. I think Anthony Johnson can handle himself out there like a veteran he is, playing with experience and leadership on the court. My prediction is, if the Magic bench substitutes can dominate a game like the starters can, the Orlando Magic will be hard to beat. And the Lakers will be hard-pressed to stop Orlando. The Lakers can play defense. The Magic have proved that they can play defense behind Stan Van Gundy's military-style coaching. The thing it comes down to, can the Lakers' bench subs outscore the Magic bench subs? I doubt it. Be prepared for a newly crowned NBA champion in June.