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Because they did not lose any rotation players and they have Bynum back, the Lakers are the favorite. The Hornets are not far behind though.
However, they were also the clear favorite in the finals last year, but were outplayed. The Celtics needed 7 games to get past the below .500 Hawks, and the Lakers swept a potent Nuggets team. Phil Jackson was supposed to be the better coach over Rivers. Kobe was the MVP and three time champion, while Pierce, Allen, and KG never made an NBA finals.
Kobe simply did not step up in the finals as he was expected to. The league MVP had a poor performance in the finals similar to what he did years back in defeat to the Pistons. He shot around 40% & turned the ball over nearly 4 times a game. People blamed Odom and Gasol, but the truth is, they both shoot a much better percentage and are not anymore to blame than Kobe.
I think the Celtics should have paid Posey a little more, and the east became stronger this offseason. If Lebron could make the Finals with his 2006 roster, he could do it again. Is this the year Dwight Howard establishes himself as a 25 and 15 per night guy?
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