16 rebounds

As the 2009 NBA Finals prepare to start on Thursday, fans have learned two things, the Los Angeles Lakers still have the best overall player in the game and the Orlando Magic are for real and can no longer be taken for granted.
Can Kobe Bryant win his first NBA title without Shaq at his side or will Dwight Howard and the Magic continue their improbable run?
The Los Angeles Lakers enter the NBA Finals battle tested have several taxing series with the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers will expect more of the same when they take on the Magic and that is fine with Bryant and the rest of the team, who have something to prove after last year. Bryant, who has scored more then 30 points in nine games this post season, has the chance to be mentioned among the greatest NBA players if he is able to win his fourth championship.
Even though Bryant averaged 34.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 7 assists in their two regular season meetings with the Magic, the Lakers still found themselves losing the game. The Lakers will need Andrew Bynum to continue his maturation process in the NBA and be more of a presence on the court.
The key to the Lakers success on defense is going to be Pau Gasol, who will have his hands full defending the Magic's Rashard Lewis. In their previous two meetings, Gasol averaged 11.5 points and 7 rebounds per game while picking up four fouls in each contest. The Lakers will be walking a fine line when it comes to Gasol, because he does not match up well with Lewis. In the end if Gasol fouls out of the games before it has been decided, the Lakers will be exiting the NBA finals early.
The Orlando Magic are not supposed to be here. Or at least that is what everyone from the media pundits to the NBA ad executives thought. No one thought this team could win a game 7 in Boston or send the Cavaliers and LeBron James home with their tail between their leagues. We know what the Magic have done to get to the NBA Finals, the question is what do they need to do to take it a step further.
Without a doubt, the Magic's big man, Dwight Howard, has come of age during the 2009 NBA playoffs and appears ready to should the load for years to come. During the two regular season meetings, Howard averaged 21.5 points, 16 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks. Since part of the Lakers game plan will be to foul Howard, he will need to make sure to make at least 80% from the line and not the 60% he averaged during the regular season games.
Even though the Magic have a solid defense, they are going to find it is hard to keep an offensive power, like the Lakers from scoring. This means players like, Rashard Lewis will have to be at their best and make those clutch shots. If Lewis can continue to score and average close to 20 points per game during the series, the Magic's chances to win the series will improve.
One of the more intriguing match ups in these NBA Finals will take place between the two coaches, Phil Jackson and Stan Van Gundy. Jackson has been to 11 NBA finals while Gundy is coaching in his first one. Despite the difference in experience, these two coaches have shined throughout the playoff, showing their ability to make the necessary changes in their game style to win.
Despite what the Magic have been able to do during their improbable run through the NBA playoffs, my gut tells me the Lakers are going to come away champions. The Magic are going to be riding the momentum of their NBA Finals run, but eventually it is going to wear out and the Lakers will earn a series victory in 6 games.