FanNation - The Republic of Sport

(Author's note: This article was originally published at www.aarontorres-sports.com)

There are certain events in a guy's life that mark his ascent from boy to man, actions all males share regardless of age or race.

The first time you shave has to be one, getting your drivers license another. And of course in this technological world we live in, who will ever forget the day they signed up for Twitter.

While I don't remember much of either of the first two events, I did join Twitter just a few months ago, so that memory is still fresh. Since that day, I've had 60 updates, with my favorite coming on May 19 of this year.

It was just a few nights earlier that the Orlando Magic had suffered an embarrassing Game 5 loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The normally gregarious Dwight Howard blew up that night, and in the first real controversial moment of his career, called out coach Stan Van Gundy for not getting him enough touches.

The event was a totally un-Dwight Howard type moment, with one of the genuinely nice and likeable young players in the league steaming like a barely used tea kettle. The comments were like the Reverend at your local church complaining that the collection plate was looking a little thin on any given Sunday. It was a truly shocking moment which caught everyone completely off guard.

Two nights later the teams reconvened in Orlando and Howard's comments were still being discussed across the sporting world. Just minutes before the game, I posted my previously mentioned favorite Tweet, saying:

"Game 6 starting & Dwight Howard's mad and wants the ball. I haven't seen him this upset since Baskin Robins ran out of rainbow sprinkles."

At the time I thought I was pretty clever, but it was ultimately Howard and the Orlando Magic that got the last laugh.

On that night Howard went for 23 points and 22 rebounds, the start of a run that brings us to today, with Orlando playing in just its second NBA Finals in franchise history.

The NBA's giggliest center has quickly gone from affable to mean faster than a Clark Kent-to-Superman switch in a New York phonebooth (Yes I know, that was a terrible pun), averaging 24 points and 14.5 rebounds since that game.

And now Orlando rolling into these NBA Finals, it has to be asked, do the Lakers have the kryptonite to slow down, the suddenly steamrolling Magic? If their series against Denver is any indication, they just might.

Over the course of these playoffs, I've been quite critical of these Lakers, my thoughts well documented. They're too soft. They don't show up every night. Pau Gasol spends too much time in his faded leather jacket sipping espresso at the coffee house. And you know what, the Lakers have proven me wrong every step of the way.

Against Denver I was certain all the above mentioned problems would come to a head, with the Nuggets physical defensive style and quick scoring giving the Lakers fits, and ultimately allowing Denver to win the series.

Except a funny thing happened along the way: The Lakers showed up and played the championship caliber basketball that we'd been expecting all along.

Gasol averaged 17.5 and 12.3, and refused to be taken out of the game mentally by Kenyon Martin, Nene and the Birdman. The Lakers other starters stepped up in different ways than envisioned, with Derek Fisher proving he can still be relied on, hitting clutch shots that helped win Game 1. Trevor Ariza- who's been best known for his offense in L.A.- had two series changing defensive plays.

In addition, Lamar Odom came off the bench, saving his two best postseason performances for the series clinching Game 5 and Game 6 wins against Denver. And of course Kobe Bryant was Kobe Bryant, scoring 30 or more points five times.

With Orlando coming to Los Angeles for Game 1 of this series Thursday night, now the question becomes, who'll break first in this old school versus new school matchup? Will it be the Lakers in their sixth NBA Finals this decade or the Magic in just their second Finals ever?

(To read the remainder of this article, please click here, or visit Aaron at www.aarontorres-sports.com)