Roy, Webster Make Finals Predictions

I don't know about you, but I'm over trying to figure out how the 2008-09 season is going to play out. I certainly didn't expect the Magic to dispatch of the Cavs with relative ease, and I thought the Lakers run at the top of the Western Conference would come to a merciful end. But I was wrong. Part of that probably has something to do with the fact that I'm wrong more often than not, but I'll also chalk it up to this season's playoffs being more unpredictable than usual. And more exciting, for that matter.

So not that you really care, but I'm not going to venture a Finals prediction. Nothing, outside of a sweep by either team, would surprise me.

What you might care about though, is that Brandon Roy and Martell Webster are courageous enough to make their championship picks, and are willing to provide some thoughts on the playoffs in general.

"The playoffs have been great," said Roy. "It’s showing how much talent the NBA has, how deep a lot of the teams are. Every series could have gone either way, even with Houston taking the Lakers to Game 7."

Rick Adelman getting the Rockets to a Game 7 without the services of Yao Ming has to go down as one of the great coaching accomplishments of the '08-'09 season.

And as for the result of the Eastern Conference Finals?

"Before the series I said Orlando gives Cleveland problems," said Roy. "I thought, maybe in a seven-game series that Cleveland would overcome them, but once the series started, I said ‘Wow, Orlando is just the better team.’ That the good thing about seven-game series: there’s no upsets. Whoever wins was the team that was the better team. I think Orlando winning that series was big for them, but I can’t say I was surprised. They looked really good."

So no surprises in the ECF for Roy. But what about that Finals prediction ...

Said Roy: "It’s a tough one. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Lakers, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Orlando wins the championship because I think they’re talented. They change the game a little bit with spreading the ball around Dwight and knocking down three-pointers. They’re definitely a tough team."

So Roy represents the Western Conference and picks the Lake Show.

Martell Webster wasn't as definitive in his pick, but he's definitively got a preference, one that may surprise you.

"These playoff series hasn't had just a couple great teams," said Webster, "all the teams are really good. There was hope for all the teams in these playoff series. But the shakeout, I think it’s a great matchup and I can’t wait to see what happens."

So what's the pick?

Said Webster: "I want Orlando."

Hold up. Martell, the guy who draws criticism for being a Kobe Bryant fan, is rooting for the Magic? Who'd a thunk it?

"But I thought you were a Kobe guy," says I.

"Nope," replied Webster. "I respect him. I love his game, but I want Orlando."