Funny how things work out: Los Angeles and Cleveland were supposed to roll through these playoffs, meet in the Finals and give David Stern and every one over at NBA HQ a box office smash of an NBA Finals. It almost didn’t happen, and if the second round was any indication, it still might not happen. If anything these conference finals should prove to be a meat grinder both ways.

LA almost didn’t make it. They were pushed to seven games by an upstart Houston squad that played without superstars Yao Ming and Tracy Macgrady. They were so thoroughly embarrassed in this second round series that up to now they seem unable to fully comprehend and appreciate how close they came to reprising the role of the 1994 Seattle Super Sonics in these playoffs.

“That we’re bipolar,” joked superstar Kobe Bryant when he was asked what, if anything, he and his Lakers learned in the Houston series. “I love reading about that stuff – that we don’t play hard, that we try to get away with just talent,” he added. “We already know that, and we realize that. No one is more disappointed than us when we don’t play to our potential.” It is ridiculous statements like these that make long-time fans such as your humble servant cringe and wince. That it was even said by the man who is supposed to be the best player in the world only makes it worse – stop yapping and get it done.

Over in the east, Orlando finally learned to thrust everything upon their superstar Dwight Howard. Howard responded with monster games in Games 6 and 7 of their second round series against erstwhile reigning champion Boston. Without the injured Kevin Garnett, Howard ruled the lane and simply scattered bodies underneath as he went from monster dunk to monster block and vice versa all over the place. Now he gets to test himself against his good friend Lebron James and Cleveland in the East Finals.

Of greater import is that this young Magic team has re-written history: prior to their Game 7 meltdown, the Celtics had never lost a Game 7 when leading a series 3-2 as they did here. It might have been different had Garnett been around, but that is all water under the bridge. “I hope he comes back 100%,” remarked Howard about Garnett during the post-game interviews.

Kobe-Lebron might make compelling box office stuff, but the Denver Nuggets and Orlando will definitely have something to say about that. Denver was the second best team in the Western Conference this season and easily disposed of New Orleans and Dallas in 10 games. They are looking to make their first ever franchise appearance in the NBA Finals. Orlando was down 3-2 against the veteran and battle-tested Celtics and still made the East Finals.

Cleveland remains the only undefeated team in these 2009 playoffs but will not find the goings as easy against the Magic. James had a lot of fun flying unchallenged to the rack and basically doing anything he pleased against Detroit and Atlanta. But the Pistons and the Hawks did not have the NBA’s defensive player of the year, and at 6-foot-11 and 270 pounds, with a vertical leap from another planet, Howard is an altogether different proposition for James.

All told destiny is truly something else. In the end it should be a six-game victory for the Lakers in the West, while Cleveland will be pushed to seven games by the Magic. Neither series will be easy and there should be at least two overtimes in there somewhere. Still, David Stern will get his wish, but not without sweating it out quite a bit first.