LA Lakers seek redemption in finals against Orlando Magic

Humiliated after losing last year's NBA Finals to Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers are looking for redemption when they lock horns with Orlando Magic in this season's best-of-seven finale.

Western Conference champions Lakers, back in the finals for a 30th time, host the Magic in tomorrow's Game One in Los Angeles.

"Redemption, we use that word all the time," Lakers All-Star guard Kobe Bryant told reporters.

"It's a word that I'm familiar with.

"It's tough for a team that goes to the NBA Finals to get back there the next year. We managed to do it somehow and now we've just got to make the most of it."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who is bidding for a record 10th NBA Championship, agreed his team were desperate to make amends for their 131-92 demolition by Boston in Game Six last year.

"We're just looking at this as something to redeem last year's loss," Jackson said.

This year's finals feature an intriguing match-up, pitting the supreme closer Bryant and the Lakers' renowned triangle offence against the inside threat of Dwight Howard and the outside-shooting Magic.

The biggest threat facing the Lakers is Howard, who scored a play-off career-best 40 points on Saturday when Magic beat Cleveland Cavaliers 103-90 to clinch the Eastern Conference championship in six games.

Jackson hinted that Howard could be guarded at various times in the finals by each of his seven-foot tall centres - Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and DJ Mbenga.

"We have three centres and we are real comfortable with that," Jackson said.

"Three big guys that have solid bodies."