The NBA Finals kicked off on Thursday night and while the Lakers were heavy favorties not just to take Game 1, but to win yet another title, I didn't expect the dominating manner in which they would do it.

Orlando has been written off by most throughout the playoffs, but after knocking out the Cleveland LeBrons in the Eastern Confernece Finals to get to this series, a buzz had started to mount around the young team.

The Lakers set out to silence that buzz and set the tone for the series. Message delivered, message received.

Kobe Bryant turned out one of his best playoff performances of his career - 40 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists 

Phil Jackson's plan of attack on Dwight Howard worked. L.A. doubled and some cases tripled teamed him every time the dynamic big man touched the ball. The result an unimpressive 12 points for Howard and just one field goal (1 of 6) from the field.

The Magic couldn't take advantage with the outside open either as they went just 8-of-23 on 3s and shot only 30 percent overall.

Game 2 is set for Sunday night at the Staples Center. If the Lakers come out and have a repeat performance on Game 1, this series could be over before it started.

FAST FACTS (from ESPN.com)
--The Lakers snapped a two-game losing streak in opening games of the NBA Finals (lost Game 1 to the Celtics in 2008 and the Pistons in '04).

--The 25-point margin of victory is the sixth-largest in Game 1 Finals history and largest since the Bulls' 33-point win over the Trail Blazers in 1992.

--The Lakers have won 16 straight best-of-seven series when winning the opening game (second-longest such streak in NBA history).

--Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 40 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, marking his 10th career 40-point playoff game and first in the Finals.

--The Magic fell to 0-5 all-time in NBA Finals games and became the third franchise in NBA history to lose its first five Finals games.

--Dwight Howard was 1-for-6, his fewest field goals made in a playoff game in his career.

NBA nba finals, nba playoffs, lakers, magic, kobe bryant, dwight howard, phil jackson