Signs of a blowout: Dwight Howard took just six shots. Rashard Lewis (2-for-10) had his worst-shooting game of the postseason. For the first time in the playoffs, Hedo Turkoglu had more turnovers (four) than assists (two).

LeBron James had to be watching in disgust as the Magic missed three pointers in bulk (just 3-for-11 in the first half; 8-for-23 in the game).

You’ll see a lot of SERIES OVER chatter on the web and in the papers today; perhaps we’re hopeful for an interesting series, but we’ll chalk up the rout to first game nerves. Stan Van Gundy can save the day!

* Jameer Nelson came in and played well, helping the Magic surge to a 5-point lead early in the 2nd (33-28). Then the Lakers went on a 10-0 run, Kobe took over, and Orlando couldn’t make shots. The Nelson question becomes: Did he help, or hurt the rotation? He played just one less minute than starter Rafer Alston … who looked to be chucking (2-9) all night, perhaps in an effort to play more.

* If the dismal 3-point shooting wasn’t the problem, then 55-41 was. LA dominated the glass. It was one-sided enough that it gave us a thought about a potential lineup move …

* We’re waiting for another silly John Hollinger opus on how Dwight Howard getting fewer than 10 shots isn’t a bad thing. Bynum did a serviceable job on Howard, but here’s a thought: Could SVG get away with playing Gortat and Howard up front at the same time? That seemed to be what SVG was tinkering with late in the fourth. Try Rashard Lewis on Kobe? Hedo at the three? Anything to help out on the glass and prevent LA from abusing rookie Courtney Lee they way they did.

* Thought the Magic actually defended Kobe well. Tough to say that when the guy gets 40, but they didn’t put him on the foul line in the first half, all of his jumpers were challenged, and he did take 34 shots.

* If this thing gets away from the Magic and LA leads 3-0, Phil Jackson would be a prick not to activate Adam Morrison. Just getting him on the court with Redick, even for a minute, would be pretty cool.