Lakers Training Camp Begins with (Gasp!) No Drama

The Lakers opening day of training camp was yesterday, and frankly it was a little dull in comparisons to past year’s.  Let’s do a recap: In 2003  Kobe Byrant flew straight to training camp from Eagle, Colorado, where he was attending a hearing for his sexual assault trial. Two years later, Bryant told reporters at the start of training camp that he was “OK” with Phil Jackson returning as the Lakers’ coach, despite Jackson’s claim that Bryant was “uncoachable” in his tell-all and previous feuds between Jackson and Bryant. Just last fall no one knew if Bryant would even be present at training camp after he spent the off-season bad-mouthing the organization.

So is there something in the water? Things are uncharacteristically quiet this year at the Lakers’ training camp, although small problems are nonetheless brewing. Odom and Jackson are bumping heads about the Lakers coach’s recent statement that Odom would come off the bench and fans are anxious to see how Bynum’s recovery will pan out. But still, the Lakers are favored to take home the NBA title this year and if things keep going like this it looks like smooth sailing. Nervous Celtics?

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