Lakers Loss Fuels Fire for Redemption

The Lakers will play against Portland in a season opener tonight and with their loss to the Celtics (Celtics 131, Lakers 92) still fresh on their minds (not to mention last season’s championship loss) the team will undoubtedly try to redeem themselves. Although the media has already predicted that the Lakers will take home the 2009 NBA title, Kobe Bryant isn’t taking the predictions serious. In an interview with the L.A. Times Bryant was frank, saying that he doesn’t feel the present-day Lakers can be compared to the three championship teams earlier this decade. “No it’s not a fair comparison at all. Talent-wise, we probably have more talent on this team, but what we had on that team was inner toughness. That’s something that we have to prove still.”

Bryant, who is back after winning his first MVP award, also weighed in on the Celtics win: “Boston obviously was a big challenge, a test for us that we failed. But we’re going to be getting better at it. The team that we had in the past, that was just a tough, tough team. That came through experience. That came through trial and error. Hopefully we can get there soon.” Coach Phil Jackson returns for a fourth season in his second tour with the Lakers and told the Times, “I think this is the hardest I’ve worked guys in preseason in the re-emergence of my tenure here. I think they understand that there’s a serious challenge out to them from me, about going into the season with dedication.”

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