The next process in getting the team playoff ready would be to get a convincing win against the one of the league’s elite. The Lakers will get a chance to do so against Boston, a team that in Bryant’s mind is currently atop the NBA as far as execution.
“The [Celtics] understand us very well, obviously having played them in the finals in a seven-game series and the history that we have. It’s a challenge for us to out-execute them, kind of out-think them and out-tough them…that’s the biggest challenge for us.”
If it is about getting better, hopefully the lessons learned roughly ten days ago during their first meeting with Boston have stuck with the Lakers.
Less Bryant, a better defensive effort and definitely more output from their other seven-footer, Gasol.
Recently, Gasol has come under fire for his lack of aggression against Boston. It prompted Bryant to have a one-on-one talk with him about being a more dominant player and even went so far as to say that he needed a little more “black swan” in him rather than a “white swan.”
“[Gasol’s] such a nice guy and that’s his nature, that’s who he is,” said Bryant. “I want him to be nasty and understand that it’s okay to be nasty sometimes because that’s what we need from you and it doesn’t change who you are at your core as a person.”
Aside from Gasol, tonight’s game also gives Bynum a chance to show why to win a championship the Lakers’ front court must remain in tact. Defensive rotations, offensive executions, floor spacing, rebounds, and limiting turnovers are all keys to victory against the Celtics.
All of these are facilitated by having the two seven-footers on the floor.
What about the playoffs Kobe?
“Come on now, you know me. We’ll be ready, trust me.”