Kobe Bryant and the Lakers return to action in a season opener tonight against Portland at Staples Center. If they arrive with chips on their shoulders, it's because of four months of heavy mental lifting after a Game 6 Finals flop and an (embarrassing ) end to the pursuit of the franchise's 15th NBA title.
The Lakers can already find themselves (anointed) the 2009 champions on magazine covers, sports websites and Las Vegas tote boards, but Bryant doesn't seem impressed by a paper (championship).
He spoke frankly when asked if the potential and depth of the present-day Lakers could be compared to the three championship teams earlier this decade.
"No it's not a fair (comparison) at all," he said. "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.
"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."
The Lakers certainly have the ability to do it.