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Bryant, Lakers chase milestone titles
Source: AFP |
October 31, 2012, Wednesday
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THE Los Angeles Lakers and superstar Kobe Bryant are chasing twin milestone titles as the 67th NBA season opens today, counting on two key additions to help them regain Western Conference supremacy.
With one more title, the Lakers can match the Boston Celtics' record of 17 NBA crowns, while Bryant could match Michael Jordan's six career championships.
At 34, Bryant has been to the NBA finals seven times. With more than a thousand regular-season games under his belt - and with the Lakers still feeling the sting of their five-game second-round playoff ouster by the young Oklahoma City Thunder last season - the club have spared no expense in bringing in big man Dwight Howard and veteran point guard Steve Nash.
The Lakers will pay their players US$100 million this season, plus tens of millions more in luxury tax for the privilege.
"It's a big investment made in the team," said Spain's Pau Gasol. "Everybody has a lot of expectations about the team. We ourselves have a great desire of accomplishing all those expectations."
However, the build-up to the season-opener at home to Dallas has been anything but smooth. The Lakers went 0-8 in the pre-season, and Bryant is questionable for the game with a strained right foot.
With one more title, the Lakers can match the Boston Celtics' record of 17 NBA crowns, while Bryant could match Michael Jordan's six career championships.
At 34, Bryant has been to the NBA finals seven times. With more than a thousand regular-season games under his belt - and with the Lakers still feeling the sting of their five-game second-round playoff ouster by the young Oklahoma City Thunder last season - the club have spared no expense in bringing in big man Dwight Howard and veteran point guard Steve Nash.
The Lakers will pay their players US$100 million this season, plus tens of millions more in luxury tax for the privilege.
"It's a big investment made in the team," said Spain's Pau Gasol. "Everybody has a lot of expectations about the team. We ourselves have a great desire of accomplishing all those expectations."
However, the build-up to the season-opener at home to Dallas has been anything but smooth. The Lakers went 0-8 in the pre-season, and Bryant is questionable for the game with a strained right foot.
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