What a difference 365-ish days makes.  Around this time last season, Kobe Bryant was barely masking his dissatisfaction with the Lakers front office and barely bothering to fake any enthusiasm about kicking off the season.  One year (and a blossomed Andrew Bynum/stolen Pau Gasol/solidified bench/returning Derek Fisher and a Finals appearance) later, dude's happy as a clam about life in the purple and gold lane.  There were more smiles and wit on display than any hint of trepidation, and talk of the Lakers being among the creme de elite sits just fine with him.  "We're the favorites for a reason," Bryant said. "That's one of the things I told the guys. We've got all the tools. We've got all the pieces of the puzzle. Now it's on us to do the work.  If we do the work, we should win it."

Kobe discussed topics ranging from the notion of him playing in Europe (as BK and I have both said, it's a purely media-driven, far-fetched scenario) to playing fewer minutes in America (he can handle 40-43 mpg no problem, but decreasing them is always a mutual Mamba/PJ goal) to being 30 (which, as he put it, is "the new 20").  He also provided more info about his un-surgeried pinkie, which he feels will need to endure a nearly identical hit as the one causing the original injury for him to miss time. "The scar tissue has settled.  It's pretty thick right now."  That particular nugget provided some relief for me, as I've been through a similar situation after tearing my ACL and cartilage in a skiing accident.  Originally, the doctor thought I would need separate surgeries for each ailment, but when it came time to go under the knife, my ligament had almost entirely re-scarred itself, which led to an easier rehab and quicker recovery.  Thus, playing through the condition now seems less potentially risky than I thought back in early September.

Kobe Bryant: Download kobe_bryant_media_day_9.28.08.mp3

AK

For Chris Mihm, the season begins with renewed hopes of a healthy campaign.  Unfortunately, Mihm's been down this road many times since a devastating, multiple-surgery-requiring 2006 ankle injury, one that's prevented him from stringing together a sizable stretch of games.  But Mihm was able to get some running in during the tail end of the year, perhaps an indication of a potential light at the end of the tunnel.  Granted, it was a light more rusty than luminous (particularly during a brutal minute Finals stint), but for Mihm, getting through it without further injury hopefully means that the pain-free state he's experiencing now is here to stay.  He's confident with those odds (his workouts have included putting the ankle/foot in positions previously too excruciating over the last two and a half years) but is fully aware that the proof is in the pudding.  "I've got to prove to our coaching staff, our management and our fans that I can stay healthy and play this season," he said.

Should that be the case, the presence of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol means that Mihm's role is likely to be more limited than earlier in his Lakers campaign (assuming he's even part of the rotation).  For his part, Mihm has no delusions over the long odds of a starting role, and he's cool with it.  "I'm excited to be back in here and provide whatever spark, whatever role I can," he said. "If it's 10-15 minutes a game, coming in either at the four or five position, providing a defensive presence, rebounding and some strength down low. I'm nine years into (my career) now. I want to be out there. I want to play, but my ego can handle not starting.  I'm excited to be a part of this team and I want to win a championship with this team more than anything."

Chris Mihm: Download chris_mihm_media_day_9.28.08.mp3

AK

Not that you'd expect anything different about two and a half hours into the first practice of the first day of the season, but there wasn't a ton of news coming out of El Segundo this afternoon.  The biggest was probably with Lamar Odom, who clarified/expanded on comments made at Monday's media day regarding the possibility of him coming off the bench.  Fair to say he didn't like the idea.  He still doesn't, nor would you expect him to, really, but made it clear at the same time he's not interested in being a distraction. 

"It's not about me right now, at the end of the day," Odom said. "You see what I'm saying?  It's not about sacrificing when you're winning.  If you want to win, you can't expect to get every rebound, every loose ball when you've got the talent we've got out there.  I don't call it sacrificing when you're winning, you're just playing together, and I don't think it'll be a problem for us to play together. It's not right for me to be selfish.  I walk into the locker room, and I'm like, 'This team is going to win a championship, and I want to be a part of that.' "

Still, the free agent-to-be finds himself squarely in the cross hairs of basketball's "politics and business," and Odom, never one to underthink a situation, understands the situation.  "It's definitely conflicted emotions," he said. "I might wake today feeling one way, then wake up tomorrow feeling another way.  This is the team I want to be with, this is the coach I want to play for, these are the guys I want to be around.

I wouldn't worry about Odom's reaction to the whole "sixth man" concept, at least not until it becomes something the Lakers want to do, but he's a sensitive guy.  He's certainly used to being the subject of near-constant trade rumors, but the contract status adds a new wrinkle. 

The Lakers, as you may have heard, played the Finals at less than full strength.  Trevor Ariza was limited coming back from foot problems, and Andrew Bynum was in a suit on the sidelines.  Both are back, both are healthy and confident in the state of their once-injured body parts, and the expectation is the two of them will make a significant difference in the Lakers' fortunes.  I happen to agree.  Bynum provides a big body inside and a shot blocking presence on the defensive end along with a handy option on the other end, while Ariza is one of the team's better wing defenders (and, he notes, spent the summer working on his shot).  Click below for some audio from both Ariza and Bynum. 

One guy who isn't all the way back is Luke Walton, still recovering from offseason surgery on his right ankle.  He's working out, but thinks it could be a couple weeks before he's participating fully in practice.  It's time away Walton knows won't benefit him as the Lakers sort out the rotation on a very deep roster, but there's not much that can be done.  Last season he was never healthy, and we all saw the results. Walton has much to prove this year. 

Click below for the audio and quotes.

The hair remains long and flowing.  The confidence, both in himself and his team, could also be described in similar fashion.  But that doesn't mean Sasha Vujacic has put last year's Finals loss permanently in the rear view mirror.  Quite the opposite, in fact.  I personally didn't hear another Laker mention a bitter taste lingering than The Face, who admitted his mouth will remain an unappetizing flavor until the Lakers walk away with next season's title.  The word "terrible" often popped up and while most people blamed this year's mellow Media Day scene on Kobe's happiness and optimism heading into the season, Vujacic felt it could be the team's current "bridesmaid" status.  "That's why it's so quiet.  We don't have anything to celebrate (yet)." 

But I don't want to paint Slovenia's Favorite Son as all doom and gloom.  The Machine was happy with his offseason work, which stressed both defensive improvement and adding muscle without losing quickness (for what it's worth, he did look slightly thicker).  And he definitely liked the idea of entering the season as a favorite.  "The whole mindset, the whole thing about the Lakers is that last year, we were sort of running after the championship.  Now we are contenders.  That's the good thing about it going into the season.  No surprises.  Just being where we want to be."  Sasha also had some nice words about his buddy and former next door neighbor (in the locker room, not real life) Ronny Turiaf, who took his spirited act up North.   "Not having him with us or on the sidelines dancing.  We're gonna miss him.  It's hard to replace that, because he was Mr. Energy."

Sasha Vujacic: Download sasha_vujacic_media_day_9.28.08.mp3

AK

Whether it comes in the middle of the Finals or on Media Day, there's never a bad time to hear from Derek Fisher.  As with everyone else on the team, the loss to Boston (and particularly the final game) put a sour finish on what was otherwise a positive year.  It's important, Fish says, to take the good and the bad into the '08-'09 campaign and use last year as a jumping off point. 

Defense, a common refrain from coaches and players alike, was (not surprisingly) on Fish's radar.   

"Personally, I take some of what happens each season, good and bad, into the following (year).  I think there's a lot to learn from lessons of the past- good lessons and bad lessons- and you carry those things with you.  Hopefully you grown and mature in a way that will allow you not to repeat some of the mistakes you made the season before.  For us, our focus is defensively being the best team we're capable of being.  It's one thing to talk about being good on defense and then not having the talent and physical abilities to be good on defense.  It's another thing to talk about being good on defense, and you have all the pieces necessary to be the best team in the league defensively.  That's one of our main and primary focuses to start camp."

Derek Fisher: Download derek_fisher_media_day.mp3

BK

After Ronny Turiaf signed an offer sheet from the Golden State Warriors that went unmatched, his role of "backup big man/energy provider" needed replacement.  Cue Josh Powell, a young journeyman now playing for his fifth team in as many seasons.  In 2007-2008 with the Clippers, the power foward grabbed a fairly impressive tally of boards in just under 20 minutes, perhaps a sign that he can provide a spark similar to Ronny's.  The M.O. certainly seems appears in line with what Powell feels he brings to the table.  "Just excitement.  That good energy.  Good team guy.  A guy to pick everyone up and keep everyone going."

Powell also confirmed my hope that he's put on weight from last season, which could make a legit option as a backup center (or, if nothing else, a more suitable option, since Powell noted that gig is already listed on his resume).  In any event, Powell is happy about his new situation and came up blank when I asked if he could ever recall being on a team with more of a realistic title chance.  "Not that I can think of," smiled Powell.  "When I was with Dallas (in 2006), we obviously had a chance to win it that year, but we fell a little short.  Hopefully, this time around, we'll hopefully be able to win it all."  Here's what he had to say.

Josh Powell: Download josh_powell_media_day_9.28.08.mp3

AK

Heading into training camp, the Lakers have 14 players under a guaranteed contract or universally expected to start the season under a partially guaranteed deal. The NBA allows a maximum of 15 players per roster. I was a rather shoddy math student in high school, but even I can figure out that means one spot and one spot only remains for the taking (assuming the Lakers don't open with 14 fellas, as Mitch Kupchak has said is possible).

Obviously, things can change as we see more preseason action, but for now, the "inside track" money would likely be on second-year player Coby Karl.  But don't tell him that. Even while acknowledging how last season's team opened with a stuffed roster and had only 13 by midseason, he's treating the situation as one slot doesn't fit all.  "My mind-set is that I have to make sure that I'm on the team and show them that I belong here." How to make that notion crystal clear?  Do everything "a championship-caliber team does," from playing D to rebounding to mirroring the teamwide professionalism Karl observed as a rook, generally from the bench. 

I got a few minutes with Karl, who also included some good stuff about Derek Fisher's fourth-quarter defense, which he considers top drawer. 

Coby Karl: Download coby_karl_media_day_9.29.08.mp3

AK

We'll be trickling out audio/video all day, but we just wanted to let you know we were there and, to be honest, the afternoon was fairly mellow and uneventful. And given the circumstances that created a Bizarro-World atmosphere last year by comparison, the laid-back vibe is a decidedly good thing.

AK 

The Lakers didn't make any big moves this summer, in part because nothing they could have done would have been much bigger than the return of their big. That's big news, you know. With that in mind, the LAT's Mike Bresnahan and Mark Heisler take a look at Bynum, and his past and future in L.A. 

Part I, Part II.

BK