LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two days of long practices and bonding over a steak dinner have the Los Angeles Lakers ready to defend their NBA championship.
They’ll begin Sunday against All-Star Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, whose youth and speed the Lakers will counter with Kobe Bryant and experience.
After stumbling through the end of the regular season, the Lakers are feeling good again with Bryant’s improved health and the return of Andrew Bynum.
They went out Friday night for a steak dinner, limiting the basketball talk to the goal of earning a third consecutive trip to the NBA finals.
