LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Incentives and magical numbers abound for Kobe Bryant and the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers as they enter a new season with their sights set on a record-equalling 17th title.
Should they go on to scale those lofty heights, the purple and gold Lakers would draw level with their arch-rivals, the Boston Celtics, in the all-time standings.
They would also complete a third title in a row, matching their imperious run from 2000 to 2002, while coach Phil Jackson would land his fourth ‘three-peat’, having previously recorded two of them when in charge of the Chicago Bulls.
The 65-year-old coach would also be able to celebrate his record 12th championship ring as a coach while Bryant would emulate basketball great Michael Jordan by securing his sixth as a player.
For all this to be achieved, though, the Lakers would need to plot their way through another long and gruelling campaign with the Celtics and the beefed-up Miami Heat looming large as their likeliest challengers.
The Celtics, champions in 2008, are a battle-hardened team who were edged 4-3 by the Lakers in last season’s finals while the Heat have become a blue-chip force since recruiting All-Stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh to link up with Dwyane Wade.
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“It’s a year that’s (rife) with all kinds of possibilities — the opportunity to win, the opportunity to tie the Celtics,” Lakers coach Jackson said.
“Those are all big things … so we’d obviously like everything to go well for us.”
Perhaps the most significant concern for Jackson with the Oct. 26 season-opener against Houston fast approaching is the ongoing fitness of his ageing squad.
