Image by Getty Images via @daylifeEL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Lakers now have Steve Blake and Matt Barnes, two players who fill offensive and defensive needs in addition to bringing in ringless players who can infuse the back-to-back champions with extra motivation ... which would be a perfectly legitimate storyline if the Lakers didn't have Kobe Bryant.
"Just speaking with Kobe, I don't think he needs any motivation," Blake said. "His mind is set on winning again."
When Barnes entered the Lakers' locker room for the first time he heard Bryant in a heated conversation with Ron Artest, talking about getting over screens and locking up in man-to-man defense, a discussion that might seem more appropriate for a playoff game timeout than a leisurely summer day.
"If he's that hungry, I'm starving," said Barnes, who has landed on his eighth team in his quest to join a winner. "I don't think the mentality of the team is to sit back and get fat."
That's because the mentality of this team is dictated by Bryant, who still appears lean after 14 NBA seasons and five championships. As the challenges -- whether he can win a championship, whether he can win one without Shaq, whether he can beat the Celtics -- keep falling to the side, the drive hasn't gone anywhere.
"I don't have to search for motivation or anything like that," Bryant said. "I want to make sure us as a team, we're moving in that direction. You don't have to search for anything. The motivation is there. We're here to win. Simple as that."
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