Lakers rev up for C's

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — In his daily practice report, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said the team "played more ball today and did less talking and standing around." While Jackson added that you never go into a playoff series feeling "really prepared" because there are so many intangibles involved in the games, many of his players believe the team is ready to take on the Celtics. Although there is still another day until Game 1, the players said they felt relaxed and eager to start the Finals, but not nervous or anxious.

‘‘We went through the 82 game season, playoffs, ups and downs and we’re ready as a ballclub,’’ said Lamar Odom. ‘‘I’m pretty relaxed. I don’t want to get too pumped up. I want to kind of stay calm. It will be a little different when we hit the floor and get in that layup line. For me, it will be my first time in the Finals, so I’ll be pretty pumped about it."

Meanwhile, with Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Luke Walton the only three current Lakers players with NBA Finals experience, Fisher had a few words of advice in mind for his younger teammates.

"The only thing I think you can offer is to make sure they understand this is an opportunity that takes a lot of sacrifice and a lot hard work by a lot of people," said Fisher. "It's not an opportunity that should be squandered by complacency or feeling as though this opportunity will come again. That's the only message that I send out to guys that haven’t been here before."