EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers' regular-season opener against the Denver Nuggets might still be three weeks away, but after hearing the defending champions talk all summer, L.A. already sounds ready for it.
After the Nuggets swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals and went on to defeat the Miami Heat for the title, Denver coach Michael Malone was introduced as "the Lakers' daddy" during the team's parade celebration. Malone also mocked LeBron James' comments following the loss to Denver when he told ESPN he would contemplate retirement during the offseason.