Kobe Bryant: It’s time for Lakers to come together

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The Lakers look at this four-game trip as an opportunity to build their community, to come together as a group, to be around each other, to bond.

It is their longest trip of the season so far, and it will be the Lakers’ most challenging stretch of games.

Of their four opponents, only one has a record below .500, and even that team has some talent.

The Lakers first will face a 12-12 Miami Heat team today at 5 p.m. that is in third place in the Southeast Division.

Then the Lakers play in Orlando Saturday night against a Magic team that leads the Southeast Division with a 20-6 record.

The Lakers then go to Memphis to play a 9-16 Grizzlies team Monday night that is last in the Southwest Division, but has talent.

The Lakers finish at New Orleans Tuesday night against a 15-7 Hornets team that leads the Southwest Division.

‘It’s not so much about learning for us,’’ Kobe Bryant said. ‘We’ve been through so many wars and battles. It’s really about getting together and being around each other, which was one of our great strengths last year.’’

-- Broderick Turner