[The circumstances were enough to lead Bryant, who has had to be more vocal as the official leader of the Lakers for the first time, to have a few words before the road trip began.] Before we left, ... I told the guys, 'I don't know about you, but I'm excited about this trip. We all know what people are saying, that by the time we get back from this trip we'll be out of the number eight spot. Well, this is our chance. Let's do something special.' Kobe Bryant