Players battle for the honor of champion. To the victor: basketball superiority. But defending the crown you already wear? Often times, even harder. Long after the confetti stopped raining at The Coliseum, the 2009 NBA Champions were rewarded accordingly. The City of Angels mobbed to celebrate. Players added to their personal jewelry collection. Staples got new drapes. And then it was time to do it all over again. The mind-numbing repetition. Early mornings double-dating with late nights spent working on their weaknesses. Dribbling on the 82-game-long road that is the regular season ...