Lakers Schedule from Eric Pincus of Hoopsworld.com

We were checking out different articles on the web about the upcoming Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and honestly the best one we found is from Eric Pincus of www.Hoopsworld.com, we think he is right on. You should really check out his stuff on that Hoopsworld.com.

Last season the Los Angeles Lakers were fortunate to have relatively good health.  Though there were substantial injuries to Chris Mihm, Ronny Turiaf, Aaron McKie, Laron Profit and Slava Medvedenko, the team's biggest stars (Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom) missed just two games apiece.  Losing role players for an extended period hurt the team, but overall the Lakers had their star power available night in and night out.  The end result was a solid (though not spectacular) 45-37 season, good for the seventh seed in the West.

Maintaining continuity, the Lakers return primarily the same team they fielded last year.  The subtractions are negligible with Devean George, Slava Medvedenko, Jim Jackson and Laron Profit gone.  Certainly George had been a contributor through the years, but the Lakers won't miss his inconsistency.  There's a chance that Profit could return mid-season (should a roster spot become available), but he is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles' tendon.

The core of new Lakers (Vladimir Radmanovic, Shammond Williams, Maurice Evans and Jordan Farmar) should provide the team with additional depth and versatility.  Radmanovic and Williams are capable shooters.  Evans is a scrappy, energetic player who should help improve the team's perimeter defense.  It's hard to anticipate what sort of contribution Farmar will make as a rookie, but long term he could be the best acquisition of the summer.

On the bubble are young prospects like Von Wafer, J.R. Pinnock and yet to be signed restricted free agent Devin Green.  The Lakers already have 17 players under contract.  At this point it isn't clear how any of the three will make it to opening day save the Lakers making a trade (or waiving a guaranteed player).

As it stands, the Lakers have added to the roster while giving up very little.  Should the team stay healthy, overtaking last year's 45-win total should be a very achievable goal.

The Schedule
Although a better team would suggest a higher win-count, the increase is rarely as significant as fans would hope.  The rigors of an 82-game schedule provide each and every team their share of adversity.  It will be the final possessions of just a handful of games that will make all the difference.  It's certainly too early to tell if the Lakers have overcome last year's inconsistencies simply by minor roster upgrades.  LA lost a number of games they very easily could have won simply by failing to execute down the stretch.

Lakers November schedule
The Lakers have 15 games in the month of November (including the season opener on Halloween night).  To the team's benefit, 11 are at Staples Center.  Last season the team won nearly 66% of their home games.  Because the opening month is so heavily weighted in LA, the Lakers will need to get off to a fast start.  Last year LA won only 44% of their away games.

Working in the Lakers' favor, the only elite teams they see in November (based on a win total last season of 50+ games) are the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons. 

Predominately home games against reasonable competition, a strong opening month could be as high as 11 wins out of 15.  Cause for concern would be only seven or eight wins.

Lakers December schedule
The next 16 games should provide more of a challenge for the Lakers.  A stretch of ten games with eight on the road should prove to be quite difficult.  LA will visit the Dallas Mavericks on the second night of a back to back, with a visit to the Houston Rockets on the front end. 

Another Christmas in Miami will be a nice litmus test against the now World Champion Heat.

When all is said and done the Lakers will have nine on the road and seven in LA.  An 8-8 finish for December isn't out of the question.

Lakers January schedule
A slightly road heavy month, the Lakers will play eight of the 15 away from Staples.  The level of competition increases in January.  Once again the Lakers will visit Dallas on the second night of a back to back.  This time the opener is in San Antonio against the Spurs.  The Lakers will also host both the Mavericks and Spurs in LA, along with the Heat.

Other challenges include a visit to Houston off of a game the previous night in Memphis.  A Laker visit to the Boston Celtics won't be easy after playing the previous night against the Knicks in New York.

The Lakers could end January with more wins than losses, but it may closer to 8-7 even if they play well.

The schedule for December and January stresses important it is for the Lakers to begin the season on top in November.

Lakers February schedule
The number of games in February is traditionally light (just 12), the Lakers begin the month with the first six on the road.  Though the competition may not be overwhelming, six games in nine days is a challenge for even the best in the league.

It seems that the Washington Wizards are always a challenge for the Lakers.  It won't be any easier with LA visiting the Indiana Pacers the night before.  After a stop in Atlanta, the Lakers will visit the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors back to back.

Under normal circumstances the Lakers may be able to handle the Raptors with ease (though they too have seemingly improved over the summer).  Near the end of a difficult road trip, the Lakers may find Toronto too much to handle on tired legs.

After four winnable games in LA (Knicks, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers and Celtics), the month finishes with a pair on the road in Golden State and Utah.  It's difficult to tell how improved the Warriors will be with their major off-season move the hiring of Coach Don Nelson.  The Jazz also seem to be a solid team on paper.  The Lakers historically have struggled on the second night of back to backs.

Though it's just 12 games, the Lakers could very easily end up winning just six simply based on strength of schedule.

Lakers March schedule
Half of the 14 games in March will be away from Staples including a four game road trip against the Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks (on the second night of a back to back) and Philadelphia 76ers.

The competition in March is relatively lighter, but with four sets of back to backs including a visit to Memphis and New Orleans on successive nights could make March more difficult than it should be.

An 8-6 record would be reasonable, but this would be the month for the Lakers to make a charge.  A 10-4 record may be difficult, but it's not out of the question.

Lakers April schedule
The Lakers finish the season with ten in April.  Once again, half are away, leaving November is the only month of the season where the Lakers have more games at home than on the road.

The level of competition is reasonable though not necessarily overwhelming.  The Lakers see just five teams with one of each home and away against the Clippers, Kings, Suns, Nuggets and Sonics.  The only team in the group that didn't make the post-season last year was Seattle.

Games on the road against the Clippers (though still in Los Angeles), Nuggets and Suns are on the second nights of back to backs.

It won't be an easy month, but the Lakers should be able to make a final push.

A very strong finish would be 7-3, though that certainly won't be easy as every game is likely to have significant playoff implications.

The Bottom Line
Every team hopes to stay healthy and if the Lakers can get another 80 games each out of Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom without any major injuries to any of the contributing role players, the Lakers should be able to finish the 82-game schedule with momentum leading into the playoffs.

One major concern is Kobe Bryant's health coming off of surgery.  To date he's still not cleared for running.  The added depth at guard will need to lighten the load for the Laker star.

If the Lakers are indeed a significantly improved team and are blessed with good health, 50 wins is certainly attainable.

If the summer acquisitions are less than impressive and injuries nag the club, 43 wins could be the downside . . . putting the Lakers right on the playoff bubble for the eighth seed.  A slow start in November could be very costly once the schedule turns more road-heavy.

All things considered, put the 2006-7 Los Angeles Lakers down for an 48-34 regular season record.

Other NBA News

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that individual game Clippers basketball tickets will go on sale the week of October 2nd, with season ticket holders having the first chance to purchase single game tickets for the upcoming season. The Clippers are holding a two-day, online-only presale event for season ticket holders beginning on Monday, October 2 at 10:00 AM.

The Los Angeles Clippers will then give subscribers to their online newsletter, FULL COURT, the chance to purchase individual game tickets on the morning of Wednesday, October 4th, before single game tickets go on sale. Clipper Fans can log onto clippers.com to sign up and receive pre-sale info and a chance to win two (2) lower bowl season tickets.

Jordan Farmar news:
•Rookie Farmar says he's living Hollywood dream with Lakers
• Grizzlies challenge Farmar
• Stars come out at Camp
• NBA considerations distant memory for pair of eager Cats

Kobe Bryant news:
•Kobe Bryant apologizes to Lakers GM
•Kobe Bryant Wins Scoring Title
•Kobe has most popular jersey in USA, China
•Bryant Proves the Best
•Wade beats Bryant for another Skills Challenge win
•Memorabilia Offered by Kobe Bryant and Upper Deck
•Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Suspended
•Why did Kobe change to 24?
•Kobe Bryant: Won't Play This Week
•Kobe Bryant to Collab with Lil Wayne
•Lakers' Kobe Bryant ready for another run as NBA season nears
•Kobe Bryant Dunk Videos
•Kobe Bryant Videos
•Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07 for PlayStation
•Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07

Los Angeles news:
• Los Angeles news
•Los Angeles Concerts news
• Beckham Signs with Los Angeles Galaxy
• Top 10 Most Valuable NBA Franchise
• 10 Ten things to do in Los Angeles
• Lower back spasms from the court.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Restaurants.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Experiences

JR Pinnock news:
• Lakers sign JR Pinnock

Smush Parker news:
• Smush Parker Basketball Camp

Staples Center news:
•Get up to the minute Los Angeles Concert tour news
•Garth Brooks To Play Staples Center Benefit Shows For Fire Victims
•Bon Jovi Staples Center
•Van Halen Staples Center Dec 14th
•Wild try to continue hot start in LA
•Hyundai Returns to X Games 13 Rally Car Racing
• Rumorville Eric Clapton to play the Staples Center
• Grady Brewer wins 'Contender 2' in a split decision over Steve Forbes
• Cirque comes the LA Staples Center

Phil Jackson news:
• Lakers coach Jackson fined US$25,000
• Phil Jackson to have hip surgery