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Good timing in this piece as the lakers start a tough part of the schedule






Hoping however rough it gets over the next few weeks we don't go overboard with the negativity on here and try to focus on the progress not just the win loss column

I predict 3-9 with wins coming vs Chicago, @ New Orleans and vs Utah.

Friday vs SAS: L
Sunday vs CHI: W
Tuesday vs OKC: W
Wednesday @ GSW: L
Friday vs GSW: L
Sunday vs ATL: W
Tuesday @ NO: W
Wednesday @ CHI: L
Friday @ TOR: L
Saturday @ MEM: L
Monday vs UTA: W
Wednesday @ HOU: L

I originally said 6-6 but that Memphis game I changed to a loss since its a road back to back 4th game in 5 nights(ouch)

So 5-7. But then again i'm always overly optimistic lol.

This is definitely going to be a tough strecth... For everyone. Even the players. All this winning has been fun, and great, but it has also inflated our expectations. 3-9, 4-8, 5-7... Honestly, any wins during this stretch will be great. Last year this would've been a guaranteed 0-12 stretch, with MAYBE the hopes of a win against the Pelicans, if we're lucky. We have to remember that our team has only been playing together for about a month and a half now. Some of the teams we're gonna face have been together for years. It's gonna be interesting to see how this young team handles this stretch. I expect a lot of losses... and a few surprise wins here and there.

I have a strong feeling that who we are and how we play, as a team, will be completely different by the end of it all... In a good way.

I'm looking forward to this stretch. It'll definitely test the team in a way they haven't been yet, but it's going to be a great barometer for what to expect in the last 2/3rds of the season. I think the guys have it in them to get a .500 split out of this stretch, which would put them at 13-11 through 24. At that point, I'm going to raise my expectations and I really will start thinking playoffs .

I know it's really early, but is it plausible for me to say that these next 12 games could give us an indication of whether we're a playoff team or not? .500 or better and we're a lock for the 7th or 8th seed.

The Regime wrote:I know it's really early, but is it plausible for me to say that these next 12 games could give us an indication of whether we're a playoff team or not? .500 or better and we're a lock for the 7th or 8th seed.

It could. But we could also go 2-10 and still "potentially" be a "you know what" team (Sorry, I refuse to say the word. For now, at least. Lol). This part of our schedule really is the "peak of the mountain". After this we have maybe 3 tough 3-4 game stretches. But, there's no part of our schedule, for the rest of the season, as tough as this 12 game stretch.

The Regime wrote:I know it's really early, but is it plausible for me to say that these next 12 games could give us an indication of whether we're a playoff team or not? .500 or better and we're a lock for the 7th or 8th seed.

Barring a significant injury, I would definitely say if they went .500 or better they'd be in very, very strong position to get in the playoffs.

I'd give us a fighting chance at home against every one of those teams except Golden State. That game could get ugly as they are peaking right now. That east coast road trip could be very difficult.

3-9 is OK, 4-8 is good, 5-7 is great, 6-6 is amazing.

took 6 years for kd,westbrook,harden,ibaka to reach the nba finals and they almost got swept bye the heat. took kobe and shaq 4 years.

patience is the key. we're ahead of the schedule but we still got long ways to go! id be happy if we get 4-5 wins for the next 12 games.

I wish we played in the East if we did we would be look at this and Loling because even if we went 2-10 we would still be looking at a play off spot ><

I disagree,that type of comment is for unreasonable fans who are expecting too much too fast. Like chefy said patience is key and the examples he used are spot on. Even in the mist of that Kobe-Shaq 4 year ride it only became obvious that we had to change the coach after that last beating by the Jazz. This time all the pieces are in place, we just have to have patience.

I don't get what this "resolve" crap is about, for me personally I've been watching NBA ball for decades and understand full well what rebuilds take before the team is an elite contender. I mean we have two starters not even 25 yrs old yet, they're still finding their games.

That term is for guys who believe in a microwave process, I'm good with these next 12 games. I like our chances on our home floor in every one, if we lose some then we lose.....it's part of the process.

**** I don't even care if they go 0-12, as long as I see their fight in all games, like they did in their losses (except Dallas).

Agree with Luke. I'll take those Ls with moral victories.

As long as our players are making games competitive, improving and playing well I wont be negative due to losses. The reason i'm happy about the lakers is not the record but because of the way they are playing great basketball.

If we are .500 in this stretch that would be a win. Few things though...we've beaten Atlanta, Golden State, Rockets, Pelicans already which we play in this next 12 game stretch. Now Golden State had a horrid game. Worse case scenario we are 5-7 in this stretch imo. Best case scenario would be 8-4.

One thing to note is that D'angelo has had a break out game against the Nets so if he can continue that kind of play we should be .500 in this stretch or better.

I think that if we move the ball, and continue to play like we have, we have a decent chance to win 4-5 games. There's a good chance we get knocked around pretty harshly these next 5 games....and I am curious to see how we respond. I'd like to see us come out the other end of those 5 games still completely believing what we do.

IMO...the wrong thing to do is to start freaking out....and switching starters, start playing only 8 deep...start messing with minutes, and so on. Just BE PATIENT. These are good teams, who are more established. We just gotta keep doing what we do, and continue to improve. The record isn't so important to me...but how we play. I don't wanna see the coach, or the players start to lose faith if we do go on a 6-7 game skid.

The fans and media will freak out. I have no doubt about that. But as long as the team keeps with it, we'll come out the other end, and frankly I'd be surprised if we didn't pick up a nice win or two this stretch...if we keep playing this 10-man style.

Picked up some nice seats for tmrw's game. About 25 rows up..prob about freethrow line. If the boys wanna postpone this little 'doomsday trip' and shock the NBA tmrw, I'm totally down with that.

Honestly, If we just move the ball....bring our youthful effort and speed, there's no reason we can't win. The Spurs are excellent at making you uncomfortable, so we'd really have to have it going. Sadly, I feel like we're abandoning our movement a bit these last 3-4 games. Bit more hero ball. That won't get it done against the Spurs. I think tmrw will be a lesson game for us.

But then...I figured GS would pay us back for our win last season. Just goes to show, that if we execute...we can beat anyone.

Very tough stretch but this team is hungry and they're playing well.
I think we'll go 5-7, maybe 6-6.

I really don't care about the resolve of the fans. Its the resolve of this team that matters. These wins and the way we are playing now is due to the confidence of our players. Hopefully, that confidence is not misplaced. The point is, if we go on a 5+ game losing streak, who knows how our guys will react. It may become a test of character which may also be good, but a long losing streak may start a downward spiral for the team especially if they start questioning what they have been doing.

Important for the team is to take it one game at a time. 3-9 wouldn't be the end of the world, but doing worse may be.