RealGM

So we've got some hell of tough (statement) games coming up.

Utah (I'm sure they want a piece of us after the playoffs), Portland (our hated rivals), New Orleans (Always a good game), Indiana (we remember this one ) Miami ( ), Houston (They'll be looking at us as a measuring stick), Spurs ( They want revenge after the WCF), and Orlando ( Bynum probably wants to show up in this one), Cleveland (I've got this one marked on my calendar)

Of course it's one game at a time but damn this should be fun and hopefully Lakers take this very seriously (1 game at a time and especially take care of home and gutter teams)

VS Golden State
Vs Utah
Vs Portland
Vs New Orleans
@ Golden State
Vs Indiana
Vs Miami
@ Houston
@ San Antonio
Vs Orlando
Vs Cleveland

Maybe they wake up in this stretch of games.

not tryin to be a d**k but its box and one not box in one (van gundys quote)

we'll win'em all

I can't wait to play Cleveland. They are in for a rude awakening this time around.

If the play of the last few games continues with consistency, there is no reason why we should lose any of these games. I'll say 10-1 just to account for an off night. Lots of tough games, but I think they can do it. It's all about focus and desire from here on out with this team.

VS Golden State

although they just beat the celtics, they really shouldn't be beating the lakers. this should be a win, but its going to be tougher than we expect.

Vs Utah - no boozer, no millsap

Vs Portland - they're struggling, slowly sliding their way out of the playoff picture. 5-5 last ten

Vs New Orleans - lakers own them, they better continue now that they play them at staples

@ Golden State - again, should beat them but probably tougher than anticipated

Vs Indiana - revenge game, better win

Vs Miami - see indiana

@ Houston - who know if they'll be healthy this far ahead. i think its safe to assume they won't be

@ San Antonio - ah, a toughie

Vs Orlando - revenge game, they're good but not in the lakers class. i expect a beat down.

Vs Cleveland - another tough one


all in all i only see two tough games, i'll go with 1-1. throw in an extra loss or two and lakers should be 33-7 after this stretch.

The Lakers tend to play a lot better against good teams than bad teams. All the teams under the 0.500 are dangerous IMO. This worrisome tradition from me started a few years ago, when I rmb the Lakers were still a one Man Team beating teams like the Suns but losing against teams like the Bobcats. In all of those teams, I think GSW and Indiana are the most dangerous. Golden State for the simple fact that they are a team with a lot of chuckers, if they make em, the Lakers are somewhat screwed. Indiana for the fact that they have a big man that can shoot in Troy Murphy. The Lakers just don't do good with teams that have big man that can shoot the ball.

If this team stays healthy, 65 wins is possible.

Did u all look at the schedule for Feb and March.. we play only 10 home games compared to 20 road games..

Thats where things will start to unravel for us...

The same applies for Celtics and Cavs though.. Looks like the league has done this on purpose to bring in the fans..

Erik Eleven wrote:If this team stays healthy, 65 wins is possible.

kevin_405 wrote:Did u all look at the schedule for Feb and March.. we play only 10 home games compared to 20 road games..

Thats where things will start to unravel for us...

Not necessarily. It's a really good thing that we have a home heavy schedule early on because it allows us to develop chemistry (with Pau/Bynum, primarily) and confidence as a team. If we start to really click by that time it's not going to matter where we're playing. Last year, after the Gasol trade, we did very well on the road against some fairly good competition (11-3 I think), so there's no reason to belief that we'll do any worse in the closing months of the regular season.

Our success depends heavily on Bynum, IMO. Younger, inexperienced players tend to get more shaken up when they play on the road, so if he can mature a little and gain confidence going into the last 1/3 of the season we should be just fine.

Erik Eleven wrote:If this team stays healthy, 65 wins is possible.

I'd be disappointed with anything less if this team stays healthy. If we don't stay on top of things then we won't be looking at home court in the Finals (assuming we make it) as both Boston and Cleveland are going to be right there. We don't want to play them 4 out of 7 in their building.

I'm thinking 8-3 with outside chance at 9-2. That being said Spurs, Houston, Cleveland, Orlando should be very good games and tough to knock them off w/ 4 in a row at the end.

I don't want to troll, but I just have one comment on dcash's statement on the Blazers. While I would be lying if I said I disagreed that we are struggling right now (and I would also be lying if I said we had a decent shot to beat you guys in Los Angelas), you have to take into consideration our schedule and the teams we have played so far. We have played only 13 teams under .500 this season and have played like 17 road games so far this season. Like I said our playoff chances are not so good right now, but look at our schedule and see how many bottom feeders we play then (like Okalhoma City x4, Minny, Memphis, etc, the list goes on and on). We may not beat all of the bottom feeders, but if we are a good team like I think we are, we will beat most of them. So yes, while we are struggling now I thought I would just explain that we have had a relativley tough schedule and it only gets easier for us. And even though we have not nearly had the injury bug as bad as Utah, losing Oden and not having Webster at all has hurt along with recent injuries to Roy and Oden which I don't know how many games they will miss, if any. So yeah just thought I would comment on that.

Anyway, good luck to you guys when it comes to us playing. Not to thrilled that we have to play up in LA again, but that is what the schedule is. I am glad you guys come to Portland later in the season though because even though it is not a guaranteed win for us, I like our chances so much better. Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season and try and stay healthy.

In the west, the biggest threats to the Lakers will be the Nuggets, Spurs, Portland, in my opinion. Add the Rockets to that list if Yao and T-Mac can stay healthy. Portland will gain momentum as we get deeper into the season. I'd hate it if we had to face them in the first round.