AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
As much as everyone in L.A. would like to see it, the Lakers aren't going to go 82-0. So now the question is, when will the Lakers pick up their first loss of the season?
The Lakers are 4-0 with wins against sub-par teams: the young and Oden-less Trail Blazers, the chemistry-less Clippers (twice), and the in-flux Nuggets.
Looking at the schedule, if the Lakers are going to lose a game this season, it's going to be one of the next three:
11/9 vs. Houston - True, the Rockets haven't been playing the way that most people expected, but you can never take Yao, McGrady, and Artest lightly, even at home. After a heart-breaking loss in Portland last night (three tremendous shots at the end of OT), the Rockets will likely have fun exacting revenge on the Clippers tonight. By Sunday they could be confident and firing on all cylinders, ready to steal a win from the Lakers at Staples. Also, the fact that this will only be the Lakers' second game in eight days may work against them.
11/11 at Dallas - The Lakers have only played one real road game this season (the hallway series doesn't count) and Dallas is a much tougher place to play than Denver. The Mavs are looking to prove that they're still a contender and knocking off the Lakers is a great way to do that.
11/12 at New Orleans - Let's be honest, if the Lakers get through this one undefeated, they very well may not lose all season. Everything is stacked against the Lakers here. It will be their third game in four days and the second of a back-to-back. Not to mention they're playing the Hornets, who have only gotten stronger since competing with the Lakers for the best record in the West last season. This matchup has LOSS written all over it for the Lakers. But that's why they play the games, right?
The good news is that if the Lakers get through the next three games, they only have two really tough road games (Phoenix and those pesky Hornets again) until mid-January.
Is it realistic to assume the Lakers will take care of business at home and against weak opponents on the road? No.
Is it plausible that the Lakers can get into January with one or two losses? Absolutely.
Of course, now that I've gone through this elaborate scenario, the Lakers will probably get through the next three games and then lose to the Bulls at home. That's just the way these things work.
Comments
I tend to lean more towards losses to teams like The Bulls. The Lakers, even during the Kobe/Shaq years have always been notorious for blowing it against the worst teams in the league. Of course this means nothing in the larger scheme, because most of the teams they lose to don't make the play-offs. I not only expect, but I'd also bet on the fact that the Lakers will lose to the Charlotte Bobcats, the Oklahoma Thunder, and the Memphis Grizzlies (the most incongruous team name in the history of the NBA, btw). Oh, and Adam Morrison will go for 50 in the Bobcats win then quietly get released from the team for averaging 6.3 points per game.
Portland - sub par? Give yourselves a bit more credit than that my demeaning friend. Although the Blazers did not have three of their key players against LA, you guys beat us handedly and looked like a team that is the favorite to win the NBA championship this year.
Of course, you had better win it now - Portland is coming.
Probably not 82-0 I concede, but as I said at the time of the Gasol trade...if everyone stays healthy I'd be shocked if the Lakers didn't win 75 games during the 2008-2009 season. The Lakers bench would probably win close to 50 games if it were the starting lineup. The amount of talent on the Lakers right now is just silly...the unprecedented part of it is that every player except for fisher is in his prime. This team could prove to be better than the 60s celtics.
i dont really like the lakers because kobes a bull hog the celtics are awsome i cant believe that the nuggets traded allen iverson!!!!!!!!!!!!it suck!!!!!!!!!!
do you guys like the pistons?
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