Predicting Every Lakers Outcome in the Month of April

The month of April generally signals the beginning of the NBA Playoffs. However, this season there's still plenty of basketball left to be played because of the lockout.

Generally, teams play a handful of games in April before starting postseason play in the middle of the month. However this season, teams will be playing until the end of the month.

The Los Angeles Lakers have 14 games scheduled in the month of April and they need a better performance this season in the month. They can't afford to win just three games in the month like they did last year.

Usually the Lakers have a playoff spot wrapped up by this time, but this year has had its unique set of trials and tribulations that have tested the Lakers' patience and game-play, both off-and-on the court, respectively.

All of that said, the Lakers have a friendly April schedule compared to other months from this season. 10 of their 14 games will be played in the state of California and none will be played in the eastern time zone. 

That's pretty much where the friendliness ends though. The Lakers have three tilts against the San Antonio Spurs, and one each against the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Here's a quick breakdown and prediction of each Laker game in April. 

April 1: Golden State Warriors

Skinny: The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a close victory in the Bay Area. Even though the Warriors are a terrible team in the standings, the Lakers can't afford to be complacent. It'll be a good test for the Lakers to try to keep a high-octane offense under 100 points. The Lakers have won 23-of-26 against the Warriors and they should cruise to an easy victory in this one. 

Prediction: Lakers 109, Warriors 98

April 3: New Jersey Nets

Skinny: This is the lone meeting between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Jersey Nets. It'll also be the last Eastern Conference game for the Lakers in the 2011-12 season. Deron Williams would've caused some problems had the Lakers not acquired Ramon Sessions. However, the new Lakers point guard should be able to contain the superstar point guard of New Jersey. Also, the Lakers' size up front will be no match for the Nets. Lakers take this one handily.

Prediction: Lakers 98, Nets 90

April 4: At Los Angeles Clippers

Skinny: Don't think the Lakers are sick of all the talk about how the Los Angeles Clippers were supposed to be the premier basketball in Los Angeles this season? Of course they are. Even in a tumultuous season, the Lakers still have a better record than the Clippers, and they'll look to silence the country and retain the title of king in Los Angeles.

A lot has changed since these two combatants last met. The Lakers have a solid point guard now in Ramon Sessions and Lakers bench players, Josh McRoberts and Matt Barnes, have elevated their play because of it. Expect those three, along with the Laker bigs, to be a factor in a tight ball game that will result in a Lakers victory.

Prediction: Lakers 97, Clippers 95

April 6: Houston Rockets

Skinny: The last time these two teams met, the Lakers put up 40 in the first quarter and it seemed like there was no looking back. However, they got a little complacent, allowing the Houston Rockets to come back and win a close battle that the Lakers could have easily won. Andrew Bynum was ejected in the second half to add salt to the wounds. His presence, or lack thereof, was felt as the Rockets were able to get offensive rebounds and dominate the paint in their win. 

The Lakers should be able to win this game and dominate it like they did in the first quarter at Houston. The only way they can lose this game is if they lose focus and don't keep their foot on the gas pedal. It's a home game against a team they should beat and Andrew Bynum should be there for the whole game this time.

Prediction: Lakers 108, Rockets 101 (although a Rockets win won't be a surprise if the Lakers get bored at home)

April 7: At Phoenix Suns

Skinny: The last visit to Phoenix was not a pleasant one for the Lakers, as they got blown out of the water. That said, they now have a point guard to go up against Steve Nash. Expect Ramon Sessions to be a major factor, along with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, as the Lakers handily win in the desert.

Prediction: Lakers 99, Suns 91

April 9: At New Orleans Hornets

Skinny: Trap game. The Lakers will be on a roll coming into this game against New Orleans, one of the worst teams in the league. They'll be high on themselves and possibly be looking forward to the game at San Antonio in a couple of days. It'll be easy to lose focus in this one and they'll drop a close game against the desperate Hornets. 

Prediction: Lakers 91, Hornets 94

April 11: At San Antonio Spurs

Skinny: It's about time these two teams play against each other. Game No. 59 of 66 of the season is the first meeting for the Lakers with the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have been looking forward to this game because they've been ignored. Some feel that the Lakers are better than they are. The Spurs will come out strong and blow the Lakers out of the water in this one. It won't even be close.

Prediction: Spurs 95, Lakers 84

April 13: Denver Nuggets

Skinny: The Lakers match up well against the Nuggets now that Ramon Sessions is on the team. He helps facilitate the job for everyone on the team, including the bench. The Nuggets are a deep team with a lot of talent and it'll take a full Lakers effort to defeat them. They'll get it in a much-needed win.

Prediction: Lakers 103, Nuggets 97

April 15: Dallas Mavericks

Skinny: The Lakers were swept by the Dallas Mavericks last season in the playoffs, but they've gotten vengeance thus far, winning the first three games of the regular season this year. They always play with fury against this team as shown by their 109-93 romping of Dallas the last time these two teams played.

Prediction: Lakers 100, Mavericks 92

April 15: San Antonio Spurs

Skinny: If the Lakers are going to beat the San Antonio Spurs, they're going to have to match their effort and energy. Generally when the Lakers have to prove themselves in a game, everyone shines. The wins against the Celtics, Heat and Mavs this season are examples of performances where the Lakers were relentless. The Lakers aren't going to get swept by the Spurs. They'll take this one.

Prediction: Lakers 101, Spurs 98

April 18: At Golden State

Skinny: Once again, the Lakers are just too much for the Warriors. They played without Andrew Bynum for almost the entire second half and still defeated them. These are charity games for the Lakers. 

Prediction: Lakers 111, Warriors 95

April 20: At San Antonio

Skinny: This will be the third game in 10 days between the Lakers and the Spurs. They'll be hating each other already and be battling for a second-place spot. The Lakers frontcourt will prove to be too much for the Spurs. It's not just the game in the paint, though. Ramon Sessions and Kobe Bryant will facilitate the offense for everyone else, in what will be one of the biggest team victories of the season for the Lakers.

Prediction: Lakers 90, Spurs 85

April 22: Oklahoma City Thunder

Skinny: After a valiant effort against the Spurs, the Lakers use their momentum to defeat the Thunder and secure the second seed against a team that's resting players for the playoffs.

Prediction: Lakers 104, Thunder 96

April 26: At Sacramento

Skinny: The Sacramento Kings really hate the L.A. Lakers. They won't be heading to the playoffs this year, so this game against the Lakers to close out their season will be their Super Bowl. The Kings bring more energy and treat their home crowd to an entertaining night.

Prediction: Kings 98, Lakers 88