How L.A. Lakers 2012-13 Schedule Impacts Championship Odds

We know the Los Angeles Lakers made the kind of personnel decisions this summer that can put an already superb team over the top.

Over the top in the very real sense of winning another title.

With the club's regular-season schedule now in clear view, we can also make some conclusions about how head coach Mike Brown's refurbished roster will perform throughout the year.

Here's a look at what to expect and what to make of the Lakers' title hopes.

Growing Pains

Lakers fans will be rearing to see their improved squad come flying out of the gate, but they may want to temper those expectations in the season's early going.

November will be a stretch that could demand some patience.

Guys like Kobe Bryant and Antawn Jamison will be adjusting to slightly different roles, and new point guard Steve Nash will be looking to develop rhythm and timing with his new weapons on the offensive end.

The schedule won't be especially accommodating.

Los Angeles has several games against the kind of middling Western Conference clubs that can pose a threat on any given night, including two games against the Dallas Mavericks and games against the Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets and two meetings with the high-scoring upstart Sacramento Kings.

The real tests, however, will be against the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers should look pretty unstoppable by season's end, but don't be surprised if they struggle through their first month.

The December Turnaround

The good news is that the next month should be something of a cakewalk. It wouldn't be at all surprising to see the Lakers hit their stride in December, seeing new pieces like Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison develop some chemistry against a set of lesser opponents.

Seven of the 14 games in December come against teams that made the playoffs in 2012, but a closer look suggests reason for optimism.

One of those seven games is against Orlando, and it's hard to imagine the rebuilding Magic returning to the postseason this year. Two more of those games are against former eight-seeds in the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz.

The only contests that pose a serious threat to L.A. are two meetings with the New York Knicks, an away game against the Denver Nuggets and another away game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Those are all winnable to be sure, but the point is that the Lakers will only rarely have their hands full in December.

That makes it as good a time as any to build a head of steam and develop a championship identity. By that time, Kobe Bryant should begin to feel more comfortable sharing the rock with Nash, and Jamison should be growing accustomed to his more limited role off the bench.

Tuning Up for the Postseason

March is typically the best time for a team to shift gears and ready themselves for the games that really matter. Half of the already-sparse games in April may not even matter as some teams elect to rest stars for the playoffs while others feign injuries to drive up draft lottery odds.

That's good news for Los Angeles. 

Facing off against this March lineup could feel like shooting fish in a barrel.

The only two games that promise to pose a real threat will be away games against the Thunder and Pacers. The rest of these teams shouldn't put up too much of a fight, save perhaps the Chicago Bulls if Derrick Rose is back on the floor.

While it's true that nine of March's 15 games will come on the road, there's something to be said for using that as an opportunity for the team to focus, build some camaraderie and develop a comfort zone away from Staples Center.

Assuming the Lakers are as good as we expect them to be after spending a few months together, March will be a prime chance to put it all together and build momentum. If they're indeed a force to be reckoned with in April and May, they'll probably be able to thank March for it.

Championship Caliber?

Oh yes.

There may be some bumps along the way. This is only Mike Brown's second year leading this team, and he'll have to work in some new guys while adjusting the roles of familiar faces.

Don't let that fool you, though. By the time the postseason roles around, the Lakers will have had opportunities at key junctures to figure things out. When they come out on the other side, they should be right on par with the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics.

They may even be a step ahead.