Predicting LA Lakers' Final 2014-15 Record
The Los Angeles Lakers aren't going to compete for a championship during the 2014-15 NBA season. They can, however, improve with a better defensive showing, a miraculous comeback by both Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash and a surprise campaign from the likes of Carlos Boozer, Julius Randle and virtually every other player on the roster.
In the midst of so much uncertainty, the one thing we know is that the Lakers won't be tanking. Not only would it be shocking to see such a storied franchise go the route of losing on purpose, but it would be completely misguided considering the organization is sending its first-round pick to the Phoenix Suns (although it is protected for picks one through five).
How good will the Lakers be? Only time will tell.
But with most rosters in place across the Association, we can look at the schedule and start to project just where L.A. will finish when the year comes to a close.
October
1 of 7
Total Games: three
Key Games: all of them
The first three games of the season come in October, and they're going to present a serious challenge for the Los Angeles Lakers.
To kick off the year, L.A. faces Dwight Howard, James Harden and the Houston Rockets. Houston has been an easy target for detractors following a first-round exit (not to mention the failed acquisition of a star free agent and the departure of Chandler Parsons), but it's still a team that will compete for home-court advantage in the 2015 postseason.
Following the home opener, the team has the Phoenix Suns on the road and the Los Angeles Clippers at home. While the Clips are easily the toughest competitor of the two, Phoenix will be looking to prove that 2013-14 was a trend in the right direction, not a fluke.
Although calling any early-season contest a "key game" is a bit exaggeratory, starting strong is important if L.A. hopes to avoid a flop like last season. An 0-3 start is far from ideal, but it's not outside the realm of possibility considering the weakest opponent was a borderline playoff contender last season.
October Record: 0-3
Season Record: 0-3
November
2 of 7
Total Games: 14
Key Games: Nov. 1 @ Golden State, Nov. 14 vs. San Antonio, Nov. 23 vs. Denver
Following a tough three-game start to the season, things don't get any easier for L.A. The team begins November with the Golden State Warriors on the road and the Phoenix Suns (again) at home, then it finally meets its first Eastern Conference opponent when the new-and-improved Charlotte Hornets come to town Nov. 9.
Not quite halfway through the month, the Lakers face the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in a game that will precede the second match of November with the Warriors the next night. It's tough for L.A. fans to imagine, but the first 10 games of the season are going to produce very few wins if things play out as most expect.
Of the key games in November, it's easy to see why Golden State and San Antonio make the cut, but why the Denver Nuggets, you ask? Outside of the Suns (and possibly the Memphis Grizzlies), this will be the first time we see how Los Angeles stacks up against a borderline playoff opponent out West.
The only gimme of the month is the Minnesota Timberwolves, as 11 of the 14 games are against teams from the brutally tough Western Conference.
November Record: 5-9
Season Record: 5-12
December
3 of 7
Total Games: 15
Key Games: Dec. 12 @ San Antonio, Dec. 19 @ Oklahoma City, Dec. 25 @ Chicago
December is when the Los Angeles Lakers should start to hit their stride. They play seven teams that finished the 2013-14 season with a record below .500, and they get five squads from the Eastern Conference.
Outside of the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, L.A. plays games that will be considered winnable between Dec. 2 and Dec. 21. The Washington Wizards will also present a challenge on Dec. 3, but those three are the only playoff squads L.A. needs to worry about (excluding a Paul George-less Indiana Pacers club) during that stretch.
Once Dec. 23 hits, it's back to brutal basketball. The Golden Warriors kick off that stretch, and the Lakers will face a postseason team from last year in every subsequent matchup the rest of 2014.
December Record: 10-5
Total Record: 15-17
January
4 of 7
Total Games: 15
Key Games: Jan. 7 @ Los Angeles, Jan. 15 vs. Cleveland, Jan. 25 vs. Houston
The Los Angeles Lakers haven't faced a Cleveland Cavaliers team led by LeBron James since 2010, but that will change when the two parties meet Jan. 15, 2015.
Although the Kobe-LeBron battle won't be what it used to be (although you never know with those two), it will be beyond entertaining reliving what used to be one of the best individual matchups in the NBA. L.A. isn't considered a contender the way it used to be, but you know the Black Mamba will be ready to prove he's still every bit as competitive as he's always been.
Also noteworthy in January is the seven-game stretch leading up to Cleveland (Jan. 1-15) that features six games against playoff opponents. The seven-game stint following Cleveland only has four, but those are against the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards and Pau Gasol's Chicago Bulls.
January Record: 4-11
Season Record: 19-28
February
5 of 7
Total Games: 10
Key Games: Feb. 8 @ Cleveland, Feb. 20 vs. Brooklyn
Although we could certainly see the Los Angeles Lakers' season begin to slip away before February, this will be the month when we have the best idea of what they can do late in the year.
With the NBA experimenting with a one-week All-Star break, the Lakers will go into vacation mode following a Feb. 11 game against the Portland Trail Blazers and won't return to action until Feb. 20. That week will give the team a chance to rest for a late-season run, or conversely, it'll allow the coaching staff to regroup and plan for younger players to see more time with the playoffs out of the picture.
In 10 games, L.A. sees just three playoff teams from 2013-14. The Cleveland Cavaliers belong in that group, although they hardly deserve to be in the same breath as the rest considering their offseason successes.
February Record: 6-4
Season Record: 25-32
March
6 of 7
Total Games: 16
Key Games: March 1 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, March 16 @ Golden State, March 24 @ Oklahoma City Thunder
March will be an interesting month for the Los Angeles Lakers. Like the post-All-Star section of February, we're going to have a clearer idea of what the rest of the season will look like.
However, the rest of the country will also get to see this team on full display (for better or for worse), as March features L.A. on national television (not including NBATV) five times—the most of any month for this franchise.
Aside from the Oklahoma City Thunder (twice) and the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers won't face any contenders throughout the entire month. Then again, if the team is already too far outside the playoff race to compete, we could see players such as Kobe Bryant resting, even if healthy.
March Record: 6-10
Season Record: 31-42
April
7 of 7
Total Games: nine
Key Games: April 3 vs. Portland, April 7 @ Los Angeles (second of a home-and-home), April 15 vs. Sacramento
Back in July, Mark Medina of InsideSocal.com published the following quote: "He told me he’s going to come back and carry the team. I believe him."
That quote comes courtesy of Metta World Peace, and it's referencing Kobe Bryant. Although MWP no longer dons the purple and gold, he spent enough years around the Mamba to be a decent source of confidence when it comes to the 2-guard's ability and will to win.
The question is: Will Bryant have enough help around him, even if he himself is healthy, to contend?
The answer to that question is likely a resounding no. Doubting Bryant hasn't gone well for most in the past, but this group is miles away from contention coming off the worst season in franchise history.
In April, L.A. will strike out by not playing a single team from the Eastern Conference. It has winnable games against the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves, but at this point, it should be too late to make a push for the final spot out West.
April Record: 3-6
Season Record: 34-48
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