The Road Yet Traveled

With the Lakers win Monday night verses the Orlando Magic they moved to 32 and 9 on the year and kept rolling though there schedule even with a ailing Kobe Bryant. Bryant, who has been suffering through a back and finger injuries and whose playing time has been reduced do to the facts, so one maybe now wondering how will the Lakers fair now in their upcoming 8 games road trip that pits them against some of the best teams in the east. The first game of the road trip comes against Cleveland this Thursday night where the Lakers record this year versus the Cavs is 0 and 1. The loss came at home where Bryant scored 35 which out shined James’s 26 in a losing effort, with Bryant being injured and James in mid season form the Thursday night show down could be interesting one to see exactly how good the Lakers really are and is critical because a win could give the team a big boost on the road and could help throughout the entire trip, the game can be seen Thursday Night on TNT at 5pm PST. After Thursday’s games the team has a quick turnaround and play Friday night verses the much improved New York Knickerbockers at the world famous Madison Square Garden where last time at MSG Bryant put on clinic of athleticism and dominance of the game and dropped a record setting 61 points in a Lakers win without starting center Andrew Bynum. But this time around Bryant comes into the game battling injuries and after facing off verse King James and the Cavs but still tune in because Kobe always plays his best on the biggest stages, the game is one ESPN Friday night at 5 pm PST. Then the Lakers are off till Sunday when they go north of the boarder and travel to Toronto to take one the Raptors who come in to this game much improved after last year’s mess of a season and with Chris Bosh leading the way as the team’s leading scorer and will undoubtedly need big games from Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum to help combat Bosh’s efforts and Bryant’s injuries after two big games that open up the road trip to the east coast, the games can be seen Sunday 3pm PST. on KCAL TV in the Los Angeles area. The Lakers then travel to the Nation’s Capital next Tuesday night to take on the very much troubled Washington Wizards who will as of now will be without star guard Gilbert Arenas who is out do to legal issues. The Lake Show should have no problem beating the Wizards who are struggling and seemingly have fallen apart just halfway through the season, the game is Tuesday Jan 26th at 4pm PST. and can be seen on KCAL-TV, in the Los Angeles area. The Lakers tour bus then stops in on the Danny Granger and the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers should again have an easy victory even though this young team is on the up an up but for an experienced team like the Lakers there should be no problem, the game is Wednesday Jan 27th and can seen on KCAL-TV, in the Los Angeles area. Following the game in Indiana the Lakers are off the next day and travel to Philadelphia to take on Allen Iverson and the 76ers who are struggling even with A.I. back in Philly, so the Bryant and company should be able to put a beat down on the 76ers in the city of brotherly love, the game is Friday Jan 29th at 4pm PST. and can seen on KCAL-TV, in the Los Angeles area. And then that Sunday the Lakers are off the visit the beast of the east in the Boston Celtics who are currently second on the east and are on a mission to reclaim the NBA title back from the Lakers. The Celtics are currently facing some injury concerns with Kevin Garnett who has been out with a a knee injury but should be okay for the game that will be next Sunday Jan 31 and the Celtics are also have injury concerns with recently acquired in the offseason Rasheed Wallace who has been out with foot injury but he was in the lineup starting Monday Jan 18th. With injury questions of the Celtics and the Lakers this game which is 12 days away still will be a must see and undoubtedly will be great to watch on a Sunday afternoon, the game can be seen on ABC at 12:30 pm PST Sunday Jan 31st. The Lakers will conclude their 12 day, 8 game road trip of the Midwest and East coast on Monday February 1 at Memphis when visit the Grizzlies on their final game of the trip. This should figure to be a good game in Memphis because the Grizzlies are loaded with star and future star power and they are out to prove that they belong as a ligament contender in the West and what better way to prove that then verses the Lakers, tune in Monday Feb. 1st 5pm PST. and can seen on KCAL-TV, in the Los Angeles area. The Lakers are in great playoff shape now (standings wise) but with injuries that have plaguing Bryant recently and starting this long brutal road trip this should prove just how good the Lakers are before the All- Star break. I would like to credit ESPN.com, yahoo sports.com, and the Los Angeles Lakers Website that help contribute to this article.