Los Angeles Lakers: 10 Most Anticipated Games Remaining in 2011
The Los Angeles Lakers were reeling for a while these past few weeks. After having a three-game losing streak and a .500 record their past eight games, the Lakers are trying to get back on track.
They are third in the West at 25-11, but have a lot of work to do to keep pace with Dallas and San Antonio, who are both having amazing years.
Having put these rough couple weeks past them, the Lakers are hopefully looking ahead to the rest of the season, as they have many games remaining that will mean a lot. Which of their remaining games are the most anticipated for them?
10. April 13 at Sacramento
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Why would a game against the Kings be among the most anticipated?
The answer to that is simple: It's the final game of the season, and since Sacramento is not exactly competitive, they can rest their stars so they're good to go for the playoffs. They'll need the rest after game No. 81, which comes later in the countdown.
9. February 10 at Boston
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Firmly in the middle of a sizable road trip, the Lakers will face the Celtics for the second and final time on February 10. A lot of the reasons this matchup will be anticipated stem from their finals matchup, but the rest will come from the first time they meet this year, which has yet to happen.
8. February 3 vs. San Antonio
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The Lakers face the Spurs four times this year. They lost the first matchup, and this will be the second of four.
At the rate the Spurs are playing, the Lakers don't want to fall in a 2-0 hole in head to head matchups against the team they could face in the conference finals.
7. January 17 vs. Oklahoma City
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In a Martin Luther King Day matchup, a rematch of last year's first-round playoff battle is one of the NBA's four marquee games involving the Lakers.
The Thunder are only a couple games behind the Lakers in the standings, so this game will be big for both teams, as the Thunder look to gain the upper hand for later matchups.
6. February 11 at New York
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Any matchup against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden is going to be heavily anticipated.
When it hovers around the All-Star Game and the Knicks are likely playoff bound, it makes the matchup that much better.
5. January 19 at Dallas
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The Lakers face the Dallas Mavericks three times this season. This matchup, coming off the heels of the Oklahoma City game, will be the first.
If the Lakers want to trim the gap in hopes of regaining the top seed in the conference, this match would be an opportune time, though Dallas has been playing great basketball lately.
4. March 14 vs. Orlando
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The Lakers face the Magic twice. The first is mired in the middle of a long road trip. The second one, however, looks to be huge.
The Lakers should be about to clinch a playoff berth at this time, and will be ready for the finals rematch against Orlando, who should be about ready to clinch a spot as well and will have worked any kinks out after their roster overhaul.
3. April 12 vs. San Antonio
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Game No. 81 for the Lakers features them against the San Antonio Spurs. Both teams will have played each other enough times, and both will have made the playoffs by then. This game, however, means more than that.
It will set the stage for both teams heading into the playoffs, and could also be the difference between who wins the overall regular season matchup between the two, giving a team a mental advantage should both teams meet.
2. March 10 at Miami
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Revenge is a dish best served cold. It has to be served that way on March 10, seeing as how they face the Heat.
Bad pun aside, this game follows up the easily most anticipated game of the season, which was the first matchup between the two teams on Christmas, which the Heat easily won.
The Lakers will be looking to get a road win of their own, in what should be a great match.
1. January 30 vs. Boston
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What else could it be?
A finals rematch in the middle of the schedule against a Celtics team that should be healthy and ready to go.
Combine that with a Kobe-Shaq rematch and two teams that would love a statement win to close out the month, you have yourself a marquee matchup.
