No Smooth Sailings Heading Into All-Star Break
Other than the beginning of the season, there might not be a harder stretch than the near month-long period from January 17th to February 12th. The Lakers will feel relieved once the 12th comes and passes, since that will commence the All-Star break until they return to action on the 21st.
It all starts off with three games in five days, with the Lakers visiting the Thunder in Oklahoma City, the Rockets in Houston, and ending it with a home game against the Golden State Warriors. Those three teams could very well be the top three seeds of the West this year, and the NBA gives the Lakers no favors putting them all back-to-back-to back. Especially given what comes after.
After three more games at home following the Warriors matchup, the Lakers will have to go on the annual Grammys road-trip. The Grammys will be occupying the Staples Center for the February 10th event as they do every year, which means the Lakers will be on the road from February 2nd all the way until the last game before the break, on February 12th.
Those five games during the Grammys trip won’t be against sub-par competition either. It’ll kick off against the Warriors before the Lakers will take on some of the East coast’s best. Those Eastern teams will include the Pacers, the Celtics, and the 76ers — possibly the top three teams in the other conference.
The Lakers will probably be desperate for the All-Star break once the Grammys run is over. They’ll also want to take advantage of some of the easy spurts below.