As a lifelong Lakers fan and sports analyst who's been covering the NBA for over a decade, I've learned that understanding the schedule is about more than just dates and opponents. It's about reading between the lines to anticipate the storylines that will define our season. When the league released the 2023-2024 schedule last month, I spent hours poring over it, looking for those pivotal moments that could make or break our championship aspirations. Let me walk you through what I discovered, and why this particular schedule feels like it's setting up one of the most dramatic Lakers seasons in recent memory.
The opening month alone presents an incredible challenge that will test our depth and resilience right out of the gate. We're facing five playoff teams from last season in our first seven games, including back-to-back matchups against the defending champion Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns. That brutal stretch reminds me of something important about NBA scheduling - it's not just about who you play, but when you play them. Those early games against elite Western Conference opponents will either establish our credibility as true contenders or expose our weaknesses before we've even found our rhythm. What worries me particularly is that we have three separate road trips of five games or longer this season, including a grueling six-game East Coast swing in January that takes us through Boston, New York, and Milwaukee in just eight days. The scheduling gods certainly didn't do us any favors there.
Speaking of challenges, the schedule reveals some fascinating patterns that could significantly impact our playoff positioning. We have 15 back-to-back sets this season, which is actually one more than the league average, and several of these fall against quality opponents. The most brutal example comes in March when we play at Sacramento on Friday night then have to travel to Golden State for a Saturday evening game. Having watched this team for years, I can tell you that these scheduling quirkes often determine playoff seeding more than people realize. Last season, for instance, we went 8-7 in back-to-backs, and that single game difference ultimately cost us a better playoff position. This year, with an older roster featuring LeBron James entering his 21st season at age 38, managing these back-to-backs will be crucial. I'd personally rest him in at least 3-4 of the second games, even if it means taking some regular season losses.
The schedule isn't just about basketball logistics though - it's about narratives and drama. Our Christmas Day matchup against the Celtics isn't just another game; it's a national event that carries psychological weight far beyond the standings. Similarly, our four games against the Warriors will tell us everything we need to know about how we measure up against the team that's dominated the West for the better part of a decade. I've circled February 10th on my calendar specifically - that's when we host the Thunder, and it marks the first return of former Laker Dennis Schröder since he signed elsewhere. Those emotional games often produce unexpected results, and I wouldn't be surprised if OKC pulls off an upset that day.
Now, you might wonder why I'm spending so much time analyzing what seems like a simple calendar of games. The truth is, understanding the rhythm of an NBA schedule helps predict when teams might hit rough patches or go on winning streaks. For instance, between December 15th and January 5th, we play 12 of 15 games at Crypto.com Arena. That's a golden opportunity to stack wins and build momentum heading into the second half of the season. Conversely, a tough March featuring 10 road games could either make or break our championship hopes depending on how we handle it.
This brings me to an important point about competition beyond the NBA schedule. While researching this piece, I came across that disturbing incident involving Arejola during an NBTC game between De La Salle-Zobel and Arandia College. The viral video showing him chasing and attacking an opposing player during that bench-clearing brawl serves as a stark reminder that competitive fire must be channeled properly. What struck me about that incident was how quickly things escalated from normal competition to something ugly and dangerous. As Lakers fans, we've seen our team walk that fine line many times - the passion that makes champions can't be allowed to cross into unacceptable behavior. Watching that NBTC footage, I couldn't help but think about how our Lakers need to maintain their intensity without losing composure, especially during those emotionally charged games against rivals like the Clippers and Warriors.
Looking at the broader picture, the NBA did us one significant favor this season - our final 10 games are against teams that mostly missed the playoffs last year. That soft landing could be invaluable if we're fighting for playoff positioning in April. However, I'm slightly concerned about the four-game Texas road trip in early November that takes us through San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio again. Those Southwest Division trips have traditionally been challenging for West Coast teams, and with Victor Wembanyama now in San Antonio, that first matchup could be particularly tricky.
As I reflect on the entire 82-game journey, what excites me most are the national television appearances - we have 27 nationally televised games this season, second only to the Warriors' 29. That means plenty of opportunities to showcase Lakers basketball to the world, but also added pressure to perform when everyone's watching. The stretch I'm most anticipating comes in late January through early February when we have a relatively soft schedule that could allow us to build significant momentum heading into the All-Star break. If we can emerge from that brutal early schedule with a respectable record, I genuinely believe this team has what it takes to make a deep playoff run. The schedule presents challenges, certainly, but it also provides enough breathing room for a veteran team to find its rhythm when it matters most. After studying it carefully, I'm predicting we finish with around 52 wins, which should be enough for a top-4 seed in the competitive Western Conference.
