1. March
“Beware the Ides of March.” Following a very difficult slate of games in February, things don’t any easier in March. The Lakers play 10 of their 15 games on the road, including both a four and three-game road-trip and four sets of back-to-backs.
The schedule makers must have decided March was the month they really wanted to really test the Lakers’ mettle.
The team does catch a break with their home games in March, playing very winnable games against Toronto, Sacramento, Atlanta, Washington and a potentially Derrick Rose-less Chicago.
Some of the month’s highlights include the final matchup of the regular season with the Thunder on March 5th, and Dwight Howard making his return to Orlando on the 12th.
Game of the Month – March 12th @Orlando: The Magic will more than likely have one of the worst, if not the worst, record in the league next season, and Orlando fans aren’t known for being the most raucous in the NBA.
So Dwight likely won’t be booed and heckled the way LeBron was when he made his return visit to Cleveland. Nonetheless, it’s going to be interesting to see him play in front of the fans whose minds he toyed with for the better part of two seasons.
Home Games: 5
Road Games: 10
Back-to-Backs: 4
Mar 5-6: @Oklahoma City, @New Orleans
Mar 12-13: @ Orlando, @ Atlanta
Mar 17-18: vs Sacramento, @Phoenix
Mar 27-28: @ Minnesota, @ Milwaukee
Nationally Televised Games: 3
March 5th @ OKC (TNT), March 10th vs Chicago (ABC), March 25th @ Golden State (NBA TV).