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Breaking Down The 2016-17 Lakers Schedule

by


The NBA schedule was released a couple of weeks ago. And yes, it’s tough to get a bit excited (myself included, to be honest) since the season doesn’t even start in roughly two months.

But we should take a look at the schedule and break it down a bit. Do they have an extended home stand somewhere? Are they going to go through a perilous road trip or two at some point? What about the back-to-back games?

So in case you need to take a look-see, here’s the schedule.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has made it a point to reduce back-to-back games and the dreaded four games in five nights stretch. Lakers have 16 back-to-back games this season, which is pretty much the average for the season. The Hawks have the most with 19 back-to-backs while the Thunder have the least at 13. Nine teams don’t have to go through the four games in five nights stretch but, unfortunately, the Lakers aren’t one of those nine teams. That happens early in the schedule, though (Nov. 29-30, Dec. 2-3), so if the Lakers do have a shot at the playoffs later, they wouldn’t have to worry about that.

Their schedule doesn’t do them any favors early. After their opening game against the Rockets, they immediately go on the road for four straight. And when they do go home after that, they face the deadly Golden State Warriors. In fact, they face the Warriors three times before November ends; the Lakers and the Warriors have a home-and-home around Thanksgiving. The Lakers face the Warriors one more time but it won’t be until the final game of the season.

The first 20 games are actually split evenly for home and road games. But they have their longest road trek before Christmas as they play seven game outside of the comfy Staples Center (Kings, Nets, Sixers, Cavs, Hornets, Heat, Magic). Then the Lakers face the Clippers in the battle of Los Angeles as part of the NBA Christmas schedule.

While the seven-game road trip might spell doom if you guys are hoping for playoffs, the Lakers will be really tested in late January-early February when they play eight out of nine games on the road (with the only home game against the Nuggets in that stretch on Jan. 31). They go on a three-game road trip against the Mavs, Blazers, and Jazz (Blazers/Jazz are a back-to-back). After going home against the Nuggets, they go on a five-game East Coast trip (Wizards, Celtics, Knicks, Pistons, Bucks). This may make or break their season so we should keep an eye on that part of the schedule.

If they survive that, the schedule after the all-star break is very favorable. 15 of their last 24 games are at home and they have a six-game home stand (Bucks, Cavs, Clippers, Wolves, Blazers, Wizards) in late March. So if they’re in the running for a playoff spot, this post-All-Star schedule will be good for them.

As for games that I’m looking forward to, here are some:

Oct. 26 v Rockets: Because it’s the opener!

Oct. 30 @ Thunder: We’ve seen it before but this is permanent now: a Thunder team being led by Russell Westbrook. I want to see some destruction! (They also play the Thunder on Nov. 22 and Feb. 24.)

Nov. 4 v Warriors: An early test for the young Lakers. And why wouldn’t you wanna see them go against this new-look team that includes Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant? (They also play the Warriors on Nov. 23 and 25.)

Nov. 13 @ Wolves: Because why wouldn’t you wanna see the battle of #1 and #2 picks from last season? Karl-Anthony Towns is going to be a monster if he isn’t already. (They play the Wolves three more times at Mar. 24, Mar. 30, and Apr. 9.)

Nov. 18 v Spurs: So this is weird. A Lakers/Spurs match-up without Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. (The Spurs come at the Lakers three more times: Jan. 12, Feb. 26, and Apr. 5.)

Nov. 20 v Bulls: This seems better on paper. We get to see Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo on the Bulls. I felt weird typing that.

Dec. 11 v Knicks: Carmelo Anthony has former Bulls Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah as teammates. But more importantly, Kristaps Porzingis! (They face the Knicks one more time on Feb. 6.)

Dec. 16 @ Sixers: Another #1 and #2 pick battle! Ben Simmons against Brandon Ingram! (They get the Sixers again on Mar. 12.)

Dec. 17 @ Cavs: Talk about a test. The Lakers get the NBA champions not even 24 hours after the Sixers. (The Lakers and Cavs face each other once more on Mar. 19.)

Dec. 25 v Clippers: Of course, you wanna watch these crosstown rivals go at it. And let’s be honest, this is one of the things you’re going to do on Christmas if you’re a Lakers fan. (The L.A. teams face each other three more times: Jan. 14, Mar. 21, and Apr. 1.)

Feb. 3 @ Celtics: Obviously not what it used to be but come on. Lakers vs Celtics, guys. (We get this again on Mar. 3.)

Apr. 12 @ Warriors: The final game of the season. We close it out on an exciting note. I think.

So that’s the schedule. What games are you looking forward to? Does this schedule seem fair to you?


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. BigCitySid10552 says

    One ESPN writer has our boys finishing with the worst record in the league. ESPN has been pretty much on point the last 3 years, but their streak ends this season. As far as particular games, right now the game I’m most interested in seeing is game #1. Ready to see this franchise play to win again.

  2. J C hoops says

    Last or near last again is possible I guess.
    It just feels like we’ve made some strides that will turn the tide for us.
    Much depends on our young core’s development and Luke’s coaching philosophies and culture changes.
    I’m not pro-tank but if we were to get another early draft pick again next year that could make for some interesting long-term ramifications.
    The flip side of that equation is, what’s our ceiling this coming season? 40 wins? 42 and the 8th seed?
    Imagine the shockwaves and excitement a playoff berth would generate.

  3. new rr says

    J C hoops

    One point: RPM numbers do not account for coaching, so people who think Scott was costing the team several games a year would probably take the over. Pelton said that he thought the Minnesota projection would probably be low since he (Pelton) believes that Thibodeau will have a big impact on Minnesota’s D. 

    That noted, there is no team in the West that is obviously worse than the Lakers, based on what we can see now, and the Lakers could improve by 8-10 games and still end up 14th or 15th in the West.

  4. david-h says

    Thanks Rey for putting this out there.I’m sure Darius appreciate this as we do to
    keep the ball rolling so to speak.

    As far as schedules go;it is what it is as the expression goes.What I’m looking forward to seeing is what grouping of players coach Walton
    puts on the floor to start the season and barring injuries who and how he goes
    about managing minutes played for each player and the substitution pattern
    relative to the competition he employs.Basically seeing who he trusts and his tolerance level for the expectant
    learning curve most of the younger guys will be experiencing this upcoming season.

    I see coach instilling confidence in each player as the
    season progresses.I see less blowout
    games as in seasons past and although the end product will be a work in
    progress,I see more wins as chemistry
    builders for the team this upcoming year.

    I’m hopeful that what I see comes to fruition this season
    and a new positive beginning for the laker organization that will take away the
    bitter taste from seasons past.I don’t
    expect we make the playoffs this season,exciting enough for me would be to see the lakers looking like they’re
    going forward by the all star break.That
    would be progress.

    Go lakers

  7. fern16 says

    Ugh, that first month looks like a meat grinder, GS 3 times? Who made this schedule? Mark Cuban? Right now im in a semi Laker break, need to or i would go nuts with anxiety. But you know what? I like the schedule. What better way to really test this team and this young core right out of the gate? Sink or swim I’ll say. Whatever adversity we will face those first couple of months could be what this team needs down the line when the schedule softens somewhat. But we shall see..

  9. lalaker14 says

    I’m looking forward to all 82 games and watching this team grow into a winner. NBA schedules are always tough and ours is no exception. Pretty good assessment . Thanks Ray.

  11. J C hoops says

    My sense is the team will scrap its way to a respectable 30-35 wins and the coaching and culture changes will be a big part of that. Adding to that, I predict many of the losses will be tough or close defeats that may be looked at as ‘moral victories’ so the 47-52 losses will ‘feel’ like less than that, although I’d be quite surprised if we make the playoffs.
    What do you think? Care to pick a number?

  12. LT Mitchell says

    _Chris J BigCitySid10552  For the Western Conference, I don’t know how Denver is ranked so high. Is ESPN banking on Danilo Gallinari being healthy for a full season?  Highly unlikely. I would move the Wolves up a few slots to Denver’s slot. I think the Wolves make the playoffs. They have the talent, and Thibs will bring it all together. I would move the Lakers up 1 or 2 slots. (2 to 4 slots if Mosgov and Deng stay healthy all year…a big if).  If the Lakers, who just hired Walton and spent almost $150 mil on two starters, get close to or fewer wins than the 76ers, it is going to be another disastrous season.

  13. BigCitySid10552 says

    lalaker14 I’m with you, all 82 games. Must admit it’s been a few years since I’ve felt this way. I feel this team has a good chance to crack 30 wins. Which if they do, will be the most in a few years. 

    The road to #17 has begun.

  15. Vasheed says

    BigCitySid10552
    Yeah Darius had a post about the different ways to waive Nick Young.  However, your link points out the necessary timing which wasn’t clear before.  So looks like September 1st will be waive Nick Young day.

  16. J C hoops says

    Interesting detail here.
    Based on the Lakers clever strategy on the Yi contract, we can assume the team considers all angles when making these types of decisions, but if I’m a player reading these type of articles, it must feel very impersonal to be a stretch or waiver candidate. As in: not only doesn’t the team want me around but they also want to minimize my financial impact as well.
    I still hope Nick is around this year. I know I’m in the minority on that.

  17. Clay Bertrand says

    BigCitySid10552

    Nice Info Nugget!

    So now the intrigue possibly shifts not necessarily to IF Nick gets stretched, but whether it happens SOONER or LATER.  If they are stretching him AFTER 9/1 and taking the full salary hit THIS season, he can be stretched any time this season before 6/30.  

    It could all just be administrative details and they will stretch him ASAP Tomorrow.  Either way, it feels like Judgment Day is bearing down on Swaggy.

  18. Clay Bertrand says

    A Horse With No Name

    Agreed.  Good trade for OKC IMO.  Something has to give there though with their odd hoard of big men.  Its as if they are emulating the Lakers roster by loading up on 4/5s……..

    There is a belief that this is the front end of another deal to offload one of their bigs. Possibly Ilyasova gets moved somehow??

  19. A Horse With No Name says

    J C hoops I’m with you until proven otherwise.  I still think he can contribute.  I have learned through many years and thousands of employees that it is often cheaper and smarter to carefully parse out what someone can contribute against their short comings, and to see if there is a way forward before giving up on them.  I’ve regretted hanging on to people many times, but I’ve been right more often than not about working with them and getting them on track.  Nick is a big guard (6’7″) with skills who can fit into this offense.  He’s under contract.  If his attitude is good and he and D’Angelo can go forward, he’s going to potentially have more value than most potential roster replacements.  They can always cut him if it isn’t working.  But what if it does?  If it does, the lakers will have gotten some value from the deal he is on–and that is secondary–the value is having another skilled shooter.

  20. A Horse With No Name says

    Clay Bertrand A Horse With No Name Yup, there is no way there are going to carry that many bigs.  I don’t think they have much to offer tradewise, so I see a guy like McGary being off-loaded for peanuts and Lauvergne being a roster upgrade.  Right now the league seems to have a surplus of 4s and a shortage of wings.  It will be interesting to see if Presti can come up with a wing–hey Nick Young?

  21. MT87 says

    BigCitySid10552 I’ve written my reasoning here before so I’ll just say that I do expect the lakers to be at or near the bottom of the standings again next season.  I think 30 wins is probably the best case scenario and I wouldn’t actually be disappointed if we only got to 25.  I agree with rr that the uncertainty right now is over what kind of impact going from Scott to Walton is going to have.  It is totally possible that Scott was a 5-10 game handicap last year and our improvement will be on top of that.  It is also possible that the Lakers got a lot better and so did everybody else who was at the bottom and so we don’t move up much at all.  I’m not looking for wins this season nearly as much as I’m looking for a big improvement in margin of victory.  If we can get it down to -2.5 we’ll still have had a massive improvement while only just catching up to where the twolves were last year.

    Real games can’t come soon enough.  Making predictions, even educated ones, is getting old really fast.

  22. MT87 says

    A Horse With No Name J C hoops I’m not in favor of keeping Young, but I have a feeling the FO is thinking more like you than like me.

  23. J C hoops says

    And to add to your (as usual) excellent post, there’s something to be gained when other employees see a manager or owner giving an employee a chance to come correct. Firing or in this case waiving a potentially good player can wake up the rest of the group but also create tension. A core belief that everyone can contribute, expressed with positive reinforcement, spreads a strong message as well.

  25. Michael NP says

    In mid November they play the T-Wolves and Knicks. To me, those two teams will be sort of a measuring stick. Both have been in similar circumstances to us, and if we beat them it’s safe to say we’ll have more than 30 wins.

  26. Michael NP says

    I agree Deng is crucial. He’s always been a hard worker and a consumate teammate. Let’s hope he hasn’t lost a step defensively.
    Our boys will maybe end up with 38 wins. It’s hard to explain my rationalization of a number which goes way above what the pundits project. As a coach, I believe two things are going to be a fulcrum point to their success this season – coachability and attitude. Doubt has a lot of influence.

  28. MT87 says

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tkZqvu87bc

    Nice little interview with Luke.  Says that Zubac is working on developing a sky-hook with Bill Berka and I couldn’t be more excited.  I’ve always wondered why nobody today ever tries to bring back the most effective shot in the history of the league.  In a season or two Zubac is going to be a really good starting C.

  29. stats2 says

    MT87 Thanks for the link.  Man, I’m excited for this year!  Maybe the jury is still out on Mosgov and Deng, but to me the offseason news has overwhelmingly promising – coaches, draft, good vets, new facility.  Wow.  

    And today I’m waiting to see if Nick survives…

  30. Vasheed says

    I just realized the Sixers had 20 guys under contract before waving 2.  How do you sign 20 guys and still be under the cap by 16 million?

  32. bluehill says

    As said below, I’m looking forward to all the games: the tough ones, the back-to-backs, the 4-out-of-5’s, the blowouts (hopefully some by us), the nailbiters. All of ’em. This is young team with a young coach and a new system and a new attitude. They need experience in a lot of situations, so every game will offer some lessons even if it’s just dealing with the grind of the season.

  33. LordMo says

    Win or lose I’m with the young fellas all the way. Its just fun to have a bunch of new faces to watch.

  35. Mid Wilshire says

    wwlofficial Warren, I agree.  Something like 27-29 wins seems about right to me.  But if you think of it, that would represent an improvement of 10-12 wins year-over-year which would be very good.
    Then, if the Lakers could improve by another 10-12 wins the following year, then they’ll be a solid .500 team and, in 2018-19, they’ll be ready to challenge for a playoff spot.  All of that sounds realistic and do-able (I think).
    They key question this year (and next) isn’t how many games will the Lakers win but will they be able to establish a significant upward trajectory.  If the answer is yes, then we’ll be in the hunt again.  At least, that’s the way I see it.
    This, of course, requires patience–from all of us.

  36. Clay Bertrand says

    SOOO there are 4 teams interested in Carl Landry huh??  The Spurs, Rockets, Pacers and uh the Lakers. One of these teams is NOT like the others……..one of these teams also waived his brother…..

    Having just played for the 76ers and now having 3 playoff teams interested in you why would you even consider the Lakers??  Not that we have a specific need for Carl Landry….. Just that the list of interested teams including the Lakers is……well….INTERESTING…….

    College Football today means Pro Football is almost here which means NBA training camps are just around the corner which means THE SEASON is finally within sight!!!! Ok maybe I’m squinting to see it but we’re ALMOST THERE!!! 

    I echo the tone of those of you posting who are chompin at the bit to watch the new youngsters and Luke begin to get us right!!  I have never been so excited to watch a 30 win (maybe) team.  It seems this has been a really long offseason……….

  37. Manuel MdT says

    Hi guys, I´ll be in San Diego in October, coming all the way from Germany. I would love to attend the Lakers v. Warriors Preseason game. Unfortunately, it seems like the tickets are already sold out. Can anybody help me out with two tickets or mention an alternative way to obtain them? Help is greatly appreciated. PM me at mannihering@gmx.net Thanks!

  38. Clay Bertrand says

    Manuel MdT

    Wow sold out in SD huh??!  OK I suggest first checking the local listings.  Here is a link to the local craigslist for San Diego:  https://sandiego.craigslist.org/

    Right above the Calendar in the upper left of the page, it has a place where you can “search craigslist”.  Just type in “Lakers Tickets” and you will find tons of listings for people (and ticket brokers) selling tickets.    

    Now two alternatives IF you cannot find tickets there are:

    1.)  Consider the game two nights later up in Anaheim.  MUCH MUCH MUCH nicer arena and its only 90 minutes drive from San Diego.   

    2.)  If you are REALLY INTENT on seeing the Warriors play the Lakers, you may consider adding LAS VEGAS to your itinerary and doing a little road trip thru the desert to Sin City and see the game there on Oct. 15th.  Its a 4-5 hour drive but you may find it interesting and you can spend the night in Vegas if you find that idea appealing.  The fanbase is RAMPANT in Vegas and it will be a more ROCKING game for sure just because of the arena and fanbase.  TMobile Arena is very nice.   

    Depending on your schedule and who you want to see play, there are the LA and Ontario games well within reasonable driving distance as well.

    Feel free to ask any additional questions.  I’ve seen games at every venue in Southern California and Vegas and I live in Northern San Diego county.  

    Good Luck und PROST!!!!!

  39. Clay Bertrand says

    Manuel MdT

    FYI–Sports Arena in San Diego is a PIECE OF CRAP.  If you care about the arena experience contributing to your game experience, this is something you should be wholly aware of.  

    Again, Prost!!

  40. J C hoops says

    Obtaining Landry would definitely spell “departure” for nick young.
    Landry is a quality player but isn’t he a 3/4?
    Interesting indeed, especially unclear how they’d fit him in under the cap. And yeah if I’m Landry I’d only consider the Lakers if I felt Luke and the new regime looked super attractive. Maybe he does.
    Adding another talented player would be a plus in any case.

  41. J C hoops says

    San Diego venue isn’t that bad. It’s got character.
    One of the older venues still hosting occasional games.
    Still got the same size court!
    You can usually obtain tickets at StubHub.com

  42. J C hoops says

    Just realized Landry is 32.
    Yes he’s past his prime.
    Perhaps Laker “interest” is merely Landry’s agent posturing to raise his market price

  43. fern16 says

    So Nick Young wants to emulate Kaepernick “example”. do this idiot ever learn? Can’t the Lakers stop sitting on their toes and cut this cancerous growth from the team. EAT THE DAMN SALARY. Its better than another season of suffering this idiot. I really really despise this stands against “opression” by people that never been opressed in their entire spoiled cuddled lives. You want to make a stand for the real oppressed? Donate your salary to them and shut the hell up.

  44. fern16 says

    If you don’t want to stand up for the anthem because of “opression” at least do it for the people that fough and died so you can earn millions of dollars for playing a damn game.

  45. Kareemez says

    fern16 Nick Young is a lot of things. A sub-par basketball player. An overpaid athlete. A Black man. He has his own Black experience informing his own political ideas about the world. You have absolutely no idea about his experiences of oppression and to suggest that you know anything about his life beyond tabloid reads is very presumptuous. 
    Nick Young has a platform to speak his views not because of the US military, but because he has worked tremendously hard over his life to earn a spot on an NBA team. He’s “playing a game” that has more meaning in the lives of everyday people than my professional endeavors (and probably most of ours). Earning a paycheck does not buy silence or acquiescence. Your suggestion that Young and Kaep “earning millions” means they should remain politically silent is fundamentally anti-American. In fact, the richest people in the United States have an oversized voice in our political system and are never condemned or told to “shut the hell up” for their often dim-witted political opinions (that more often than not turn into policy). Debate is a central tenant of democracy. Black athletes are one of the few demographics of Black men with the resources or platform to influence American culture and politics. But you would rather they “shut the hell up”, mostly because you disagree with their opinion. I appreciate athletes who are willing to speak to their convictions, irrespective of the consequences (and hateful attacks like yours) that inevitably occur as a result of their voice. 
    Darius, I know politics aren’t allowed on the forum. I am fine if my response is deleted, as long as fern’s is as well.

  50. BigCitySid10552 says

    Mid Wilshire wwlofficial “all of us” must include Jim Bus(t), hopefully he feels the same way

  51. A Horse With No Name says

    Kareemez, FYI my comment asking for the OT socio-political commentary to cease was made in large part because I don’t want Darius to have to wade in here in his time of bereavement. Not cool. But your response was first rate and I commend for your intellectual chops and measured response.

  52. Clay Bertrand says

    Kareemez fern16

    Well articulated.  I don’t think fern was necessarily hateful but that was my interpretation.  

    I think the hilarious thing here, if I can point out the hilarious, is that the whole issue arose from RIDICULOUS TMZ “reporting” consisting of some idiot paparazzo following Nick and his friends to a club and hounding him with stupid questions he hardly even contemplates before just uttering a few things. 

    Hardly the independent Political Stance being taken by Swaggy and hardly provocative.  

    On the topic of Black athletes using their platform to speak out, its exactly the same as MATT DAYYYYMON or Leo DiCaprio or Clint Eastwood or Cher or Mark Cuban or any of the multitudes of Rich people or ENTERTAINERS who use their platform of fame and wealth to promote their political and/or social values.  

    Are ENTERTAINERS the smartest people to take political advice from????  I’ll leave that up to you guys.  ; )  The point is that CLEARLY they all have a right to use their platform to voice their positions.  As well, we are all free to disregard them and not listen if we so choose.  

    Pamela Anderson is using her platform to decry the existence of PORN for god’s sake!!!!  (Say WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT????????)  IRONY IS EVERYWHERE………..

  53. new rr says

    People pretty much know this, but just as a reminder, this is Guideline #2 from Helin’s original list, which I think is mostly the same now as it was way back then: 

    2). This is a basketball blog, keep the focus on the Lakers and other hoops — leave politics at the door.

  54. Clay Bertrand says

    new rr

    Its a Basketball par-ty,
    Who could ask for more, 
    Everybody’s Dribbling–LEAVE YOUR HILLARY AT THE DOOR, 
    Leave Your TRUMP AND HILLARY, at the dooooooooorrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!

    A little Danny Elfman riff to lighten the mood in here…..

  55. Clay Bertrand says

    J C hoops

    I used to live 5 minutes from there……lol.  I went to EVERY Laker game until I moved north and they started televising the Preseason games in SD county.  I’d camp out and buy the maximum allowable seats.  Used to be for around $100 you were first row off the floor.  Then they changed it and gave those tix to season ticket holders one year then they upped the price for floor/first row seats to $225.

    I remember the Summer when they filmed ALMOST FAMOUS there!!!!  If by character, you mean like when Lamar Odom had roaches running around in his locker, you are right!!!!! : ) 

    Its just old is all.  It doesn’t compare with Honda Center, TMobile Arena or even Citizens Bank arena in Ontario in any way.  SD just won’t put any money into it.  Even the Forum in Inglewood has been kept up and refurbed some.  

    I have no problem going to any venue but for a foreign visitor who may not know the difference coming from out of the country, I just wanted to give him some insight.   I don’t want the poor guy to just think our sports venues are all from the 70s!!!  

    Quick Story on the Sports Arena and Foreign Fans:

    One of the last games I went to there, was against the Nuggets when they had Kenyon Martin.  I had several extra tickets having bought 16 and I put 4 up for sale on Craigslist. I ended up selling them to an Ethiopian Cab driver who told me that his brother and a couple of friends were the biggest Laker fans in the world and they had just come to the U.S. on visas and didn’t speak English well but he wanted to take them to a Laker game.  These guys were like Magic and Shaq and Kobe fans but they never really got to see many games or learn much about the team beyond the Championships and the superstar players. This guy was very aggressive in securing the tickets and he paid TOP DOLLAR too.    

    Anyway, at the game, the 4 sat in the row behind me (I always tried to buy two whole rows when they’d let me) and the people around us were all weirded out by these guys.  They thought they were terrorists or something because they acted strange and looked like they were really out of place.  They weren’t really cheering at the right parts of the game.  It was sort of like COMING TO AMERICA when they go to the St. John game—sorta awkward.   I started to think that I had sold my tickets to an Al Qaeda sleeper cell or something and that we’d all be blown up watching a Laker game.  At least its a good way to go right!?!?!?!?

    So at one point in the first half, Phil puts Luke Walton in the game…….and being his hometown of SD, the WHOLE crowd is deafening with chants of “LUUUUUUUUUUUKEEE!!!!!” And they take it to the EXTREME in SD.  So they are goin on and on and suddenly the guy who spoke English leans forward and taps my shoulder.  When I turn to look at him he is upset and he says, “WHY THEY ARE BOOING THE LAKERS!?!? WHYYY!!?!?????”  His friends all had confused looks on their faces.   I told him that this was Luke Walton’s home town and they were screaming his name LUUUUKEEEEE.  The guy gathered the other guys and sort of huddled and you could see he was explaining it to them.  Then they all 4 stood up with the rest of the crowd and were yelling “LUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKE”.  They were INTO IT now!!!!  

    A little later when a skirmish broke out with Kenyon Martin and it spilled into the stands near us, these guys were talking SMACK (in their language) right along with the rest of us in the crowd and they were pissed at him for real!!!  It was F*CKING AWESOME!!!!!!  These guys got so much enjoyment out of that game it was just inspiring.  Right after the game, Kenyon Martin came over and gave this young girl one of his shoes (he had piled into her family during the fight meelee and was being classy in making amends) and these Ethiopians started yelling at him again!!!!!!  It was just great to see.     

    I’ve had some GREAT times at those games in SD and sat right behind Jerry Buss for 2 of them.  His chicks were THE BEST…….THEEE BEST and they were all like 20!!!!!! He had 3 with him one year and 2 another.  He’d always go to the games in SD because he was often at his place in Carlsbad.

    Sorry to ramble but I guess I do sorta miss the place now that you made me recollect……

  58. Tra 35 says

    Viewing the schedule, I also have us winning between 25-28 games, which, as Mid points out, would be an upgrade over last season. Hopefully, along with the improvement, we can keep our (I believe) top 3 protected pick. If this were to occur, for a team with so much youth and at the beginning stage of a rebuild, I would consider the season a success.

  59. Vasheed says

    new rr
    I don’t particularly want to read about Clinton vs Trump debates on the Forum.  However, I do believe it is significant news when a Laker player speaks about free speech.  It feels like a very grey zone to me.

  61. matt24 says

    Yeah it’s odd to that black athletes are quick to boycott the national anthem, but never would they boycott crime glorifying music.
    Bigot cops are a problem, but the thug life trend has been killing teens for years